With Nanoseal®, EPG AG offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chrome application that can be applied to all metals. Colored coating is also possible and thus also offers an alternative for black chrome application.
Due to the Reach regulation, the use of chromium has been on the banned list for many years. While it was first CHROM (VI), chromium trioxide has also been banned since 2017 or is only allowed with a special exemption, but this will expire in September 2024. It is unclear whether this approval will be extended.
This is a difficult situation for the chrome-plating industry, but also for buyers of chrome-plated products such as the automotive industry, because decorative chrome elements are very popular with customers. Even more important to look for alternatives, because there are definitely system coatings that are not as burdensome for workers, wastewater technology and emissions as chromium plating.
EPG offers alternatives for chromium
EPG AG has been working for years with a patented nano-chemical alternative as a chrome substitute based on sol-gel technology. With this environmentally friendly process, a glass-like transparent layer is applied to the polished metal in an extremely thin layer and then appears to the observer as if it were chrome-plated. This surface finish is already being used successfully in the automotive sector. The Nanoseal® product can be applied to all metals and common product surfaces such as stainless steel or PVD.
The particular advantage of this technology is that it does not pollute the environment during production and application but maintains the good properties of chrome plating - decorative and wear-resistant - just as well, if not better. In addition, the coating has a very high temperature resistance (up to 550°C) and is resistant to corrosion (CASS test up to 96 h).
Likewise, deep black coatings can be produced with the Nanoseal® product, which far outperforms the comparison with black chrome. It is therefore quite possible to replace chrome, you just have to know the alternatives.
Read more