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Want wear resistant alternative to chrome plating for copper dies

2006

My process involves stamping paper into an etched copper die. Known in the industry at engraving.

I currently send parts our for chrome plating to help reduce wear on the copper plate for long runs jobs or fine detail preservation.

Are there any more environmental friendly process coatings that would provide good wear protection to the copper? The primary wear surface against the copper is paper.

Carl Nenni
Copper plate engraving - LaGrange, Kentucky, USA

There is a plating known as electroless nickel that can be hardened as chrome and is considered less toxic though not environmentally friendly (EF). On the other hand, PVD coatings such as titanium nitride are claimed to be totally EF and are even harder but maybe too thin for your application and are more expensive.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2006