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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Black Chrome Plating Aluminum Auto Wheels?

2001

My question is...Is black chrome plating possible for aluminum auto wheels? How would the finish stand up to brake dust, grim, etc. I've heard black chrome is not as durable as regular chrome.

If it is possible, is there anybody in the Midwest, US that can do it.

Thanks in Advance,

Don C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Downers Grove, IL United States

The aluminum used in auto wheels is miserable stuff because it is a pressure casting rather than a wrought material. Then there is the possibility of scraped curbs. And on top of that, metallic brake dust causes galvanic corrosion if it sits on them. But if you accept all that, yes, aluminum wheels can be and certainly are chrome plated -- and there's probably no particular reason they can't be black chromed instead of conventional chrome.

U.S. Chrome Corporation [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] offers black chrome plating.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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