STAINLESS STEEL PICKLING FAQs

Hard chrome is a galvanic coating of chromium that is applied to metal surfaces to improve their hardness, wear resistance and corrosion protection. It is often used in industry where high resilience and durability are required.

Hard chrome offers you the following advantages:

• High hardness: Protects surfaces from wear.

• Corrosion protection: Prevents rust formation and increases the service life of components.

• Low friction: Improves the sliding properties of components.

• Chemical resistance: Resists aggressive media such as acids and alkalis.

Hard chrome is used in numerous industries, including:

• mechanical engineering

• automotive industry

• aerospace

• hydraulics and pneumatics

• tool and mold making

• food industry

• packaging industry

• pharmaceutical industry

• forming technology

Here you can find out more about the hard chrome application areas .

Hard chrome is suitable for various base materials such as steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and aluminum.

Note: There are almost no limits to the application areas of DURAFLON®. Contact us with your specific requirements. We will be happy to review possible applications for your area or make recommendations.

Here you can find out more about the hard chrome application areas .

The thickness of the hard chrome layer varies depending on the application and typically ranges from 5 to 500 micrometers.

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Hard chrome is applied by electroplating. The component is immersed in an electrolysis bath and chromium is deposited on the surface by applying an electric current.

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The production of hard chrome is subject to strict environmental and safety regulations. As a modern hard chrome plant, we rely on environmentally friendly technologies to minimize emissions.

We have been successfully refining metals for three generations. The next three generations should have the same opportunities. Sustainability is a long-term but profitable investment.

Through the ISO 14001 standard, we are demonstrably committed to integrating our environmentally friendly behavior into our business processes. We are increasingly gaining the trust of customers, suppliers, employees, authorities, investors and society.

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The durability of a hard chrome layer depends on the application and the loads. Under optimal conditions it can last for many years.

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Yes, damaged hard chrome layers can be repaired by re-chroming. First, the old layer is removed and then a new layer is applied.

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After hard chrome plating, surfaces can be further processed by grinding, polishing or honing to achieve the desired roughness and precision.

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Hard chrome offers a high level of corrosion protection, but does not make the base material completely rust-proof. A combination with rust-proof materials such as stainless steel is ideal for environments with high humidity.

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A hard chrome layer has a hardness of about 850 to 1,200 HV (Vickers hardness) . Compared to other metals, this is extremely hard and makes hard chrome ideal for protecting components from wear.

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Although chromium is one of the hardest metals, it is not the hardest. There are other materials, such as diamond or tungsten carbide, that are even harder. However, hard chromium offers an excellent combination of hardness, wear resistance and corrosion protection, which is why it is so popular in industry.

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Yes, hard chrome is scratch-resistant and can withstand mechanical stress and abrasion. The high hardness of the chrome layer reliably protects the surface from scratches, which is particularly advantageous in applications subject to high levels of stress.

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PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), better known under the brand name Teflon, belongs to the group of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS). PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are used in many industrial and consumer products because of their water, grease and dirt-repellent properties. Due to the high environmental persistence of PFAS, these substances are increasingly being regulated.

No, DURAFLON® is not a classic PTFE coating and does not fall under the PFAS restrictions currently being discussed. The coating combines hard chrome with non-stick properties, without the problematic fluorinated polymers found in conventional PTFE coatings. DURAFLON® therefore offers a more environmentally friendly alternative with comparable non-stick and wear protection properties.