The largest consumer of chrome is the automotive business, which makes use of the material for vehicle trim and accessories. Chrome has become a more popular finish in other industries too, and is now being used to plate everything, from domestic fixtures to fishing baits.
Since it was determined that chrome is both attractive and heavy-duty, it has been a precious material to the car industry. When the sector began using plastic rather than steel because of its cheaper cost and lightweight durability, the only disadvantage was that it was short of the luster of metallic parts.
This issue was resolved during the 1970s, when electroplating ABS plastics was developed as a process, and plastic parts were then plated with chrome to lend them a very bright finish. Chrome trim came to its peak usage in North America, where it was popular as ever, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; since 1993, its popularity has spiked by 50{72847820389d8b4178420f6fc5b97b012692a0eea273fff35db5303168f271b7} in Europe while doubling in the United Kingdom.
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Chrome plating resists oxidation or corrosion, and can withstand extreme temperature and weather. As well, it is easy to care for, and has a very bright and attractive finish, making it a highly preferred material for automotive trim and accessories.
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Chrome plating can be performed on new components at the factory, or it can be done for a certain consumer by a custom shop offering custom plating or metal finishing services. Consumers can purchase parts plated at several companies that specialize in electroplating, and some automotive finishers have significant experience with chrome plating.
Chrome plating is advantageous since plated components don’t have to be thrown away if they become damaged, but may be refurbished or re-plated. Instead, they may simply be re-plated or refurbished, allowing consumers to save time and money, controlling waste and eradicating the need to purchase replacement parts. Stripping and re-plating a part makes it like new again, or sometimes even better than new, and can be cheaper than getting a brand new component. Recycling old parts not only is less expensive for consumers but also gentler to the environment.
Chrome is also the best finish for home fixtures, and for exactly the same reasons behind its popularity in the automotive world. Plenty of household items are chrome-plated today, from sinks to bathroom fittings to brackets to door handles and a lot more.
Some items were once plated with other metals like silver and copper, but these were pricey, albeit aesthetically outstanding. They were also less durable as they tarnished, corroded or reacted with chemicals, if they didn’t wear off simply from frequent use. As chrome plating makes for a beautiful finish without these disadvantages, it has now replaced several other materials for the said fixtures.