Electrodeposition of hard nanocrystalline chrome from aqueous sulfate trivalent chromium bath

Abstract A sulfate trivalent chromium bath is described which contains chromium(III) salt, sodium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, boric acid, formic acid, carbamide and surfactant. The bath is operated using either titanium–manganese dioxide anodes or platinized titanium anodes without separation of anodic and cathodic compartments. Effect of bath composition and electrolysis conditions on current efficiency of chromium electrodeposition was studied. At optimal bath composition and electrolysis conditions, the deposition rate does not practically change during electrolysis time; it is close to 0.8 μm min −1 . The nanocrystalline coatings with a thickness of several tens of micrometers are bright and smooth. The value of Cr-coatings hardness does not substantially differ from that observed in case of Cr(VI)-based baths. The possibility of continuous service of the proposed trivalent chromium bath was confirmed by means of a durational electroplating test (~ 2 months).