BeGreen Chrome®
Hard chromium plating based on trivalent chromium compounds
Hard chrome is characterized by a variety of technical properties that are valued in a wide range of industries and, in combination, cannot currently be replaced by any other technology. Because of the dangers posed by chromium(VI), the surface finishing industry has been looking for an alternative for several years. While chromium(III) technology is already used for decorative purposes, this process has not yet been transferred to functional chromium plating. In a joint research cooperation, COVENTYA and Betz-Chrom have now succeeded in developing a pilot process for functional coating with chromium(III).
Our BeGreen Chrome® process deposits a functional hard chromium layer based on trivalent chromium compounds from the DURATRI 240 electrolyte. The first customer components have already been successfully coated and are now being tested for their suitability for the corresponding application. We are currently looking for further interested pioneers who want to test a functional chrome plating with chromium(III) on their components. Contact us for a project planning and be part of the chrome plating of a new generation!
Manufacturing specifications
Weight
Up to 250 kg
Dimensions
Plant: 900 L x 650 W x 700 H
Please inquire about component size individually, as it depends on the area to be chromium-plated.
Material
Steels and non-ferrous metals
Layer thickness
Dimensional chromium plating: 5 – 40 µm
Oversize chromium plating: up to 200 µm
Hybrid: e.g. 30 µm nickel + 30 µm chromium
Hard chrome properties
Hard chrome is characterized by high hardness, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance and very good wear resistance. Hard chromium plating extends the technical properties of components and prolongs their service life. Functional chrome plating is used in particular for wear protection in the aerospace, automotive, hydraulics and various branches of mechanical engineering.
Chromium(VI)
National authorities and international regulations such as REACH set strict requirements and limits for the use of hexavalent chromium in surface coatings. Workers must be protected against exposure and the environment against emissions. The chromium layer deposited by the galvanic process is present as a metal in neutral form – chromium(0). Hard-chrome plated components are non-toxic and therefore harmless. Under FAQ on REACH you will find more information on the ban on chromium trioxide and our application for authorisation.
BeGreen Chrome®
DURATRI 240 meets the requirements of the surface industry for a more environmentally friendly process by avoiding hexavalent chromium compounds. Our BeGreen Chrome® process is significantly more complex than conventional hard chrome plating. It requires a multi-part pretreatment series and complex anode technology. Betz-Chrom is willing to meet these challenges and is thus consistently pursuing the self-imposed vision of green electroplating.
Layer properties
Color
semi-glossy grayish
Hardness
800 – 900 HV 0.05
with post-treatment up to 1600 HV
Roughness
Rmax < 0.1 μm to Rz 70 μm
Macro cracked
Wear resistance (abrasion resistance)
Taber Abraser Test: 1.6 mg / 1000 revolutions
Corrosion resistance according to DIN EN ISO 9227-NSS
Chromium 50 µm: 120 h Rp 9
Hybrid nickel 30 µm + chromium 20 µm: 1008 h Rp 10
Magnetic property
Non-magnetic
RoHS compliant
lead and cadmium free
Betz-Chrom commissioned the independent Institut für Galvano- und Oberflächentechnik Solingen (IGOS) to analyse the coating properties. The tested steel bolts were coated with DURATRI 240 by Betz-Chrom. IGOS carried out a 1008-hour salt spray test in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9227 NSS:2017-07, coating thickness measurement in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2178:2016-11, wear test with the friction wheel method in accordance with DIN EN ISO 7784-2:2016-12 and Vickers hardness test in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4516:2002-10. In addition, the crack pattern of the chromium layer was shown.
BeGreen Chrome® – why green?
Like proud parents, we have given our new process a name: BeGreen Chrome®. “Be” identifies the belonging to the Betz-Chrom family. “Chrome” informs about the type of coating. But what does “Green” mean? This is to highlight the hard chrome plating based on trivalent chromium compounds. While chromium(VI) oxide is red-violet, chromium(III) oxide has a green colour. The avoidance of hexavalent chromium compounds is also a more environmentally friendly process. We hope that our BeGreen Chrome® process will be able to replace hard chrome plating based on hexavalent chrome compounds in the long term. The introduction of BeGreen Chrome® therefore represents an important step in the pursuit of our vision of green electroplating.
Cooperation partner COVENTYA
COVENTYA is a privately held, international company that develops, manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals for the surface finishing industry. COVENTYA has 10 research and development centres worldwide, each with a specific purpose related to the strength of its local industries. Click here to visit the COVENTYA website.
