US2008173549A1PendingUtilityA1

Direct current chrome plating process and variant layered chrome product

26
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 27, 2006Filed: Jun 27, 2007Published: Jul 24, 2008
Est. expiryJun 27, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Andrew J. MolineClint J. Mullen
C25D 5/14C25D 7/00C25D 5/625C25D 3/04C23C 28/023
26
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An improved direct current chrome plating process which results in increased corrosion resistance as compared to conventional processes. Particularly, in comparison with conventional processes, an improved process as broadly contemplated herein can preferably include an additional processing step involving the application of a distinct chemical solution. This additional step, consequently, will lead to a chrome plated product having variant layers of chrome plating rather than the single layer as produced conventionally.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of chrome-plating a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a substrate;   applying a first chrome layer onto the substrate, the first chrome layer being crack-free;   applying a second chrome layer onto the first chrome layer, the second chrome layer comprising micro cracks;   said step of applying a first chrome layer comprising applying a first chrome plating solution which comprises catalyst in a concentration of between about 0 percent and about 20 percent vs. active ingredients.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises chrome trioxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises chrome trioxide in a concentration of between about 20 oz. and about 48 oz. per gallon. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises sulfuric acid in a concentration of between about 0.20 oz. and about 0.60 oz. per gallon. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of applying a first chrome layer comprises immersing the substrate in the first chrome plating solution and applying a continuous direct current. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of applying a second chrome layer comprises immersing the substrate with applied first chrome layer in a first chrome plating solution and applying a continuous direct current. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said providing step comprises providing a substrate ground to specification with an Ra value of between about 2.0 and about 10.0 micro-inches. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said providing step comprises providing a substrate ground to specification with an Rz value of between about 12 and about 30 micro-inches. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of immersing the substrate in etching solution prior to said step of applying a first chrome layer. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said step of immersing the substrate in etching solution further comprises applying a reversed direct current. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second chrome plating solution further comprises chrome trioxide.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second chrome plating solution further comprises chrome trioxide in a concentration of between about 20 oz. and about 48 oz. per gallon. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second chrome plating solution further comprises sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second chrome plating solution further comprises sulfuric acid in a concentration of between about 0.20 oz. and about 0.60 oz. per gallon. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of applying a second chrome layer comprises applying a chrome plating solution which comprises catalyst in a concentration of between about 80 percent and about 120 percent vs. active ingredients. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of applying a first chrome layer comprises immersing the substrate in the first chrome plating solution and applying a first continuous direct current. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said step of applying a second chrome layer comprises immersing the substrate with applied first chrome layer in a first chrome plating solution and applying a second continuous direct current. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first chrome plating solution further comprises chrome trioxide.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises chrome trioxide in a concentration of between about 20 oz. and about 48 oz. per gallon. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first chrome plating solution further comprises sulfuric acid in a concentration of between about 0.20 oz. and about 0.60 oz. per gallon. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said providing step comprises providing a substrate ground to specification with an Ra value of between about 2.0 and about 10.0 micro-inches. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said providing step comprises providing a substrate ground to specification with an Rz value of between about 12 and about 30 micro-inches. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of immersing the substrate in etching solution prior to said step of applying a first chrome layer. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said step of immersing the substrate in etching solution further comprises applying a reversed direct current. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein said step of applying a reversed direct current comprises applying a current with voltage in a range of between about 12 and about 18 volts. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein said step of applying a reversed direct current comprises applying a current in a range of between about 0.5 and about 3.0 amps per square inch. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein said step of applying a reversed direct current comprises applying a current for a duration of between about 8 and about 25 seconds. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of applying a first continuous direct current comprises applying a current with voltage in a range of between about 3 and about 16 volts. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of applying a first continuous direct current comprises applying a current in a range of between about 1.0 and about 5.0 amps per square inch. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of applying a first continuous direct current comprises applying a current for a duration of between about 10 and about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of applying a first continuous direct current comprises applying a current with voltage in a range of between about 3 and about 16 volts. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of applying a second continuous direct current comprises applying a current in a range of between about 1.0 and about 5.0 amps per square inch. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said step of applying a second continuous direct current comprises applying a current for a duration of between about 20 and about 50 minutes. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first chrome layer has a thickness of between about 2 and about 4 times the thickness of the second chrome layer. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first chrome layer has a thickness of between about 0.0002 inch and about 0.0004 inch. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the substrate comprises a rod. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the rod comprises a piston rod for a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

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