Hard Chrome Replacement
In the production of hard chromium plating hexavalent chromium oxide is produced. Hex chrome is a well known carcinogen. Industries that generate hex chrome currently face strict occupational and environmental regulations, and the regulations for hex chrome are expected to become more restrictive. Because of the strict regulations for hex chrome the cost of hard chrome plating continues to rise and the availability of the technology is becoming harder to find as older plating operations are being shut down.
Hard Chrome Alternatives
Thermal Spray Technologies offers several alternatives to replace hard chrome plating.
Many of the coatings that are developed to replace hard chrome contain no chrome. The coatings that contain chrome are produced in environmentally and occupationally safe methods that easily meet and exceed the regulations concerning hex chrome.
Because Thermal Spray Technologies custom engineers its coating solutions to each of our customer's component surface requirements, many of the coatings outperform the hard chrome plated coating they replaced. The coatings are typically designed to provide protection against wear, corrosion and many times a combination of both.
Coating Materials
Figure 1 is a comparison of some of the alternative coating materials offered by Thermal Spray Technologies to replace hard chrome plating. These coatings were tested along with hard chrome in an ASTM G65 Abrasive Sand Rubber Wheel wear test. This test demonstrates alternatives to hard chrome plating can clearly outperform the coatings they were designed to replace.
Examples
Thermal sprayed coating alternatives to hard chrome plating are becoming very common. An application example is the use of thermal sprayed carbide coatings on landing gear for aircraft. These coatings have proven to provide exceptional wear and corrosion resistance in this application.
Landing gear struts can be thermal spray coated to replace hard chromium plating