CETS is contributing to PPCG activities dedicated to chromium substitution and hard chrome plating, bringing the perspective of the surface treatment sector into the discussion on the future of functional chromium applications.
The main message supported by CETS is clear: chromium substitution cannot be treated as a simple one-to-one replacement.
Hard chrome plating is used across a very wide range of industrial sectors, including automotive, aerospace, general engineering, hydraulic systems, printing, textile, energy, food-contact applications, medical, pharmaceutical and defence-related applications. In these sectors, the coating is often required to deliver multiple performance functions at the same time.
The PPCG work highlights the broad set of technical attributes associated with hard chrome plating, including adhesion to substrate, hardness, coating thickness control, wear resistance, abrasion resistance, corrosion protection, chemical resistance, thermal resistance, low friction, surface finish, compatibility with maintenance operations and application on complex geometries.
This variety of functions explains why a universal “drop-in” alternative is not currently feasible for all existing applications. Different sectors require different performance profiles, different qualification pathways and different customer approvals. In many cases, substitution also depends on long testing, validation and certification processes.
Several alternative technologies are being considered or developed for specific applications, including Cr(III)-based plating, nanocrystalline and composite coatings, nickel and nickel-alloy electroplating, electroless nickel-phosphorus, PVD, CVD, EHLA, HVOF, HVAF and other thermal spraying technologies. However, each option presents specific technical, economic, regulatory or implementation constraints.
CETS is also taking part in related technical exchanges to explain more clearly that substitution depends on real industrial conditions, customer specifications, worker-safety requirements, process control, qualification timelines and investment capacity.
The PPCG activities therefore represent an important opportunity to ensure that policy discussions on substitution are based on technical evidence and on the operational reality of the surface treatment sector.