Appliance Design - September 2008 - (Page 42) DECORATION Wheelchair parts are decorated with chrome that has been deposited with Goodrich’s physical vapor deposition process. The chrome look on this wheelchair part is achieved by Goodrich Technology without the environmental issues associated with electroplating. Bright Ideas Modern methods mimic the classic chrome look. lternatives to traditional electroplated chrome have hit the market that can achieve the material’s bright and glossy look without the negatives usually associated with electroplating. The timing couldn’t be better. Chrome has traditionally been a symbol of luxury and affluence, whether it is found on an expensive car or as a decorative item that accentuates an appliance. While its popularity has gone in and out of fashion over the years, it appears that the chrome look is back and more popular than ever, as a trip to an automotive dealership or high-end appliance retailer can attest. Traditionally, chrome was applied to metal by an electroplating process; parts were either sprayed or dipped in heavy-metal chemical baths. This process is fraught with health and environmental concerns, however, as well as escalating costs. Production plating lines carry a huge price tag to build and operate because of the cost of complying with federal regulations governing the chemicals used in the process. The most popular of which is hexava- A by larry adams 42 applianceDESIGN September 2008 lent chrome, which offers superior durability and corrosion resistance as compared to other chromium products such as trivalent, which is a naturally occurring chrome. Hexavalent chrome is produced industrially when trivalent chrome is heated in the presence of acids and minerals and atmospheric oxygen. In this form, fumes and particulates are released into the atmosphere and are considered carcinogenic. Due to those concerns, OSHA set an exposure requirement of less than five micrograms per cubic meter over an 8-hour period. Manufacturers are required to capture the chromium released into the air and regularly test the air to ensure that they are in compliance. In addition, the “platers” must treat waste water and handle chromium slag generated during the finishing process. Hexavalent chrome was one of six materials banned by the European Union’s under its Restriction on Hazardous Substances directive (RoHS). In addition to health concerns, the EU is concerned about hexavalent chrome’s impact on the environment as products with the hexavalent chrome enter www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com
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