TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

H.E.N.E. HARD CHROME PROCESS

H.E.N.E. Hard Chrome Process is a unique development by GROWEL'S Research & Development, which
combines all the advantages of conventional and mixed catalyst hard chromium process. H.E.N.E. Process
has a high cathode efficiency, good throwing power, microcracked deposit and with a hardness of
approximately 950-1000 vickers. Unlike mixed catalyst system, H.E.N.E. process does not attack iron and
iron alloy base material and it is therefore possible to chromium plate steel and aluminium for plating higher
thickness without attack on base metal surface.

H.E.N.E. Hard Chromium deposits are exceptionally bright with a wide current density range and the current
efficiency is as high as 23-26% at 40-50 A/dm2 at 55ºC, and comparatively excellent current efficiency
values are obtained even at low current densities as compared to conventional hard chromium plating baths.

The process has several advantages over conventional chrome systems and are given as under :

1. Current efficiencies are as high as 23-26% resulting in saving of energy, labour and maintenance
costs.
2. Easy to operate and maintain, since the bath gives excellent results within a wide range of operating
conditions.
3. Excellent brightness.
4. Hard Chrome deposits.
5. Used for wide range of applications.
6. Improved corrosion resistance due to uniform microcrack structure.
7. Excellent covering and throwing power.
8. Higher wear resistance.

Bath Make-up Optimum Range

H.E.N.E. Chrome Salt 300 g/l 250-350 g/l
H.E.N.E. Additive No. 1 15 ml/l 10- 20 ml/l
H.E.N.E. Additive No. 2 20 ml/l 15- 25 ml/l

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OPERATING CONDITIONS

Density 25º Be 22-28º Be

Temperature 55º C 52-60º C
Cathode Current Density 50 A/dm2 20-60 A/dm2
Voltage 8 6-12 volts

It is advisable that for getting hard chromium deposits, the current density and temperature are both
maintained at optimum levels, although H.E.N.E. process gives consistent quality results within wide
operating conditions.

The base metal surface has to be smooth and uniform and surface imperfections are to be removed by
mechanical polishing and burnishing operations.

The components to be hard chromium plated should be pre-cleaned in suitable hot alkaline soak cleaner
and rinsed well. To ensure good adhesion of hard chromium deposit, anodic etching in conventional
chromic/sulphuric acid bath at 50º- to 65ºC for 30 secs. - 120 seconds in a separate tank, should be carried
out. The parts are transferred into the plating bath without rinsing. After plating, the parts are dipped in
drag-out rinse, folowed by water rinse and hot water rinse.

SOLUTION PREPARATION

The H.E.N.E. chrome solution preparation is very simple. However, certain precautions must be observed
in the initial make-up, to obtain optimum results. The salts should be completely dissolved before starting
the production. It is important that the tank linings are cleaned well. The recommended procedure is as
under :

1. Fill the cleaned plating tank with water (preferably deionized water) to almost two-thirds of the
operating level and heat the water to 50ºC.
2. Add the calculated quantity of H.E.N.E. Chrome Salt with stirring. The salts should be added
in small quantities and stirring should be continued until all salts are completely dissolved.
3. Add clean water up to the working level and continue stirring.
4. When the salts are completely dissolved, heat the solution and add measured quantities of H.E.N.E.
Additive No.1. Place the anodes and electrolyse the bath for 3-4 hours at operating temperature
and at a c.d. of 25-35 amps./dm2
5. Add the required quantity of H.E.N.E. Additive No. 2. Now the bath is ready for plating.

EQUIPMENT

Small to medium plating tanks can be fabricated from suitable PVC reinforced with fibre glass. PVC lined
mild steel tanks are also suitable. Bigger capacity tanks are usually of flexible PVC lined. Lead linings
are not suitable for H.E.N.E. Chrome Solution and if the tanks are lead lined, they should further be lined
with flexible grade PVC.

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The plating tanks should be equipped with a suitable heating device and thermostat control to maintain the
temperature within the specified range. Suitable exhaust system with scrubber facilities should be provided
to keep the environment clean. Cooling is required to control the temperature of the solution since heat
is evolved due to higher voltage and operating current. For direct heating and cooling, titanium coils are
normally used. Teflon or PVDF coils are also suitable for heating and cooling in H.E.N.E. Chrome Plating
Solution.

ANODES :

The Anodes should be 6-7% tin / 93% lead alloy. Round anodes are normally preferred as compared to
flat type. However, the life expectancy of tin/lead alloy anodes are comparatively less than in conventional
chrome plating solution. When the bath is not in use, anodes must be removed.

Platinized titanium anodes can also be used. But care should be taken that these are completely covered
with lead dioxide film (brown black layer). The lead dioxide film can be maintained by employing one or
more tin/lead alloy anodes along with platinized titanium anode. However, under normal conditions tin/lead
alloy can be used without much problem.

