Wear & Corrosion Resistance: UltraOx vs Chrome Plating, Nickel Plating, Zinc Plating & Salt Bath Nitriding

posted On Thursday, October 10, 2024 in Blog

Whether you're in the agriculture industry or automotive, corrosion and wear resistance is an important aspect to ensure you produce a quality product for your end user. But with so many different options, it can sometimes seem difficult to choose the right process and vendor. Below, we compare QPQ/salt bath and various platings to our trademarked UltraOx process. 

What is UltraOx?

UltraOx is an environmentally-friendly alternative to salt bath and chrome plating, used for corrosion and wear resistance. UltraOx also produces an aesthetic, uniform black finish. 

Why UltraOx?

• The UltraOx process creates three protective layers (oxide, compound zone and diffusion zone) for superior corrosion and wear resistance vs chrome plating's one layer
• UltraOx can endure a salt spray test in excess of 240 hours
  (View pictures of UltraOx's performance after 300 hours of salt spray)
• Provides uniform coverage on all dimensions of a part, penetrating holes and bores
• UltraOx is an environmentally-friendly alternative; ammonia is burned off within the vessel
• No salt residue to clean post-processing

Why NOT Chrome Plating? 

• There are dimensional concerns with coating; poor penetration within holes and bores
• Chrome plating has high air emission rates which produce adverse health, safety and environmental risks
• As the chrome begins to build in thickness, micro-cracks form, allowing moisture penetration and rust
• Chrome hydride decomposition leaves microscopic voids

Why NOT QPQ/Salt Bath?

• QPQ/Salt baths can leave behind residue which results in post-processing cleaning and potentially more labor costs
• QPQ and salt baths are not environmentally-friendly and expose employees to chemicals and potential safety concerns
• QPQ and salt baths can sometimes have inconsistent finishes 

Why NOT Nickel Plating?

• Hydrogen embrittlement can cause the parts to fail under stress, especially in load-bearing applications
• Poor adhesion can occur if the part's surface is not properly prepared/cleaned before plating. Contaminants like oils, oxides, or dirt can prevent proper bonding between the base metal and the nickel layer, causing the coating to peel or flake off. 
• Not ideal in environments with extended heat exposure as it loses its protective qualities in those conditions
• Nickel is a toxic metal, and improper disposal or processing of nickel-plated parts can lead to environmental and health hazards. This could also increase compliance and disposal costs

Why NOT Zinc Plating?

• Hydrogen embrittlement possible
• Zinc is soft and wears off relatively quickly, making it less ideal for some environments, such as high humidity, high temperatures or salt spray
• Zinc plating, while cheaper than most treatments, may not provide the long-term protection needed, requiring more frequent maintenance or re-plating
• Zinc’s surface tends to be less smooth, which might affect the final aesthetic look
• Zinc plating often involves harmful chemicals, so the disposal and handling processes are very important to abide by environmental regulations

So, whether you're heat treating a firearm part or any other low to medium carbon steel, consider UltraOx to help you solve your corrosion, galling or wear needs. 

Fill out the form below for a quote today!

1. corrosion resistance
2. firearms
3. ultraox®
4. wear resistance