Chrome has become one of the most popular finishes for many automotive and industrial applications, in large part due to its ultra-bright luster, attractive bluish tinge, and its ease of care.
In addition, there are functional reasons for the popularity of chrome, such as its durability in harsh conditions, and its resistance to wear and corrosion.
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The method used to achieve a candy chrome finish is actually a combination of two other techniques - chrome electroplating, and a tinted spray-on clear-coat applied over the plating.
The material used in chrome plating is chromium, a naturally-occurring metallic element. Chrome plating is most commonly applied to ABS plastics and steel, particularly for automotive applications; however, brass, stainless steel, aluminum and copper and many other materials can be chrome-plated.
Due to chrome's bluish tinge and ultra-bright surface, it is one of the most popular metallic finishes.
Hard chrome plating is a functional application of chrome electroplating; the other version, decorative chrome, is also known as nickel-chrome plating, and it's the kind used for candy chrome or coloured chrome finishes.
Nickel-chrome plating got its name because decorative chrome plating requires a flash layer of nickel, which provides smoothness and corrosion resistance, as well as the chrome finish's specular quality. Compared to the chrome layer, the nickel layer is extremely thick; the thicker the nickel, the higher the quality of the chrome finish. For extremely high-quality "show chrome" finishes, so called because they are commonly applied to show vehicles, two layers of nickel, and sometimes a layer of copper under the nickel, are sometimes used.
A tinted clear-coat is applied to the plated finish to create the rainbow colors of candy coloured chrome. The finish is highly customizable, and comes in a wide variety of colours.
A powdered dye is mixed with the clear-coat to tint it the desired color, after which it's sprayed onto the electroplating. Candy coloured chrome takes on the hue of the tinted coating and has become popular for car and motorcycle trim, household fixtures, and many other applications where the shine and durability of chrome or nickel plating are desired, along with a touch of personalized color. Car and motorcycle trim, wheels, and even the entire body of a vehicle can be plated with a candy coloured chrome finish for customization or aesthetic improvement. Plastic, glass and other organic and non-metallic materials can also be plated in this fashion, so candy chrome has become a popular alternative finish for household decor such as door handles, faucet or tap fixtures, and even vases and other decorative items.
