A look at the technology of low temperature black chrome coating

There are a variety of coatings for surfaces: burnishing, chrome plating, anodising or electroplating with nickel - in addition to these current techniques for surface treatment, MISUMI Europa GmbH offers further coating methods for components from the extensive product range with advantages for a wide variety of applications.

According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials Research, economic damage caused by corrosion amounts to an estimated four per cent of the gross national product per annum in all industrialised nations. In the case of Germany, that was approximately EUR 120 billion in the year 2015.

Differentiated procedures in surface treatment make it possible to optimise components for various applications. In addition to the barrier functions with the aim of increased corrosion resistance, other benefits, such as increased wear resistance and electrical or optical functions, usually are brought to bear. An overview of the techniques offered by MISUMI can be downloaded here or in the MISUMIWEBINDEX on page 279:

With layer thicknesses in the micron range, the component geometries are not changed and the original properties of the material are fully retained. An alloyed black surface is produced through an electrochemical reaction below 0°C. A portion of this forms an alloy-like diffusion layer in the edge region of the metal. Thus, the base material and layer are completely integrated with each other and inextricably linked. Thereby, the layer cannot peel or flake off so there is no peeling effect from mechanical influences. The new surface forms a uniform film, which provides a significantly more efficient and more stable corrosion protection based on chromium ceramic compared to conventional methods. You can look in the configuration window to check whether a low temperature black chrome coating is available for the selected product. Simply select the "low temperature black chrome" type under "surface treatment".

This improved corrosion prevention and reduced abrasion significantly increases the service life of components. The reliable corrosion protection is usually guaranteed over ten years. Up to 20 years and even more are possible.

LTBC-coated components, such as shafts, are characterised by an optimised relation between hardness and elasticity. They are crack and alternating bending resistant to a large extent on the surface. The average tolerances of the components are technologically not affected. The use of low temperature black chrome coated components is recommended not only in applications with high demands on corrosion resistance, but due to the black colour of the coating it also meets requirements for minimised reflection.