Chrome in the Industry
In the past, chrome was added on car parts and home appliances by electro-plating chrome onto steel alloys specifically made to accept chromium. Chromium is element number 24 on the periodic table. What we call chrome is actually chromium after it is electroplated on top of another metal. Because it often contains chromium oxide, it protects the underlying metal from corrosion.
The kind of chrome process used for electroplating is very toxic and is hazardous for the environment. In this traditional chroming process, hexavalent chromium or trivalent chromium is used to create the chrome. The electroplating chemical compounds for both processes are toxic and controlled in several countries. Hexavalent chromium is extremely toxic so trivalent chrome or tri-chrome tends to be used more often for present-day applications. Some industries continue to use hexa-chrome due to the fact that its corrosion resistance often exceeds that of tri-chrome plating.
In 2007 hexa-chrome was banned for use on automobiles in Europe. In 2013, the European Union placed several hexavalent chromium compounds on a list of substances of very high concern, classifying them as carcinogenic and mutagenic. Europe’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations as of 2017 banned the use of hexavalent chromium for surface treatments. The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration has also recognized Hexavalent Chromium as a carcinogenic, and there are severe restrictions that the agency places on worker’s exposure to the vapors released during the chemical baths that are used during electroplating.
Spray chrome, as Cosmichrome produces, is an alternative method to produce a chrome-like finish. With spray chrome, you can get the same high-shine mirror finish as real chrome without having to use the toxic acid baths and compounds that traditional chroming requires. So, spray chrome is not real chrome, in the traditional sense. It is not done through electroplating, but through a series of sprayed-on layers typically known as hydro plating. Rather than Chromium, silver is used in this plating method. Spray chrome is essentially applying a silver mirror onto any surface.
What spray chrome is not
It must be understood that spray chrome is not a generic paint, and cannot be sprayed out from a conventional spray gun. Regular spray guns are used, but only to apply the Basecoat before the plating occurs, as well as the Topcoat to seal the metalized surface after plating. The actual plating of the surface is done through spraying a series of certain water-soluble chemical solutions and pure distilled water rinses. The plating that occurs is actually a chemical reaction that takes place on the surface of the part in question. The metallic layer is made out of a silver solution, and because it is a chemical reaction, there are several important steps you need to take to get good results!
It is important to understand the difference between spray chrome and spray paint. Spray chrome is not spray paint. Instead, when you apply spray chrome using the plating process, a chemical reaction will occur on the surface of the object you are chroming. The metallic layer is made out of a silver solution. To get the finish that you want with spray chrome, you must follow the application steps.
Why you need a Basecoat
The Basecoat creates a surface that can readily accept the metal plating solutions, so it is absolutely necessary to have one. It additionally helps to create a glass-like surface to be able to produce a perfect mirror finish.
Why you need a Topcoat
Silver left unsealed can tarnish and turn yellow, brown, and black when it is exposed to oxygen in the air. For this reason, after plating, you must seal the metalized surface with the Cosmichrome Topcoat. The Topcoat protects the finish from the outside environment, and additional layers can be added for additional scratch and damage protection.
Benefits of using Cosmichrome
The benefits of using Cosmichrome’s spray chrome systems over conventional chrome electroplating are many. Not only does it cost less to produce a finished piece, but you can add any amount of colors to the finish! This takes chrome to many industries other than automobiles and appliances. Not only can we add colors, but unlike chromium, our chrome-like finish can be applied onto ANY surface material. Cosmichrome does not require baking (it is optional) allowing you to apply our finish on surfaces that otherwise cannot withstand high temperatures. It is additionally much less harmful to the environment, and you don’t need giant chemical baths to do it!