Chroming Plastic

Hey guys has anyone ever re chromed plastic pieces? Seems no one I talk too has any idea how this is done!

Thats because you cannot chrome plate plastic - you can only chrome plate metal!

from: The chrome process

"Many People think it’s impossible to chrome plastic, it is not. The process of chrome plating over plastic is actually a process called vacuum metalizing and it is different than electroplating or chrome plating. Vacuum metallizing is process used to make flash light reflectors and automotive lighting shine like chrome. Vacuum metallizing is the process of evaporating aluminum in a vacuum chamber forming an aluminum cloud which than condenses back on and bonds to the plastic to form a uniform layer, which shines like chrome. After the metalizing takes place there is a protective topcoat applied similar to the ones used in the automotive industry. You can also add dyes to the topcoat to achieve bright chrome colors and different shades of gold, bronze, copper, and gunmetal. It is much more environmentally friendly and cost effective than chrome plating or chrome painting. You can vacuum metalize many materials including plastic, metal, glass, fiberglass, and more. There are many different applications for vacuum metallizing including; chrome helmets and accessories, motorcycle/dirt bike parts and accessories, sporting goods, toys, car parts, novelty items, display items, decorative fixtures, cosmetic enclosures, ect. If you want the look of custom chrome on anything plastic, glass, metal, ect."

Agreed, Face, this is an interesting process. My company has produced several 'chrome plated' plastic parts over the years. We found that ABS and Polystyrene took to this process best of all. My only comment would be concerning durability - if the part in question is going to see frequent use or contact, you will find that the plating will eventually wear off in that area...

Yeah, thanks Face, I knew there was a process to do it but obviously plastic would melt under 'normal' chroming conditions. I would love to find a place where I can 're-chrome' (so to speak) the front grill, "heart badge' of my sud...

In fact you can chrome plate plastic, so long as you use the right plastic. Chroming is an electro plating process, where a current is passed through the part while it is suspended in a solution of chemically dissolved chrome. The chrome in the solution is depsosited onto the part. There is no particular heat involved. But as you can imagine, for this to work the part must conduct electricity, which plastics in general are bad at. Special plastics have been developed which do conduct electricity, and so they can be chrome plated. This is a fairly common process today, along with vacuum metallising.

Unfortunately, neither process is likely to be successful in rejuvinating your grill. Best bet would be to find a replacement. Or if you're happy to experiment, you could try the 'chrome effect' aerosol paints you can buy from hardware/paint/automotive supply stores. It might even work!

Where do you live?

I know someone who spays chrome. It works very well

I live in QLD, Australia

You can chrome plastic, its one of the processes my company does. In fact we can make anything (even wood) look like any metal of any age that you wish. There are two ways of doing it, one of which is metal within a resin the other is similar but provides a conductive coat on the plastic which can then be chromed.
Something which we have been asked to do (possibly, depending on samples) is make a Ferrari look like its made of solid silver as a show piece

Originally Posted by rafe005

Something which we have been asked to do (possibly, depending on samples) is make a Ferrari look like its made of solid silver as a show piece

!!!

nice work if you can get it.
And dont forget it will definately need a test drive, probably best to do one before And after

Of course, will even put pics on here of before and after if they give me permission