Aug. 12, 2024
Machinery
To understand the future, one should start with an understanding of history and the technology involved.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Ruisite sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Eric Svenson Sr.The element chromium was discovered in and isolated in . The first known chromium electrodeposit was achieved in by German scientist Dr. Geuther. In the first U.S. patent for chromium plating was granted to Emile Placet and Joseph Bonnet of Paris, France, with U.S. Patent #.
Dr. George Sargent improved the process in and established the standard 100:1 solution, which is still used today and known as the Sargent bath or the standard bath. In the process was further developed by Colin Fink and Charles Eldridge at Columbia University.
Hard chrome plating was commercialized in with the establishment of the Chemical Treatment Company in New York and the Chromium Products Corporation in New Jersey. A patent infringement suit caused the merger of these two companies forming the Chromium Corporation of America, which later operated a third chrome plating plant in Waterbury, Connecticut.
By chrome plated became a buzzword for a hard, wear-resistant, and durable finish that also offered improved corrosion protection. The industry grew rapidly from these initial companies, and soon afterward, other hard chrome job shops were operating in most large cities across America.
The industry continued to expand through the s and s. By there were literally thousands of hard chrome OEMs and job shops; some of the OEMs were large installations, as were a few of the job shops. Many job shops, however, were smaller family-based companies with only 2-10 employees.
Hexavalent hard chrome quickly developed into a widely used industrial process. The primary reason is the improved surface properties it provides to metallic parts and components. Among others, this includes surface hardness, lubricity, wearability, and corrosion resistance.
No other coating can provide these features as easily and inexpensively as hard chrome does. It found wide usage in industries like agriculture, aircraft, automotive, chemical, electrical, engines, fluid power, food processing, mining, optical, ordnance, paper, printing, railroad, textile, tooling, and even dies and molds. It is also widely used in weapon systems and aerospace applications. In short, it is vital to America's industry, economy, security, defense, and even Her sovereignty.
Our country would be crippled and our economy devastated without the properties that hexavalent hard chrome plating provides.
Up until the mid-, most hard chrome platers were unaware of the damage that chromic acid had on the environment. This was not isolated to the chrome platers because all industrial trades suffered the same ignorance regarding the negative effects of the chemicals they used.
Many chrome plating operations, especially the smaller ones, could not afford the equipment required to meet the newer regulations.
Because of this, chrome tanks were ventilated directly outside, and chrome baths were frequently dumped into city sanitary sewers because the cities had waste treatment abilities.
The EPA was established in , and OSHA in with mandates to improve and protect America's environment and workers. This resulted in regulations limiting the amount of chemicals that could be discharged or the workers exposed to. Fortunately, this had the effect of educating the industry about these dangers. Plating shops then installed waste treatment systems for their liquid waste products and air scrubbers for their ventilation systems.
Over time the regulations for liquid and air discharges were tightened to where they currently are today. Many chrome plating operations, especially the smaller ones, could not afford the equipment required to meet the newer regulations. They simply decided to cease operation and go out of business. A number of OEM captive operations also closed their chrome shops over excessive fears about environmental liabilities.
By the tightened regulations caused a 50% reduction in the number of hard chrome operations in the United States. However, this proved beneficial for the shops that survived as they were able to increase profits.
A reduction of that magnitude doesn't appear to satisfy the environmental appetite as it continues and has even become magnified. We need regulations to control the release of hazardous chemicals, but much of the attack on hexavalent chrome is unjustified. An example is the 'potential' for one cancer death per million as justification. Amazingly it was never proven that exposure to chromic acid at normal safe working levels actually causes cancer.
The recent attempts to ban hexavalent chrome appear like it is being coordinated by some outside invisible force. California's Air Resources Board (CARB) is trying to ban hexavalent hard chrome by January 1, . The European Union's REACH program voted to ban the use of chromic acid and other hexavalent chrome chemicals for most manufacturing processes in the EU by September 21, . It isn't much of a stretch that the Federal EPA might also want to take further draconian steps against this essential industry.
They could not have chosen a worse chemical to further restrict or ban because hard chrome plating is so vital to our industry and economy. Other hexavalent chromium chemicals are used in many critical applications as well. This is a shame, as chrome has many unique properties that can't be duplicated by any other process.
Our lifestyles and America's prosperity, safety, and security are not a birthright. These are the dividends of prior hard work, unbiased research, freedom of speech, and advancement by merit. A degraded system results when these basic fundamentals are tampered with. Claims that hexavalent chrome is too dangerous to work with is an example of such tampering. In sum, environmentalists are ignoring the fact that hexavalent chrome plating can be done safely and with complete environmental protection. Instead, they prefer to restrict its use or ban it altogether while insisting that inferior replacement processes, like trivalent chrome, are a suitable replacement. Their claims are absurd, and their 'solution' will destroy a very viable and necessary industry.
