I can confirm first hand that a hardchromed steel is indeed "plated" in the traditional sense of electro plating processes.

I can also confirm first hand that hardchromed steel can indeed rust, given the right conditions and neglect. And that is not much different than the original base metal.

Hardchrome is not intended as a corrosion protection process as its thickness is measured in extremely small numbers and the plating is itself porous or "micro-cracked". Does it lend some additional protection? Sure. Just not much. To rely on hardchrome for corrosion resistance is misplaced trust.


Last edited by Chuck H; 06/30/19 09:48 PM.