Black chrome

Brief technical description:

• Like the lighter variant, black chrome is a decorative and corrosion-resistant surface material that is electrolytically precipitated. During the precipitation process, chrome oxides and chrome hydroxides are embedded to produce a jet black surface. The hardness is somewhat less than that of the light chrome variant. Precipitation usually takes place on a nickel substratum, but black chrome can also be precipitated directly onto stainless steel. 

Advantages:

• good corrosion resistance
• high absorptive capacity
• good heat conductivity
• excellent temperature resistance (up to approx. 400°C)
• good electrical conductivity

Please note:

• During the precipitation process, a thin, amorphous layer is formed on the chrome surface, the structure of which can be further improved by subsequent treatment with appropriate oils.

Fields of application:

• Automotive (for components subject to high thermal loads, e.g. exhaust covers, manifolds, etc.)
• Electrical industry (for black surfaces with good conductivity)
• Optics (for black surfaces with strict dimensional requirements, e.g. ring nuts used for lenses, etc.)  

further links to chrome-plating methods

• Cu-Ni-Cr
• Bright chrome