Environmentally Safe, Economical Bright Chrome Application Technology for the Automotive Industry

Ion Edge has been in the business of developing and commercializing environmentally safe metal coating methods and equipment for several years. Recently, the company has developed a decorative bright chrome finish with acceptable appeal and promising qualities desired in the automotive sector. This application technology does not use liquid chemicals, eliminates hexavalent chromium, reduces number of process steps and simplifies operating methods resulting in substantial cost reduction in manufacturing. Preliminary laboratory tests indicate promising properties in terms of brightness, adhesion and durability. Potentail customer response indicates the chrome has appeal equal to conventional chrome. The prupose of this research is to develop the process further to reduce defects, improve yeild and process repeatability and qualify the chrome for required automotive speciications. The data produced in thsi research will help accelerate commercialization ot the technology in the automoative and other consumer sections. The proposed bright chrome technology will be applicable to OEM and aftermarket products worth several hundred million dollars. Typical applications include wheels, bumpers and automotive tril. The cost reduction benefit of this technology has the potential to make the U.S. chroming industry competitive in the gloval marketplace, especially with SE Asia.