Hexavalent chromium (chromic acid) is actually quite benign. Of course, it's hazardous, but so is every other industrial chemical. In terms of hazard, chromic acid is realistically a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Granted, we shouldn't inhale chrome fumes or pour them down the drain. But the issue of protecting the environment and our employees was solved a long time ago. That's what ventilation and Zero Discharge systems are for. They do an excellent job of keeping everything safe and legal.
The real problem behind the attack on hexavalent hard chrome is more political than environmental.
Over three generations have worked with hard chrome their entire lives, and we don't know of a single case where anyone died of cancer because of it.
Ironically, the body needs chrome to live, and without it, we would die from a disease similar to diabetes. Chromium is needed for proper metabolism, maintaining low triglyceride and cholesterol levels, keeping blood pressure in check, preventing depression, and even good eyesight. Witness the fact that many multivitamins now contain a small amount of chromium.
The ironic part is our bodies magically convert hexavalent chrome into the trivalent form without doing much damage unless introduced in large doses. Over three generations have worked with hard chrome their entire lives, and we don't know of a single case where anyone died of cancer because of it.
The research was started around to find a substitute for hard chrome. This was fueled by the false belief that chrome is bad and, therefore, must be replaced with something else. Some of this research was done with federal government-funded grants. Several potential replacements were later developed, including:
None of these replacements can replace hexavalent hard chrome on all part types, sizes, and applications. Each is a specialized coating with a rather narrow process window that has issues such as:
The Ni/SiC composite nickel process is actually the best choice if a replacement process is eventually required. Its wear life and wearability are about the same as hard chrome; it plates 10 times faster and has excellent throwing power without fuming because of its near 100% efficiency. This process, like hard chrome, is also easy to zero discharge. Its only downside is the higher CAPEX and OPEX costs and the number of tanks required.
While hard chrome may be over-engineered for some applications, it is a terrific coating for any surface where hardness and wear resistance are needed. This is especially true if the ease of application and cost is any concern.
The very reason that hard chrome gained widespread use so quickly is due to its utility, versatility, ease of control, and low cost. Hard chrome is commonly used to plate both large and small parts individually or in high volumes, frequently with great precision. Hard chrome has many attributes that cannot be achieved by any other process. It is relatively inexpensive, and it generates zero waste products when properly applied.
It is the writer's opinion that the federal government will not ultimately ban hexavalent chrome because of its requirement for items like aircraft landing gears and weapon systems. In addition, most industries will not accept a replacement coating because hexavalent hard chrome has proven superior for almost 100 years. Any other process is apt to degrade performance across a multitude of industries. The regulators will eventually realize these facts and withdraw their attack. The EPA could, however, further tighten the air and water discharge limits. This won't matter to those forward-looking operations that upgraded to sustainable processing as their numbers are already at zero, and the authorities cannot regulate below this.
One thing that may occur, however, is further consolidation in the hard chrome plating industry. Some of the larger operations may acquire smaller shops, and some OEMs may acquire chrome operations to enhance their manufacturing abilities.
Like it or not, all platers are in this fight together.
The American hard chrome platers are encouraged to be steadfast, to maintain and even improve their operations during these difficult times. The plating operations that upgrade their equipment and processes using the sustainable approach can easily demonstrate their safe application with zero emissions. You can't get any better than zero, while most replacement coatings are known as waste generators.
We foresee a very bright future ahead for hard chrome operations. Both job and captive shops will prosper with improved methods and upgraded equipment. The shops that survive this onslaught will be in a unique position to capitalize on increased market share and profits.
Chrome plating has been our passion and our livelihood for generations. It's how we live, how we feed and support our families. It is an important skilled trade that we are proud to pass on to future generations.
Like it or not, all platers are in this fight together. If the environmental extremists want to ban hexavalent chrome and destroy our industry, they can also do it to nickel, copper, or any other metal you choose to plate.
Contact the author at with any comments or questions on this article. Visit www.Plating.com
Are you interested in learning more about Hard Chrome Plating Equipment? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Related links:
What do you picture when you hear the word &#;chrome&#;? For most people, chrome is a very positive word. It stirs up images of sleek, shiny, reflective metal that always looks new. Manufacturers may think of chrome as a lifesaver for making their products stronger and more durable. Most chrome products aren&#;t actually made of chrome all the way through &#; they are electroplated with a layer of chrome. This layer can transform a product, both aesthetically and functionally.
It&#;s no wonder chrome plating is a popular process. Let&#;s take some time to look back and learn more about who invented chrome plating and how the plating process has evolved over time.
