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Specifying Satin Chrome Decorative Finishes

I am a design engineer attempting to specify a couple of decorative finishes which are new to our company for a new product. Specifically we are attempting to use a satin nickel pre-plate with a chromium top plate to create an end effect of a satin chrome. This decorative finish is going on to both PC/ABS injection molded parts as well as aluminum die castings.

I understand that the effect I am looking for is commonly used in the automotive industry. The problem I am running into is that there seems to be various different tecniques used to achieve the end effect much of which seems to be proprietary.

As a specifier I am wondering if anyone can suggest the best way to go about calling out the process. Are there any published standards that I can reference which will describe the process in general without constraining us to a particular plater's proprietary process?

Complicating the issue are the RoHS requirements which as implemented in my company require us to document the specific materials, thicknesses, weights, etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Tai Rosander
Product Design and Development - Reno, Nevada, USA
2007

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2007

Satin nickel preplate is open to as many products as there are platers.
You have not said what this part will be subjected to, so it is hard to suggest minimum plating thickness. Obviously, thinner is cheaper in most cases.
I would have a vendor plate several sample parts and pick out acceptable ones and not acceptable ones with a set for the plater and for your QC. This will significantly reduce arguments and should give you a more uniform product in the long run.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Several supply houses have a satin nickel process in their product range. Although hard to specify you could make a choice for one of these specific processes, some of them have the possibility to variate the satin effect by changing the concentration of the brightener. In that case you can choose a certain process with a certain concentration of brightener. This will make you independent in your platers choice.

Minimum layer thickness for a representative satin look will be up to 10 microns.

Erik van der Staaij
- Netherlands
2007

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There is nothing wrong with proprietary products!Proprietary products have a lot of benefits. I am not sure that doing your own R&D is a better way to do things.

Anyhow, there are some supply houses which have pearlbright nickel. They have different additives which can give your different shades of pearl bright. All you have to do id choose the one you like.
When working with a proprietary product you can rest assure that each day the results/shades will be the same.

Sara Michaeli
Tel-Aviv-Yafo, Israel
2007