If you don't already know about Firma-Chrome, then now is your chance to find out about a first-class metal finishing company with nearly half a century of experience in the field. Since 1964, Firma-Chrome has been applying improved surface finishes. After almost 50 years of research and development, we have become specialists in electroless nickel, hard chrome and phosphate coatings.
Our clients value us for the quality of our finishes and our rapid response times. We know that the UK engineering climate demands corrosion protective, wear reducing and aesthetically pleasing surface finishes, and we also understand the increasing desire for finishes that have minimal environmental impact. Firma-Chrome covers all these aspects: we use the best techniques, have the fastest response times, and continually strive to contain and reduce the environmental impact of our processes. So if you need a quality surface finish fast, you can rely on Firma-Chrome to provide the solution.
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Firma-Chrome uses a process called electropolishing to modify the surface of the metal. Quite simply, this process is the reverse of plating. The item is placed in a tank filled with an electrolyte solution. After it is connected to stainless steel cathodes at the side of the tank and an anode bar at the centre, a current is applied which begins the electropolishing process. Electropolishing is usually used on austenitic stainless steels, but almost every metal can be subjected to this process. Electropolishing brings numerous advantages. Firstly, it has the potential to significantly reduce the roughness of the metal surface. Electropolishing also greatly enhances corrosion resistance, thanks to its elimination of 'free iron' and the depositing of a chromium-rich layer on the surface. What’s more, this process also has cosmetic benefits: the chromium-rich layer resembles chrome plating, and therefore has the same brightening effect.
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Firma-Chrome offers this excellent surface finishing technology which requires no electrical current. Instead, a metallic coating is applied from the controlled chemical reduction of a metal salt. This provides a finish that is consistent in thickness over the entire surface, including bores, threads and recesses. This process allows coating of almost any metal up to a thickness of 100 microns (.004''). Electroless Nickel coating is almost as hard as plated coating, though it can be treated at low temperature to match the solidity of hard chrome. 'High Phosphorous' finishes have been proved to endure salt spray test durations over 1000 hours.
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Hard Chrome gives a smooth, bright, shiny satin finish which is ideal for decorative pieces. Moreover, this finish is also low friction, wear, scratch and corrosion resistant. Our hard chrome coatings can be offered up to 50 microns (.002'') thick. Because of its strength, hard chrome is typically suited for cutting and slicing blades, sharpening steels, drill bits and pistons. It can also be used for anti-galling and anti-fretting purposes, especially on 'stainless steel to stainless steel' applications. Our facilities are ideal for large batch work. So if you need a durable, semi-decorative finish, Hard Chrome is the option for you.
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Phosphate finishing is ideal as a pre-treatment prior to organic coatings. It gives wear and corrosion protection when combined with a suitable supplementary coating absorbed into the surface of the metal. Phosphate finishing is often used for the ''bedding in'' of gear, clutch and disc products. So how does it work? Phosphate is a thin chemical conversion coating which is usually used on steel. It converts the surface layer into a porous crystalline coating which is resistant to corrosion.
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http://www.firma-chrome.co.uk
