Matte Chrome Spec.

[jerryv]

I am looking for a way to best specify matte chrome plate finish. I need to have a .001 max
thickness and a uniform roughness of 15-40 micro-inches. Our current company standard is very
vague and calls for a 120 grit bead blast after plating and a “light rag-wheel polish to remove
surface imperfections”. The problem is that finish is never consistent.

 

[TVP]

My experience with chrome plating is limited to highly polished industrial (hard) chrome, which we specify by thickness, surface roughness, and crack density. We specify a max surface roughness of Rz 1 (metric). I would imagine that in order to obtain a 15-40 microinch finish with a 120 grit blast, and a light subsequent polish would be difficult. I would try to use a lighter grit, something more like 300-400 -- 120 grit is quite aggressive. Do you know if any type of abrasive is use during the polishing step? You may want to consider using an even lighter abrasive, maybe around 1000 grit, in conjunction with the polishing step.