POWER SUPPLY :

A direct current source at 6 - 12 volts depending on the current density requirements is suitable for use
with H.E.N.E. Hard Chrome solution. The rectifiers used should be of 3 phase rectification with oil cooling
and provided with stepless voltage control between 0-100%. The residual ripple must be below 5%. The
current carrying capacity of all electrical connections, busbars and plating jigs must be designed to carry
the required amount of current continuously.

SOLUTION MAINTENANCE :

The solution concentration can be maintained on the basis of hydrometer reading and the solution density
can be maintained by regular additions of H.E.N.E. Chrome Salts. We do not recommend the use of
commercial grade chromic acid for maintaining the solution density, as this will change the balance of
chromic acid to special catalytic addition agents.

To maintain consistent results, the solution should be periodicallly analysed for chromic acid and sulphate.
The sulphate should be maintained between 1.1% - 1.3% ( related to 100 gms. of chromic acid) and
sulphate is easily determined by centrifuge method. The sulphate content can be maintained by adding
H.E.N.E. Additive No. 1. As a rough guide, 1.0 ml per litre addition of H.E.N.E. Additive No. 1 will increase
the sulphate content by 0.125 gms. per litre. However, excess addition should be avoided which will reduce
efficiency and covering power. If the sulphate content in the bath is high, good quality of barium carbonate
should be added at the rate of 2.0- 3.0 g/l to reduce the sulphate content by 1 g/l.

Under normal conditions, H.E.N.E. solution is maintained by adding H.E.N.E. Chrome Salt and H.E.N.E.
Additive No. 2. To raise the density by 10 Be add approximately 1.5 kgs of H.E.N.E. Chrome
Salt and 150-200 ml of H.E.N.E. AdditiveNo. 2 for every 100 litres of Chrome Solution.

H.E.N.E. Additive No. 2 is highly stable and the consumption is quite less and consistent results are
obtained by regularly adding H.E.N.E. Additive No. 2 along with H.E.N.E. Chrome Salt. If the concentration

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of H.E.N.E. Additive No: 2 is too low, the brightness of the deposit is reduced and it becomes milky white
whereas excessive dosage reduces the limiting current and results in dull and modular deposit at high
current density.

Excess addition of H.E.N.E. Additive No. 2 should be avoided and the excess quantity can be removed
only by diluting the bath. The addition rate of H.E.N.E. Additive No. 2 given above should be considered
as a rough guide only, since the rate will vary depending on the drag-out, type of part to be plated and
plant conditions. Regular Hull Cell tests will help in determining the required rate of H.E.N.E. Additive No.
2 and this test helps in maintaining the solution under optimum conditions.

The solution should be analysed regularly and maintained as under :

Chromic Acid : 250 -350 g/l

Sulphate : 3.0 - 4.2 g/l

We do not recommend any addition of Chemicals other than specified in this instruction manual as this
may adversely affect the chrome bath and the deposit quality.

CONVERSION :

The Conventional Chromic / Sulphuric bath can be easily converted into GROWEL H.E.N.E. Hard Chrome
Bath System by adjusting the Sulphate content and adding the required quantity of conversion additive.
Mixed acid catalyst baths will be required to be tested in GROWEL Laboratory for converting to the
H.E.N.E.system. We recommend to send two litres solution to GROWEL Laboratory for conducting
analysis and plating tests. Before drawing a sample, the solution should be stirred well and representative
sample should be taken.

TABLE 1

Concentration of Density in Degree

H.E.N.E.Chrome Salt Baume at 25ºC
(g/l) (g/l)
203.0 18.0
216.0 19.0
229.0 20.0
242.0 21.0
256.0 22.0
270.0 23.0
286.0 24.0
300.0 25.0
316.0 26.0
330.0 27.0

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 TABLE II

PLATING SPEED (AVERAGE THICKNESS)

(Time in minutes to deposit 1.0 Microns)

Current Density H.E.N.E Conventional

A/dm2
20.0 4.8 7.7
30.0 2.2 3.6
40.0 1.6 2.6
50.0 1.2 2.1
60.0 1.0 1.8

TABLE III
AMOUNT OF BARIUM CARBONATE REQUIRED TO LOWER SULPHATE
g/l SO4 to Tank Size
removed
100 200 400 600 800 1000
Grams of Barium Carbonate Required
0.1 20 40 80 120 160 200
0.2 40 80 160 240 320 400
0.3 60 120 240 360 480 600
0.4 80 160 320 480 640 800
0.5 100 200 400 600 800 1000
0.6 120 240 480 720 960 1200
0.7 140 280 560 840 1120 1400
0.8 160 320 640 960 1280 1600
0.9 180 360 720 1080 1440 1800
1.0 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000

Issued on : 16.10.12
Supersedes all earlier

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