Hard chromium is a thicker chromium coating. The thickness can reach, depending on the
application, several millimetres. This is unlike bright chromium where only some
thousandths of millimetres are deposited. This characterises the difference between
"functional" and "decorative" chromium plating. There is no difference
in the chemical and physical properties. Chromium remains chromium.Principally all steels, aluminium, non-ferrous metals and their alloys, with very few expectations.
It is important for the plater to know exactly which substrate metal is to be chromium plated, because specific pre-treatment of the workpiece may be necessary.
A chromium deposit replicates the surface of the substrate. Therefore a chromium-plated surface has always the same finish as the base material. Mechanical pre-treatments, such as grinding and polishing are usually required.
