Finding a Replacement for Hard Chrome Plating by: Mia Grundtvig, MarCom Manager Major automotive, pumps and food processing Expanite A/S Industrivænget 34 equipment makers can’t be wrong in choosing 3400 Hillerød, Denmark www.expanite.com an alternative for hard chrome plating.
With more than 20% of the turnover coming from hard plated. All three were fac- chrome replacement projects, Expanite, the Danish pioneer ing issues such as wear, within surface hardening of stainless steel, is on its way to general quality problems position itself as one of the most used alternatives for hard and high cost. And they chrome plating. all found various solu- Finding a replacement for hard chrome plating can be tions within the Expanite challenging, and with EU regulations lowering the limit value toolbox. The first of the for hexavalent chromium, the industrial markets need to find three projects went into alternatives. Hard chrome plating, in various forms, has been serial production in January one of “the standards” to improve resistance towards wear and 2020, while the two other corrosion for stainless steel components. And as new solu- projects are scheduled to tions are required, Expanite’s hardening technologies have begin serial production in 2021 and 2022. documented their effectiveness within the automotive, pumps, “As we are often our customers´ biggest secret, many valves and food processing equipment markets. will not allow us to reveal that we actually have helped them change from hard chrome plating.” Sustainable Solutions, Diffusion vs. Coatings Unlike a hard chrome coating, where the electrolyte used Competitive Cost during processing may contain hexavalent chromium ions From the first look, Expanite hardening technology might (Cr6+), which are hazardous to human health and environmen- seem costly compared to hard chromium plating. However, tally harmful, the Expanite treatments involves only nitrogen Sandholdt says that he is convinced the price difference will and carbon atoms. This makes Expanite an environmentally equalize, once total life cycle cost and performance are taken friendly and sustainable process. into account. Expanite effectively removes the native oxide film covering According to Sandholdt, “The proof lies in the decisions stainless steels during the first steps of the gas process without made by so many of Expanite’s customers.” adding any aggressive chemicals, and this allows controlled www.expanite.com FTI diffusion of carbon and nitrogen atoms in the underlying stee, thereafter. Company Profile: Nitrogen/Carbon Diffusion Expanite was founded in 2010 by leading experts Replacing Hard Chrome Plating in materials and surface hardening technology. “More than 20% of the parts we are processing today The company is headquartered in Hillerød, Den- with the Expanite process are replacements for hard chrome mark, near Copenhagen, and has treatment cent- plating,” says Thomas Abel Sandholdt, CEO at Expanite. ers that are located in the USA, Germany, Korea Whether it’s the valve parts of a fuel injector within auto- and China. motive, a bushing for marine engines or the rotor for a large pump, they have all experienced the benefits of choosing a diffusion process with no risk of coatings cracking or inho- mogeneous hardening zones. And along with that comes the compliance with the EU Reach program on reduction of Cr6+ as well as the fundamental decision to move towards more sustainable solutions. Commenting about replacing hard chrome with Expanite, Sandholdt highlights opportunities in the automotive industry with valve components. Expanite’s surface hardening solutions are appli- “Independently of each other, three major suppliers to the cable to all stainless steel types and can be tai- automotive industry approached Expanite,” says Sandholdt. lored into a customer’s own product line as part of “They all produce fuel injectors with valve components in a licensing agreement. www.expanite.com ferritic stainless steel, which traditionally were hard chromed
64xx Fastener Technology International/October 2020 EMPHASIS: Coating & Plating
Surface Hardening Specialist Helps Students Solve Wear Problems on Titanium Race Car Parts Mia Grundtvig, MarCom Manager ExpaniteHard-Ti hardening technol- na. Expanite A/S’ solutions are flexible at Expanite A/S, Hillerød, Denmark, ogy makes the use of light-weight tita- and can be tailored into a customer’s shares that Expanite has consulted and nium parts possible, therefore resulting own product line as part of a licensing advised the students at the Rennteam in increased efficiency and significant agreement. Uni Stuttgart in identifying and solv- weight reduction for the Rennteam Rennteam Uni Stuttgart was origi- ing some of their challenges with wear race car. nally established in 2005. The team is on the titanium parts in their racing car. ExpaniteHard-Ti is a gas-based in- composed of highly motivated students terstitial hardening process that leaves from a broad range of fields taking part Student Design Competition no coating on the surface and therefore in the Formular Student racing series, The Rennteam Uni Stuttgart takes nothing that can spall off. which is a competition for young en- part in the Formula Student racing se- The actual hardening zone can be gineers, all across Europe, along with ries, a competition for young engineers tailored to have a case depth of from being involved in other international across Europe as well as involvement 10 to 50 μm, and surfaces can be post- competitions. in other international competitions. polished to a mirror finish. Interested readers can find that Formula Student is an international de- Through application of the Expani- additional technical information and sign competition for students in which teHard-Ti process, the surface hardness specifications about ExpaniteHard-Ti teams from around the world construct can be increased 8 to 10 times to ap- hardening technology is available at the a single-seated formula vehicle and proximately 1000 HV. Expanite A/S website. produce a ready-to-drive prototype, as- www.expanite.com suming a fictitious design assignment. Students Thankful for www.rennteam-stuttgart.de The young constructors of the Support/Guidance Rennteam Uni Stuttgart are constantly “We are thrilled and striving to optimize the construction appreciative about the sup- process including the use of materi- port that we have received als, and spend almost all of their time from the Expanite expert in constructing and testing the cars to team. With the guidance prepare for competitions. and recommendations ob- tained from Expanite A/S, Challenging the Weight we are convinced that To increase the racing vehicle’s per- through the utilization of formance, which incudes lowering the the Expanite hardening weight of the race car, the Rennteam technology, we will expe- students changed some of the car’s parts rience less or no wear on to titanium. However, the students were the titanium parts incor- then faced with problems related to parts porated in our race cars,” wear due to low surface hardness. commented Ignacio Gab- The students decided to contact sur- ilondo from the Rennteam face hardening specialist Expanite for Uni Stuttgart. possible solutions. Expanite is based upon research carried out since The Successful Solution the year 2000 and was The material experts at Expanite A/S founded in 2010 by lead- proposed the surface hardening of the ing experts in materials critical titanium parts including parts and surface hardening. of the power train positioned between The company is head- the differential and the drive shaft. This quartered in Hillerød near surface hardening was accomplished Copenhagen and has treat- through the use of the company’s ment centers in the USA, ExpaniteHard-Ti process. Germany, Korea and Chi- FTI
OctoberOctober 2020/Fastener 2020/Fastener Technology Technology International International 65 xx