Chromium (Cr); Greek word for color. The metal is so hard that they use it to line the inside of gun barrels. Once you polish it, it will stay shiny and not oxidize for decades.
Chrome! It’s pleasant to look at, but as most of us know, car manufacturers haven’t used chrome plating on metal for years. But what is that stuff the car manufacturers and salesman refer to as ‘bright trim’?
It’s basically just a spray that they apply to plastic. First, they spray a special paint to the plastic which acts as a conditioner. They then apply a spray consisting mostly of silver nitrate and de-ionized water. On the cheaper cars it’s good to go as soon as it drys. On the better cars, they coat it with a thin ceramic clear coat that makes it scratch resistant; but don’t try to buff it. Can you use this spray technique on metal? Yes, but you can’t use it under the hood because it can’t take high temperatures like real chrome.
Where did it start? In the USA. This spray technique has been borrowed from the mirror manufacturing industry which has been around since World War l.
So now, chrome plating shops are closing like crazy. Not only from the lack of business, but mostly from the ever-tougher California environmental chemical laws which means higher certification fees and inspections at the shops. In all fairness, chrome shops do use some dangerous liquids, including acids. In my opinion, it appears like the State wants all chrome shops to close down and increasing their fees is the classic way to do it.
Soon most shops will be closed, unless converted to the new liquid spray technique, so if you need to get a bumper re-plated, you’d better hurry.
– Submitted by Chuck T.
