Unlike hard chrome plating, TDC is engineered for tight-tolerance parts with minimal dimensional change and, depending on the texture, emphasizes reduced microcracking and improved wear/corrosion behavior. Moreover, hard chrome often requires post machining processes whereas thin dense chrome avoids the extra time and cost altogether.
Armoloy Coatings
Armoloy Coatings
Thin Dense Chrome
Engineered Micro Surface Textures and Performance-Enhancing Compositions By Armoloy
Armoloy Coatings
What is Thin Dense Chrome?
Thin Dense Chrome (TDC), commonly referred to as flash chrome or functional chrome, is an electroplated chromium coating applied typically for manufacturing applications within a general thickness range of 0.00005” to 0.001” (1.27 to 25.4 µm). There are two distinct thin dense chrome surface textures - micro nodular and micro cracked - each creating different TDC products.
All thin dense chrome products share similar metallic properties, features, and benefits. In addition to the two primary surface texture options, TDC can also be combined with nickel-based layers and nanodiamond technology in hybrid coatings. Understanding the application conditions, variables, and base metal properties can aid in determining the ideal TDC product for maximizing performance.
Details About Armoloy Thin Dense Chrome
The Armoloy Corporation helps global manufacturers protect their valuable, high-precision components with our various compositions of Thin Dense Chrome plating.
Thin Dense Chrome (TDC) is a pure metallic zero valence chromium coating that eliminates and prevents metal failures and improves machine performance across a wide range of industries with multiple distinct TDC products. By increasing the longevity of metal surface applications, Armoloy helps ensure that companies avoid unplanned downtime and maintain peak efficiency.
Explore TDC Coatings
Services at Armoloy
The Armoloy Corporation is here to provide support for your project, starting from the discovery phase and continuing through a successful production launch. Whether coatings are considered during the initial part design phase or become necessary due to product failures in the field, our team can assist you at any stage in the process.
Research & Development
Fully equipped R&D plating lab for test runs, prototyping, and continual development of our plating technologies. Our turnkey approach ensures high-quality outcomes for your project.
Process Development & Validation
Support from design to product launch with coating selection, prototyping, testing, PPAP validation, and plating production on any scale. We also support a range of ASTM and AMS test methods with a NADCAP-certified laboratory.
Fulfillment
The Armoloy Corporation ensures the development of a repeatable thin dense chrome plating process that can be achieved at any one of our process fulfillment centers around the world. We will handle prototyping, process validation, cost engineering, and much more.
Qualifications
Specifications
AMS2438 Specification SAE Plating, Chromium Thin, Hard, Dense Deposit
AMS2406 Specification SAE Chromium Plating (Electrodeposited)
Specification SAE AMS2460, Specification SAE Plating, Chromium
Process Specification No. 180 Nodular Thin Dense Chromium (NTDC) Plating
ASTM B650 Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Engineering Chromium Coatings on Ferrous Substrates
Honeywell GPS3116-1H Plating, Specialized
Fisher FFS 2E1 Chromium Coating for Service to 1100F(593C)
MIL-DTL-23422 Military Specification, Chromium Plating, Electrodeposited
ASTM D4060 Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser
ASTM B578 Standard Test Method for Microhardness of Electroplated Coatings
Specification SAE AMS 2407, Plating, Chromium, Porous
ASTM F519 Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief
Adding Value. Developing Solutions.
With over 65 years of experience, The Armoloy Corporation helps global manufacturers protect their most valuable metal assets with a premium lineup of TDC coatings.
Looking for more metal surface treatments to explore? Armoloy’s nickel coatings eliminate and prevent wear and corrosion across a wide range of industrial applications with multiple nickel coating products. By increasing the longevity of metal surface applications, Armoloy helps to ensure that organizations avoid unplanned downtime and maintain peak efficiency and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Armoloy provides Nodular TDC, Microcracked TDC (Electrolizing®), XADC® (nano-diamond co-deposit), and hybrids like Bi-Protec (EN+TDC/XADC) and Gullon (TDC + solid-film lubricant) to target specific wear, friction, and corrosion profiles.
Armoloy TDC reaches about 72–78 Rc (depending on variant and process), enabling excellent sliding and abrasive wear resistance. Armoloy nodular thin dense chrome can exceed 78 Rc but the average is typically 78 Rc.
Both—Armoloy’s TDC reduces wear, friction, and corrosion; nodular TDC in particular is positioned for corrosion mitigation alongside low friction.
Armoloy documents USDA approved/FDA-compliant claims with supporting biocompatibility notes (USP/REACH/RoHS context) for TDC variants used in regulated environments. (Confirm clause-level requirements during quoting.)
TDC produces a uniform matte finish by default; appearance options (e.g., matte, satin, non-reflective) are available with Microcracked TDC.
Yes—Armoloy offers a Microcracked TDC for Aluminum (AL-COAT) option designed for aluminum alloys while maintaining thin, dense deposits.
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