Plating & metallizing · finish comparison
Hard Chrome Plating vs Nickel-PTFE Composite Plating
Hard Chrome Plating and Nickel-PTFE Composite Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; nickel-PTFE resists corrosion better.
Hard Chrome Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$$ · instant quote
Hard chrome is a thick engineering chromium deposit for wear, low friction, and dimensional restoration.
Nickel-PTFE Composite Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$$
Nickel-PTFE is an electroless nickel matrix with co-deposited PTFE particles for low friction and release.
When to choose which
Choose Hard chrome
Choose Hard chrome when maximum wear resistance and post-grinding are acceptable.
- 850–1050 HV typical hardness
- 10–500 µm engineering thickness (wear to salvage)
- Low adhesive friction and good galling resistance
Choose Nickel-PTFE
Choose Nickel-PTFE when low friction and corrosion protection outweigh maximum hardness.
- Uniform 10–25 µm low-friction coating
- PTFE exposed throughout wear renews release behavior
- Better corrosion barrier than standalone dry lubricant
What the numbers say
- Nickel-PTFE resists corrosion better.
- Hard chrome is the harder surface (850–1,050 HV vs 250–500 HV).
- Nickel-PTFE is the lower-cost option ($$$$).
- Nickel-PTFE is the thinner coating (10–25 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
- Hard chrome is conductive; Nickel-PTFE is semi-conductive.
- Hard chrome tolerates more heat (400 °C continuous).
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Hard chrome | Nickel-PTFE |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 40 Fair | 72 Very good |
| Surface hardness / wear | 73 Very good | 57 Good |
| Cosmetic quality | 45 Fair | 45 Fair |
| Lubricity | 65 Good | 90 Excellent |
| Cost | 78 $$$$ | 72 $$$$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Hard chrome | Nickel-PTFE |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 10–500 µm | 10–25 µm |
| Surface hardness | 850–1,050 HV | 250–500 HV |
| Salt-spray test duration | 24–96 h | — |
| Max service temperature | 400 °C | 260 °C |
| Electrical | Conductive | Semi-conductive |
| Colours | silver | gray, dark gray |
| Relative cost | High ($$$$) | High ($$$$) |
| Added lead time | 5–10 working days | 5–10 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | On request |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Hard chrome | Nickel-PTFE |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | With care | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | With care | Yes |
| Stainless Steel | With care | Yes |
| Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Aluminum | With care | With care |
| DMLS / SLM | With care | With care |
| Nickel Alloy | With care | — |
| Titanium | Limited | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | No | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | No | Limited |
| Polymer | No | Limited |
| SLA | No | Limited |
Specifications and drawing call-outs
Hard chrome
- AMS 2406 — Plating, Chromium, Hard Deposit
- ASTM B177 — Standard Guide for Engineering Chromium Electroplating
HARD CHROME PLATE PER AMS 2406, 0.0020 IN MIN BEFORE GRIND; FINISH GRIND TO Ø25.000 ±0.005 mm AND Ra 0.4 µm; MASK THREADS
Nickel-PTFE
No governing public specification — called out by name and thickness.
ELECTROLESS NICKEL-PTFE COMPOSITE, 15–20 µm THICK, 20–25 VOL% PTFE TARGET, 300 HV MIN; MASK THREADS AND BONDING SURFACES; PROCESS TO APPROVED SAMPLE
Hard chrome vs Nickel-PTFE — frequently asked
What is the difference between Hard chrome and Nickel-PTFE?
Hard Chrome Plating and Nickel-PTFE Composite Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; nickel-PTFE resists corrosion better. Hard chrome is the harder surface (850–1,050 HV vs 250–500 HV). Nickel-PTFE is the lower-cost option ($$$$).
When should I use Hard chrome instead of Nickel-PTFE?
Choose Hard chrome when maximum wear resistance and post-grinding are acceptable. Conversely: choose Nickel-PTFE when low friction and corrosion protection outweigh maximum hardness.
Is Hard chrome or Nickel-PTFE cheaper?
Nickel-PTFE is the lower-cost finish ($$$$ against $$$$ for Hard chrome) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.