REACH legislation for hexavalent chromium
Today automotive manufacturers are specifying that chromium plated components must meet the EU REACH* requirements. Essentially this means having plastic components treated and plated in processes which are hexavalent chromium-free.
Chromium-free etching
A plastic substrate component is ‘etched’ to ensure adhesion of the plated layers. Etching using our evolve chromium-free process means avoiding the use of hexavalent chromium.
Trivalent chromium plating
The metallic chromium layer is plated using TRILYTE and Starlite trivalent chromium solutions. These technologies also have the advantage of having 90% less chromium in solution and being PFOS free.
These hexavalent chromium-free REACH compliant technologies meet automotive decorative specifications.
*Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals regulation 1907/2006, Annex XIV