Chrome products are very popular today. And the point is not only in their attractive appearance, but also in their excellent consumer qualities. The chromium layer protects the product from corrosion and mechanical damage, serves as a thermal sheet, etc. Obviously, the cost of coated products is higher than that of conventional ones, and therefore it makes sense to chrome on your own. Use plastic for experiments.
Instructions
Step 1
To carry out chromium plating of plastic, you can successfully use a miniature galvanic installation, which does not require placing the product in a bath. The installation includes a voltage reduction transformer of 12 V and a current of 0, 8 and 1 A, brushes with special bristles (the body is made of organic glass with a diameter of 20-25 mm - electrolyte is poured into it). Also, instead of a transformer, a battery with all wires is used. The brush bristles must be wrapped with lead wire (if there is a shortage, it can be replaced with copper). A diode of the DZOZ - DZO5 type must be installed on the brush body. Connect the anode of the diode to one of the cables of the transformer of the lowering winding, the cathode, fixing it in the clamp, must be connected to the part to be coated. When using a battery, the diode is not used.
Step 2
Parts to be processed must be cleaned of grease, rust and other dirt. Then you need to process the part in a solution, the composition of which includes 100-150 g of sodium, 3-5 g of silicate glue, as well as 35-50 g of soda ash per 1 liter of water. The degreasing solution must be heated to a temperature of 80-100 degrees C, depending on the degree of contamination of the part and keep it in it for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Electroplating will depend on whether the surface of the part is even and clean. The pre-processed part is connected to a transformer, the required amount of electrolyte is poured into the brush and power is supplied. When applying an even layer of metal remaining from the electrolyte to the surface of the part, gently move the brush in an up and down motion. In order to achieve the required coating thickness, the passage through one place varies from 20 to 30 times. Refill your brush with electrolyte when it runs out.
Step 3
After processing, the part must be rinsed in waste water, followed by polishing with a piece of material. The above solutions must be handled with great care so as not to get unwanted burns and poisoning. It will be safest to store the dishes in a glass container with a dark surface and a strong cork.
Step 4
Also take into account the fact that not all coatings are susceptible to attack with different metals. For example, to produce nickel plating on a steel part, it is first treated with a thin layer of copper, while the chrome surface interacts well with the nickel-plated surface.
