Why Chrome Plating Better Than Nitride

When manufacturing rubber molding, particularly those made of p20 mold base steel for producing FKM rubber automotive parts, there are several surface treatment options to consider. This article will explore the advantages of nitriding and chrome plating treatment, the disadvantages of nitriding, and why chrome plating is often the preferred choice.

Advantages of Nitriding and Chrome Plating

Nitriding

• Enhanced Surface Hardness: 

The process of nitriding greatly boosts the hardness of the rubber molding's surface, leading to better resistance against wear and increased durability.

• Improved Fatigue Strength: 

The nitriding process can enhance the fatigue strength of the mold, thus extending its operational life.

Chrome Plating

• Enhanced Wear Resistance: 

Chrome plating creates a hard surface layer that significantly improves the mold's wear resistance. This is crucial for molds that need to maintain their precision over long production runs.

• Excellent Corrosion Resistance: 

The chrome layer provides excellent protection against corrosion, ensuring the longevity of the mold in various operating environments.

• Smooth Surface Finish: 

Chrome plating results in a smoother surface finish, which aids in the easy release of molded rubber parts and can enhance production efficiency.

Disadvantages of nitriding

While nitriding offers several benefits, it also has some notable drawbacks, particularly for rubber molds made of P20 steel.

• Difficult to Repair:

It will be difficult to do tool change or tool fixing once production part cause any defect. This can lead to significant downtime and increased maintenance costs.

• Long Processing Time:

Nitriding is a time-intensive process, which can extend the overall production timeline of the mold. This may not be ideal for projects with tight deadlines.

• Risk of Distortion:

The nitriding process involves heat treatment, which can cause thermal expansion and contraction. This risk of deformation can affect the mold's precision and performance.

Why chrome plating better than nitride

Given the above points, chrome plating is often the preferred choice for treating rubber molds made of P20 steel, especially for producing FKM rubber automotive parts.

• Ease of Repair:
  

Unlike nitriding, chrome-plated molds are relatively easier to repair. This means that any defects can be quickly addressed, minimizing production downtime.

• Lower Cost:

The chrome plating process is generally less expensive than nitriding and requires less time, making it a more cost-effective option for mold production.

• Better Suitability for Rubber Molding:

The smooth surface finish provided by chrome plating not only improves the ease of releasing the rubber parts but also enhances the overall quality of the produced components. This is particularly important for FKM rubber automotive parts, which require high precision and surface integrity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chrome plating have their respective advantages, chrome plating can increase the hardness and durability of the surface, prevent corrosion and even make it easier to clean. Its cost-effectiveness, and superior surface finish make it particularly well-suited for the production of high-quality FKM custom molded rubber parts manufacturing