Impact—Applications of Thermal Spray as a Substitute for Plating

MARKET IMPACT — APPLICATIONS OF THERMAL SPRAY AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PLATING 

Tungsten carbide has replaced chrome plating on oil field piston rods over the last five years. 

Chrome plating had a flaking problem the chrome flakes would work into the cylinder, causing additional wear on the piston and cylinder. 

The tungsten carbide has excellent wear characteristics and does not flake. Piston rods coated with tungsten carbide do not need recoating like chrome did except for external damage. The benefit to the user is longer operational life, thus, lengthening the period between overhauls. 

Chromic acid is a very viscous solution in the concentrations used in decorative chrome plating. The concentration is generally 26 to 44 ounces per gallon. It is one of the main metals that must be treated in a waste treatment system for pollution control. Hexavalent chromium must be converted to trivalent chrome before it can be precipitated out of the waste waters. 

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