The Benefits of  PVD Coating on  Electroplated Parts
                     THE BENEFITS OF 
PVD COATING
ON  
ELECTROPLATED 
PARTS
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INTRODUCTION
Chrome plating technology is an 
underappreciated marvel of materials science
—a fascinating alchemy of chemistry and 
metallurgy that produces the most well-known 
metal surface finish available. Chrome plating 
or chrome PVD coating, which was introduced 
in the 1920s, quickly gained popularity in the 
auto industry, consumer products, and then in 
the home with faucets and door hardware.
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WHAT’S UNIQUE 
ABOUT CHROME 
COATING?
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Before we get into how PVD can help 
chrome plating, it's important to 
understand why this coating is unique. The 
WHAT’S first point to mention is that "chrome 
UNIQUE plating" is made up of two or three different metal layers, with only trace 
ABOUT amounts of chromium present. The plating stack on most substrates, such as steel, 
CHROME zinc, and plastic, includes copper, nickel, 
and finally a top layer of chromium. When 
COATING? applied to brass, the copper is omitted, 
and the process begins with nickel and 
chromium.
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A THIN BUT 
SIGNIFICANT LAYER 
OF CHROMIUM
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Despite the fact that the chromium layer 
is thin, the contributions are substantial. 
As far as pure metals go, it's one of the 
A THIN BUT hardest (1000HV), which, when built on 
SIGNIFICANT top of a supporting structure of thick, 
moderately hard nickel (600HV), will 
LAYER OF increase toughness and durability even 
CHROMIUM more. Chromium also has a strong 
naturally forming surface oxide layer that 
protects it from chemical attack and 
tarnishing, which is why chromium is used 
to make stainless steel alloys "stainless."
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A SERIOUS DRAWBACK: 
STRICT REGULATION OF 
CHEMICAL PLATING 
PROCESS
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One disadvantage of chromium plating is 
the stringent regulations governing the 
A SERIOUS chemicals used to create the coatings—
DRAWBACK: not the metal layer itself, which is safe. 
However, the hexavalent approach 
STRICT remains the dominant approach. Please 
REGULATION keep in mind that PVD coatings or PVD 
OF CHEMICAL coating suppliers are one option for 
replacing hexavalent chrome with a more 
PLATING aesthetically pleasing appearance—but 
PROCESS that is a topic for another post.
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CHROMIUM IN DECORATIVE 
COATINGS—PVD ON 
ELECTROPLATED PARTS
Regardless of the type of chromium deposit used, both 
are completely compatible with the wide range of 
decorative PVD coatings offered by Vapor Technologies 
(VaporTech®). Parts that have been chrome plated 
typically require no additional treatment and can be 
placed directly into a coating system for a new finish. 
Our coatings engineers are knowledgeable about 
surface finishing techniques other than PVD, such as 
electroplating, powder coating, anodizing, and mass 
finishing.
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