For many years Hart Materials has been marketing a chemical silvering process to create an electrically conductive surface on non-conductive substrates. This is principally used in the nickel electroforming industry where the company has specialised as a material supplier for over 30 years. However, the excellent visual quality produced by the Hart process has resulted in it being used for high quality decorative finishes.
With suitable protection from a lacquer top-coat, this provides an alternative to ‘chrome’ plating where the excellent durability of the traditional electroplated nickel-chrome finish is not necessary.
Managing Director Dr. Tony Hart comments. “Legislation, in the form of the European Union REACh Regulation, sets a date of September 2017 by which time the use of hexavalent chromium salts - widely employed in ‘chrome’ plating - must cease, unless the use has been authorised.
Authorisation under REACh is expensive and only expected to be granted in exceptional cases. Unfortunately, there is no substitute to nickel-chromium plating when good resistance to corrosion and wear is vital, such as in the automotive industry. There are many applications in less aggressive environments where a highly attractive and reflective coating could be acceptable as a ‘chrome’ alternative.” Tony comments.
For more information on chrome plating, please contact us.