Many components are only able to fulfil their application purpose and requirements due to a hard chrome coating. Hard chrome plated surfaces are used in particular where high wear resistance, low sticking friction and a good economic efficiency is essential. The special structure of the hard chrome layer is responsible for its extensive hardness of. This not only allows for an efficient protection against abrasive wear but also delivers a relatively high temperature resistance.

Hard chrome layers are deposited out of electrolytic baths in a micro-cracked manner and mirror the structure of the base material exactly. Hence, a careful pre-treatment of the surface by for example blasting, grinding or finishing is very important. For a layer thickness of greater than 20 µm the cracks overlap so much that they no longer reach the component part.