Chromium Plating

The functional advantages of trivalent chromium are higher cathode efficiency and better throwing power. The better throwing power means production rates are greater. Less energy is required because of the lower current densities required. The process is more robust than hexavalent chromium because it can withstand current interruptions.

From a health standpoint trivalent chromium is intrinsically less toxic than hexavalent chromium. Because of the lower toxicity it is not regulated as toughly, which reduces overhead costs. There are other secondary health advantages:

• Higher cathode efficiencies lead to less chromium emitted into the air
• Lower concentration levels result in less chromium waste
• The anodes do not discompose

One of the disadvantages when the process was first introduced was that decorative customers disapproved of the color differences, however additives are now used to adjust the color. In hard coating applications, the corrosion resistance of thicker coatings is not quite as good as hexavalent chromium. The cost of the chemicals is greater, however this is usually offset by greater production rates and lower overhead costs. In general, the process must be controlled more closely than in hexavalent chromium plating, especially with respect to metallic impurities. This means processes that are hard to control, such as barrel plating, are much more difficult using a trivalent chromium bath.

Further to reviewing chromium plating processes , I was minded to take Mrs N to Rudesheim Magic Bike fest.

The tagging process is somewhat like entering a sterilisation clinic

A example of a fine minimalist backend

Amstrad* retro "hifi" unit, circa 1968.

Ladybird helmet captioned "eat more flies"

Single malt whisky container thoughtfully provided by Harley Davidson  - the idea of ownership is growing on  me.

Everyone except us was sporting some sort of uniform leder uniform

These over wide tyres suffer from tram lining - I thought that was well known?

Coming soon and in the next episode, Nikos World unearths the mystery of Tin Tin's space rocket at a secret location in North Germany (Peenemünde).


*Note to non-UK readers, in the 1960s Amstrad was a premier brand of astonishingly good audio equipment lovingly handbuilt in Cricklewood or Brentwood or some dump like that near London using at least one transistor and sold without warranty at Laskys in the Tottenham Court Road.  The owner of Amstrad went on to compere a situation comedy on BBC TV.