The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Chrome plating a surface of thermal sprayed stainless steel

Dear forum,
I'm Guna from Malaysia involved in thermal spray application. I would appreciate if you can advise me on proper pre treatment of thermal sprayed part which I intend to finish with chrome layer. The part is coated with stainless steel wire and oxidized due to arc and heat of the process.

[In another application] I would like to get advise on plating thermal sprayed coating with Chrome for aesthetic purpose. The base metal is cast iron and sprayed with metcoloy #2 which is:
Carbon .35%
Phosphorus .02%
Sulfur .02%
Manganese .35%
Nickel .5%
Chromium 13%
Silicon .5%
Iron Balance

The sprayed layer has ~4% porosity and it is oxidized. I assume the surface porosity can be closed by electroplating beside the improved appearance?

Thank you

Guna Subramaniam
thermal spray applicator - Shah Alam, Malaysia
August 15, 2010

---

August 21, 2010

Hi Guna,
as far as my experience goes, SS is troublesome. Normal low carbon thermal spray deposit is easy to plate. However chrome plate on thermal spray deposit will never seal those appox 4% porosity you talk of. Even if you plate in excess and post grind it,you are likely to be left behind with many pinholes. It's upto you to decide if it works for you

Vikram Dogra
Irusha India - Chandigarh, India