REPLACING HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM IN ELECTROPLATING

Hexavalent chromium processes provide unique engineering coatings in t erms of wear and corrosion resistance. However, such processes are und er pressure due to their environmentally unfriendly nature. Recently, significant efforts have been made on the development of alternative, more environmentally acceptable, processes. The alternative-processes offer a number of environmental, process and metallurgical advantages over the existing chromate-based ones. These advantages along, with so me possible disadvantages, are discussed and several applications are reviewed.