Before we learn when chrome plating was invented, we have to go all the way back to the early 19th century, when electroplating was first discovered. An Italian chemist named Luigi Brugnatelli discovered that submerging metallic objects into a solution of dissolved gold and applying a charge with a Voltaic pile caused the gold to cover the surface of the objects. A Voltaic pile was the first electrical battery that was able to provide uninterrupted electricity to a circuit.
Brugnatelli shared his findings in in a Belgian scientific journal, but the scientific community did not embrace this discovery. One concern, held by Napoleon Bonaparte, was that lower classes would be able to use the process to have gold-plated belongings. Electroplating did not begin to be widely used until it was rediscovered a few decades later. It quickly became a popular way of creating jewelry, relics and more that appeared extremely valuable but were affordable to broader populations. In addition to gold, other types of metal plating, like nickel plating, became popular.
While the idea of electroplating in general was developed in the early 19th century, it wasn&#;t until the early 20th century that chromium plating began. One of the pioneers of chromium plating was George J. Sargent, who earned his doctorate degree in by studying chromium deposition. His studies led to Colin Fink and Charles Eldridge developing a commercial process for chromium plating in the following decade.
By the mid-s, there were two companies advertising their chromium plating services: The Chemical Treatment Company in New York and the Chromium Products Corporation in New Jersey. These two companies quickly merged, forming the Chromium Corporation of America. Following some patent interferences, the Chromium Corporation of America merged with a new company, General Chromium Corporation, and formed United Chromium, Incorporated in .
It&#;s clear to see these early companies had high hopes for the success of chromium plating, and they were right. Chromium plating&#;s popularity took off rapidly. When something was chrome, consumers knew it would have a shiny, sleek appearance and would be more durable with greater corrosion resistance.
It&#;s no wonder manufacturers and consumers embraced chromium plating &#; or, as it came to be known, simply &#; chrome. Chrome could be applied to nearly anything to improve its appearance and durability. Cars, bicycles and motorcycles, among other products, started rolling onto the market with sleek chrome parts.
During World War II, the use of metals like chrome was partly put on hold, but after the war, it resumed in full force. In fact, the French government created a Center of Information on Hard Chromium just after the war, which gave the world a comprehensive textbook on the topic in .
Chrome was a common design feature of many objects in the s. Picture a mid-century diner, for instance. Bar stools, trim on the bar and tables and even exterior features on the building were often chrome. Throughout the 20th century, up to today, chrome has continued to be a common finishing feature for everything from automobiles to doorknobs to sink faucets. You may not see it in all the places you would have in the s, but the sleek appearance of chrome isn&#;t likely to ever go out of style.
When chrome is used purely for aesthetics, it is known as decorative chrome plating. Decorative chrome plating is done differently than hard chrome plating, which is also sometimes called engineering or functional chrome plating. When chrome is applied for aesthetic purposes, it goes on in a much thinner layer than when it is meant primarily for practical purposes. Hard chrome plating is often applied to components and tools that need to hold up to a lot of wear, like hydraulic cylinders, for example.
The way chrome plating is done has evolved since it was first developed in the &#;20s. Originally, hard chromium plating was done by painstakingly calculating the surface area of an object to be plated and supplying the appropriate level of current to achieve the required current density at a known speed. Marvin J. Udy challenged this process by claiming that all chromium plating could be done with the same voltage level.
Along with Phil Hale, Udy set out to prove his hypothesis by attempting to plate various parts all at the same time with the same current to all of them. He found that &#;if you have a definite known electrode spacing and apply a constant voltage, the current density will be constant.&#; A successor named Clarence H. Peger gave the system its name, the Reversible Rack 2 Bus Bar System, and helped to popularize it.
Around the same time, T. H. Webersinn was experimenting with the trivalent process of chrome plating, which he intended to be an improvement over ordinary hexavalent baths. The process was, in fact, easier and more cost-effective. However, it resulted in a darker, less appealing surface appearance. Trivalent chromium more closely resembled stainless steel. Other issues were that the chromium didn&#;t adhere well in thicker layers and was porous, causing a lack of durability.
Over time, the &#;recipe&#; used for trivalent chromium plating was refined. Today, companies use additives to achieve the right color. Depending on the chrome plating applications, both trivalent and hexavalent solutions are used today. Hexavalent solutions are still preferred for most heavy-duty applications.
Chrome plating is a science, and as such, it has a scientific past &#; one of discovery, experimentation and continuous improvement. At Hard Chrome Specialists, we understand the intricacies of chrome plating and how to deliver the best results for our clients. Our advanced chrome plating baths allow us to carefully control the plating parameters to achieve exact specifications in the thickness and hardness of chrome coatings.
We&#;ve been providing the East Coast with hard chrome plating since , so we have the expertise to help you find the perfect plating solution for your components and deliver that solution to you. Contact us today to learn more.
The company is the world’s best Hot Dip Galvanizing Machine For Metal Product supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )