Is Lead anode The Best Choice in Hard Chrome Plating?

Is Lead anode The Best Choice in Hard Chrome Plating?

Hard chrome plating is a technique of electroplating a layer of chromium onto a metal object; it can increase the durability, hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of metal components for more effective use in machinery and equipment.

Hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and sulfuric acids are mainly used as etching solutions. In such working environment, attack the metal of the anode is often occurs.
Lead alloy anodes are not as prone to corrosion from the fluoride electrolyte solution or acids as some other anode materials. It is much cheaper than platinized titanium anode and it has been widely used in hard chrome plating.

However, lead alloy anode can deform. The metal cannot be equally distributed on the component and the layer thickness varies. When lead alloys decomposes, the decomposed material deposits in the electrolytic cell as lead chromate sludge that must be removed from the tank by filtering or other wastewater treatment, or pumping and disposal as hazardous waste.

Is there some alternative anode for lead alloy anode in hard chrome plating?

Platinum coated titanium anodes do not change their shape; they can be designed according to the shapes of the work pieces to be plated. When platinised titanium anodes operated correctly, it remain deposit free and perform constantly well throughout the whole anode life. Platinized titanium anode is chemical cleaning, it reduced environmental burden and reduced maintenance.