GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada

EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING STANDARD

Hard Chrome Plating
EES 6.8-1, Revision 008

HARD CHROME PLATING

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TEMPLATE: E-T-003 R00 Effective Date: 2014-02-10
 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada
EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING STANDARD
Hard Chrome Plating
EES 6.8-1, Revision 008

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 PURPOSE ...........................................................................................................................................................................4

2 SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY ...........................................................................................................................................4

3 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................................................4

4 BASE MATERIAL ...............................................................................................................................................................4

5 QUALITY ASSURANCE .....................................................................................................................................................4

6 PLATING ............................................................................................................................................................................5

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This material may not be used or reproduced without prior written consent of GE Hitachi Nuclear
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 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada
EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING STANDARD
Hard Chrome Plating
EES 6.8-1, Revision 008

1 PURPOSE
This standard provides suppliers of Hard Chrome Plating with requirements for Hard Chrome Plating on steel
components.

2 SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY

This standard applies when specified on drawings or specifications.

3 REFERENCES

Title Reference
Plating, Chromium Hard Deposit AMS 2406
Measurement of Coating Thicknesses by the Magnetic Method: ASTM B499
Nonmagnetic Coatings on Magnetic Basis Materials
Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Engineered Chromium Coatings ASTM B650
on Ferrous Substrates
Specification for Pre-Treatments of Iron or Steel for Reducing the Risk of ASTM B849
Hydrogen Embrittlement
Guide for Post-Coating Treatments of Steel for Reducing the Risk of ASTM B850
Hydrogen Embrittlement

Table 1: Reference Documents

4 BASE MATERIAL
The surface roughness of the basis material shall be one half of that desired on the plated surface.

5 QUALITY ASSURANCE
The vendor for plating shall be on the Approved Vendors list.

The plating vendor shall supply the purchaser with a copy of the plating procedure for approval before
commencing plating operations.

The vendor shall perform the tests of paragraph 6.3 and 6.4 on each plated item and supply the results to the
purchaser.

The vendor shall perform the test of paragraph 6.5 on each test coupon and supply the results to the purchaser
unless the plating note on the drawing or purchase order specifically states that the adhesion test is not required.

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This material may not be used or reproduced without prior written consent of GE Hitachi Nuclear
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 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada
EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING STANDARD
Hard Chrome Plating
EES 6.8-1, Revision 008

6 PLATING

6.1 Chromium plating shall be in accordance with AMS 2406. Plating thickness shall be 60 to 100 µm (0.0025 to
0.004 inches) unless otherwise stated on the drawing. The plater shall take steps to ensure that the plating
surface is of good quality including mask or plug all holes, recesses, or similar areas subject to low cathodic
current densities that do not require plating. Plug all closed hollow structures and other parts having surfaces
from which drainage cannot be assured. Utilize proper parts placement, racking, special anodes, conforming
anodes, or current robbers as required to obtain a uniform plating thickness and to avoid thin areas, excessive
corner build-up, and rippled run-outs. Use lead backed tape to define the edges of stop-off areas; work tape as
required to ensure the electrical contact and current robbing produce proper chromium run-out without bead or
ripple formation.

6.2 Parts shall be baked after plating in accordance with the note on the drawing unless 6.2.1 or 6.2.2 applies. The
duration of baking in all cases shall commence from the time that the entire part attains the specified
temperature.

6.2.1 Baking temperature tolerance shall be ± 25°F (14°C). This tolerance shall apply if the baking temperature
tolerance specified in the drawing note is other than ± 25°F (14°C).

6.2.2 Baking time shall not be less than 4 hours. This time shall apply when the baking time specified in the drawing is
less than 4 hours.

6.3 All parts shall be visually inspected per AMS 2406.

6.4 Plating thickness shall be non-destructively evaluated on all plated parts per AMS 2406.

6.5 Plating adhesion shall be tested as indicated below unless the note specifying plating on the drawing or
purchase order specifically states that the adhesion test is not required.

Plating adhesion shall be determined on a test coupon (size approximately 25 mm x 100 mm x 1 mm (1 inch x 4
inches x 0.040 inches)). The test coupon shall be of the same material and heat treated condition as the part and
shall be processed through the entire plating process with each part or batch of parts. The purchaser shall
supply the test coupon.

Plating adhesion shall be determined by clamping the plated coupon in a vise and bending the projection back
and forth until rupture occurs. If the edge of the plating can be peeled back or if separation between the plating
and the basis metal can be seen at the point of rupture when examined at four diameters magnification,
adhesion is not satisfactory (plating shall not be rejected due to formation of cracks in the plating or basis metal
which do not result in flaking, blistering, or peeling of the plating).

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