Styling chrome?
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Styling chrome?
John R Smith
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There are no such things as stupid questions, only stupid answers. The chrome parts on the 500 are chromed plastic, the door handles for example are chrome on ABS. However, the chrome itself is the real thing, that is chromium metal deposited on the plastic base, and can be cared for in exactly the same way as chrome on brass or steel - with a gentle cleaning from time to time and an application of good-quality wax.
John
John
Interesting stuff, I thought it would actually be proper chrome considering the price some of them are up for!
Electroplated in chrome, so like the first reply said it is chrome, but only the top layer lol
Chrome on plastic won't rust. Chrome on steel will, unless there is a barrier metal like nickel between the chrome layer and the base steel, since chrome itself is porous and so eventually allows the underlying steel to corrode. So plastic has to be better.
Stainless steel is best of course (as long as it has a rubber barrier between it and the painted steel), because even chrome on plastic will eventually perish.
Stainless steel is best of course (as long as it has a rubber barrier between it and the painted steel), because even chrome on plastic will eventually perish.
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it can't be electroplated; plastic doesn't conduct.
Steed
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"Chrome plating of plastic is significantly more difficult than performing the same operation on a metal, but it will provide excellent results when the right process is utilised. Due to the chrome plating process requiring the part to be electrically conductive, a series of steps are required before the chrome can be deposited onto the surface of the product.
The first step to be carried out is to etch the surface with a chemical so that the subsequent layers of nickel and chromium will adhere. A large proportion of plastic parts that will be chrome plated will be moulded from ABS as this gives a very good surface finish to plate onto. ABS is also used because the butadiene molecules on the surface of the material can be chemically removed. This removal of butadiene molecules leave microscopic undercuts in the surface of the ABS and this acts as a very good key onto which the first layer can be attached.
The next process that will be carried out is to attach a layer of nickel (with a catalyst) onto the surface of the part. This layer of nickel will be what becomes electrically conductive and allows the chrome to be electroplated to it. This layer is applied by means of dipping the product. The key that was put into the surface of the part will ensure the nickel remains attached when the part is removed from the bath.
Once the layer of nickel has dried the part can be plated by electroplating. This involves applying a negative charge to the part being plated and dipping it into a solution of the metal it is to be plated with, which has a positive charge. The positively charged metallic ions are attracted to the negatively charged part and once they come into contact with the part they revert back to their metallic form again. The part is removed from the solution and left to cool.
To ensure a good quality finish after chrome plating a part must be moulded to a very high quality. Any defects that are on the surface of the part after injection moulding will stand out after plating. Also, any stresses in the moulded components will show up as a defect when chrome plated. Unlike other finishing methods chrome plating does not fill in scratches or other defects. Instead the chrome will form a thinner layer over the defects and, in effect, magnify the problem. For this reason rigorous quality checks are carried out on all products so that money is not wasted plating a part that has a defect."
http://www.aki.co.uk/page/chrome_plating
The first step to be carried out is to etch the surface with a chemical so that the subsequent layers of nickel and chromium will adhere. A large proportion of plastic parts that will be chrome plated will be moulded from ABS as this gives a very good surface finish to plate onto. ABS is also used because the butadiene molecules on the surface of the material can be chemically removed. This removal of butadiene molecules leave microscopic undercuts in the surface of the ABS and this acts as a very good key onto which the first layer can be attached.
The next process that will be carried out is to attach a layer of nickel (with a catalyst) onto the surface of the part. This layer of nickel will be what becomes electrically conductive and allows the chrome to be electroplated to it. This layer is applied by means of dipping the product. The key that was put into the surface of the part will ensure the nickel remains attached when the part is removed from the bath.
Once the layer of nickel has dried the part can be plated by electroplating. This involves applying a negative charge to the part being plated and dipping it into a solution of the metal it is to be plated with, which has a positive charge. The positively charged metallic ions are attracted to the negatively charged part and once they come into contact with the part they revert back to their metallic form again. The part is removed from the solution and left to cool.
To ensure a good quality finish after chrome plating a part must be moulded to a very high quality. Any defects that are on the surface of the part after injection moulding will stand out after plating. Also, any stresses in the moulded components will show up as a defect when chrome plated. Unlike other finishing methods chrome plating does not fill in scratches or other defects. Instead the chrome will form a thinner layer over the defects and, in effect, magnify the problem. For this reason rigorous quality checks are carried out on all products so that money is not wasted plating a part that has a defect."
http://www.aki.co.uk/page/chrome_plating
Pretty clear 
I remember that chrome on plastic in my childhood sometimes whited-out with time. Probably the system wasn't perfected then. And the chromed racks on the Lambrettas and Vespas we had all rusted in the end - it could be peeled off the rusty steel in coils.
I remember that chrome on plastic in my childhood sometimes whited-out with time. Probably the system wasn't perfected then. And the chromed racks on the Lambrettas and Vespas we had all rusted in the end - it could be peeled off the rusty steel in coils.
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Tell me about it, its a pain in the backside moulding parts that have to be chrome plated.
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excellent post that, I fully stand corrected!
