Adds material back to worn or undersized components before finishing to final size.
Hard Chrome Plating
Armoloy coatings
Hard Chrome Plating from Armoloy
Hard chrome plating is an industrial electroplating process used to restore worn components, improve wear resistance, and extend service life. Commonly applied to shafts, rods, rolls, molds, and dies, hard chrome provides a durable, low-friction surface that supports demanding mechanical environments.
At Armoloy, hard chrome plating is used for dimensional build-up, salvage applications, and performance enhancement across a wide range of industries.
How Hard Chrome Plating Works
Hard chrome plating is applied through an electroplating process that deposits chromium onto a metal surface. In most applications, the coating is intentionally built up beyond the final required dimension.
Once plating is complete, the part is brought to size through grinding, honing, or lapping. This finishing step is what allows hard chrome to restore worn or undersized components while meeting tight dimensional and surface finish requirements.
Because the process relies on post-machining to achieve final size, hard chrome plating is commonly used for salvage and repair work. It is especially effective when parts need material added back before being reworked to specification.
The result is a durable, wear-resistant surface with improved lubricity, making it well suited for components that operate under friction, load, or repeated motion.
- Increased hardness of HRC 65-68
- Coefficient of friction roughly 0.12–0.21 against steel (unlubricated)
- Deposit thickness commonly 0.001″ to 0.030″ (25 µm to 762 µm)
- Excellent abrasive wear control
- Improved corrosion resistance
- Performs on most ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Hard chrome plating is commonly used where parts need dimensional restoration, wear resistance, or a durable surface for repeated motion and contact.
- Shafts & Journals
- Hydraulic & Pneumatic Rods
- Industrial Rolls
- Molds & Dies
- Wear & Sealing Surfaces
- Salvage Components
Why Hard Chrome Is Used
Hard chrome plating is selected for applications that require surface durability, dimensional restoration, and reliable performance under load and motion.
Creates a hard, functional coating suited for demanding industrial environments.
Allows parts to be plated oversize and then ground, honed, or lapped to specification.
Helps reduce part replacement frequency and downtime in high-wear applications.
Performs consistently in components subject to load, motion, and repeated cycling.
A More Controlled Approach to Hard Chrome Plating
While conventional hard chrome plating is widely used for dimensional build-up and repair, applications requiring tighter tolerances and reduced post-machining benefit from a more controlled plating process.
Armoloy’s Thin Dense Chrome (TDC) represents a precision-controlled form of hard chrome plating designed to achieve final dimensions with minimal or no post-machining.
Hard Chrome vs Thin Dense Chrome
Both hard chrome and Thin Dense Chrome are chromium-based coatings, but they are used differently depending on the thickness, finishing, and dimensional control the application requires.
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