Chrome Plating vs. Spray Chrome: What You Need To Know

Chrome has captured the imagination of people for generations. With its high gleam and mirror-like, bright finish, chrome gives a beautiful finish wherever it is used. Chrome is very durable and resists corrosion, making it a durable choice for most projects. People also just love the look it provides. When choosing to chrome an object, people may opt for chrome plating or spray chrome, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Chrome Plating

Chrome plating, or electroplating, has several advantages. It can withstand extreme weather and temperatures and will not corrode or oxidize. It is easy to take care of and has a beautifully glossy finish. People are able to refurbish their damaged chrome-plated parts, saving them the expense of having to purchase new parts. When a part is stripped and then chrome plated, it will be restored to the same condition it was in when it was new. Electroplating also has applications for use in household fixtures, including bathroom and kitchen fixtures, door handles, faucets, sinks and many others.

There are several disadvantages to electroplating chrome onto the surface of an object. People must send off their parts to companies that specialize in electroplating. The chemicals that are used in the chrome-plating process are very toxic, so their use is heavily regulated by the government. It takes significantly more time than does spray-on chrome and is very expensive. Because the parts must be dipped in vats for the chroming process, people are also limited by the size of the part that they wish to chrome.

The Disadvantages of Chrome Plating include the following:

• Non-uniform coating
• Hexavalent Chromium is a hazardous air pollutant
• Measuring surface tension is tedious and suffers from inaccuracy
• Corrosion resistance of thicker coatings is not quite as good
• Cost of the chemicals is greater
• Chrome plating process is hard to control

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Spray Chrome

Spray-on chrome has numerous advantages. It is simpler to apply and can be done in a person’s own garage or shop. People do not have to send parts off, saving them time and money. Spray-on chrome is very versatile and is not limited by how large a part is that the person wants to spray chrome. It can be used on a broad variety of different materials, including glass, plastic, metal and wood. It is much less expensive and gives the same high-quality durable finish and gleam people obtain through electroplating.

The advantages of PChrome include all of the following:

• Durability as good as chrome plating
• Bonds to the substrate just as well
• Highly weather-, scuffs-, and salt-resistant
• Highly reflective
• A greener choice than traditional chrome plating
• Cheaper cost
• Can be used regardless of the size of the part
• Can be used on-site
• Fewer steps in the process
• Thicker coatings
• Choice of materials
• Reduced turnaround time
• Fewer health and safety concerns