> The plastic does not melt because the chrome > plating process is carried > out at room temperature, approximately, in a > solution of chromium ions, not > liquid chromium. Dave is entirely correct that the plastic isn't plated using liquid chromium but I wonder if the process he describes is, in fact, the one used for Silca pumps. Many years ago I built displays for the hobby kit manufacturer, Aurora, and often visited the chroming shop. The process they used is standard for plating plastic parts and I would have thought that Silca used the same technique. Roughly, the process entails coating the plastic part in lacquer/varnish, placing it in a vacuum chamber, then attaching the part to an electrode (the anode?). The metal used for plating is actually aluminum, which is "carried" to the part via current from another electrode (the cathode?). Dave could be correct that particles of this plating metal are dissolved in a solution - I just don't remember well enough. Finally, the plated part is again coated with lacquer to protect the finish from wear. Best regards, Fred
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