Chrome plated tube refers to steel pipe with metallic chromium coating on the surface. Its base material is usually carbon steel or stainless steel pipe, with dense coating applied via electroplating. It features high surface hardness, excellent wear resistance and low friction coefficient.
Glory Steel is a professional manufacturer of chrome-plated tubes, supplying chrome plated tubes for industrial and decorative applications. Our products are widely used in hydraulic, automotive, and machinery manufacturing sectors. We support customization of various materials and specifications, and provide services including cut-to-length, outer circle precision grinding.
Specifications
| Item | Chrome Plated Tube |
|---|---|
| Base Material | Carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Cross Section | Round tube, square tube, rectangular tube |
| Outer Diameter | 6mm ~ 200mm |
| Wall Thickness | 1.0mm ~ 20mm |
| Length | 1–12 meters, cut-to-length available |
| Surface Finish | Mirror chrome plating, matte hard chrome |
| Type | Decorative chrome plating, hard chrome plating |
| MOQ | 10 tons |
| Standards | ISO, ASTM relevant electroplating specifications |
| Chrome Coating Thickness | 15~25μm for industrial precision chrome plated tube; 5~7μm for decorative chrome plated tube |
Key Features
- High Wear Resistance: Coating hardness HV850~1000. Service life can be extended by 3-5 times under reciprocating friction conditions with low friction coefficient.
- Basic Corrosion Resistance: The passive film on chromium coating isolates moisture and mild acid & alkali media, achieving over twice the service life of black steel pipe.
- Aesthetic & Premium Finish: Silver or matte surface delivers high-end texture, widely applied in bathroom shower heads, toilet sanitary ware and display equipment.
- High Precision: Suited for precision applications. Outer diameter tolerance can reach ISO f7~f8, cylindricity 0.005mm, straightness 0.05mm/m. Custom wall thickness and base material available.
Available Materials
| Material | Standard | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 20# | GB/T 699 | High quality carbon steel, good comprehensive performance, most widely used |
| 45# | GB/T 699 | High quality carbon steel with relatively high strength |
| E355+SR | EN 10305-1 | High strength non-alloy steel, stress relieved condition |
| 304 / 304L | ASTM A269 | Excellent corrosion resistance, general-purpose stainless steel |
| 316 / 316L | ASTM A269 | Superior corrosion resistance, molybdenum-containing grade |
Base Material Grade & Standard Table
| Base Material Type | Grade | Corresponding Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel | 20# / 45# | GB/T 699 |
| European Standard Carbon Steel | E355+SR | EN 10305-1 |
| General Stainless Steel | 304 / 304L | ASTM A269 |
| Corrosion Resistant Stainless Steel | 316 / 316L | ASTM A269 |
Mechanical Properties Reference Table
| Base Material Type | Grade | Corresponding Standard | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel | 20# | GB/T 699 | ≥410 | ≥245 |
| Carbon Steel | 45# | GB/T 699 | ≥600 | ≥355 |
| European Standard Carbon Steel | E355+SR | EN 10305-1 | ≥580 | ≥450 |
| General Stainless Steel | 304 / 304L | ASTM A269 | ≥515 | ≥205 |
| Corrosion Resistant Stainless Steel | 316 / 316L | ASTM A269 | ≥515 | ≥205 |
Chrome Coating Performance
| Parameter | Typical Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Coating Hardness | 850 ~ 1,100 HV (approx. 67 HRC) | Hard chrome coating Vickers hardness |
| Coating Thickness | 20 ~ 25 μm | Standard industrial chrome plated tube |
| Surface Roughness | Ra 0.10 ~ 0.25 μm | After outer circle precision grinding and chrome plating |
| Straightness | ≤ 0.3 mm/m | Requirement for precision hydraulic tube |
Product Classification
1. Classification by Manufacturing Process
- Seamless Chrome Plated Tube: Made from cold drawn seamless base tube, with external hard chrome plating and inner hole honing. High pressure resistance and good fatigue resistance.
- ERW Welded Chrome Plated Tube: Base material is ERW straight seam welded pipe, cost-effective, with external hard chrome plating and uniform wall thickness.
2. Classification by Coating Function
- Hard Chrome Plated Tube: Industrial precision chrome tube, matte silver-grey surface without mirror effect, with thick chromium coating.
- Decorative Chrome Plated Tube: With copper + nickel underlayer and top chrome plating, mirror silver-white finish, thin coating, easy to clean.
3. Classification by Base Pipe Material
- Carbon Steel Chrome Plated Tube: Using 20#, 45# carbon steel pipe as substrate, high strength and load capacity, the most widely used category.
- Stainless Steel Chrome Plated Tube: Based on stainless steel tube, with inherent good corrosion resistance, used for precision equipment scenarios with high cleanliness and mild corrosive environment.
Application
- Engineering Machinery: Cylinder piston rods and cylinder barrels for heavy-duty equipment such as excavators and cranes.
- Automotive Industry: Automotive cooling & fuel pipelines, heavy load components for mining and port equipment.
- Lightweight Applications: Laser cutting machines, slitting machines, paper guide rollers for high-speed printers, furniture frames.
- Other Fields: Steering systems, lifting systems, fitness equipment, telescopic structures, pneumatic systems.
⚠️ Not recommended for working conditions: Strong acid and alkali environment, seawater corrosion, underground burial, long-term outdoor exposure to rain and sunlight. Micropores in chrome coating may cause corrosion and failure of the underlying base pipe.
Recommended Base Material for Different Applications
| Base Pipe Type | Usage | Commonly Used | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seamless Tube | Hydraulic & Pneumatic Precision Tube | ✅ Most mainstream | Preferred for high-pressure hydraulic cylinders |
| Welded Tube | Hydraulic & Pneumatic Precision Tube | ✅ Common | For medium & low pressure cylinders, cost-sensitive projects |
| Seamless Tube | Industrial Machinery Tube | ✅ Common | Components with high wear and corrosion resistance requirements |
| Welded Tube | Industrial Machinery Tube | ✅ Common | General industrial applications |
| Welded Tube | Decorative Tube | ✅ Most mainstream | Sanitary ware, furniture, display racks |
Production Process
Precision steel pipe substrate → Inner hole honing / outer circle precision grinding → Degreasing, pickling, activation → Hard chrome electroplating → Water washing → Drying → Polishing → Inspection → Anti-rust treatment → Packaging
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between chrome plated tube and galvanized tube?
A: The coating materials are different. Galvanizing is hot-dip process while chrome plating is electroplating. Galvanized pipe focuses on corrosion protection with grey-silver coating; chrome plated pipe prioritizes wear resistance and low friction, its anti-corrosion performance is inferior to galvanized pipe, mostly used for mechanical moving parts and decoration.
Q: How to choose between decorative chrome plating and hard chrome plating?
A: Hard chrome is recommended for industrial machinery applications. Decorative chrome plating is suitable for light-load scenarios such as fitness equipment, furniture and interior decoration.
Q: Can chrome-plated tube be used for fluid transportation?
A: It can be used for low-pressure clean fluid. Not suitable for high-pressure or strongly corrosive media pipelines, as micropores will lead to rusting of underlying steel pipe.
Glory Steel Plant, located in Tianjin, China, is an ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and CE-certified factory with an annual output of 100,000 tons. Specialize in manufacturing chrome-plated tubes—available in various cross-sectional shapes and wall thicknesses—as well as galvanized tubes and ZAM tubes. We support CNC machining and OEM/ODM services. With our high-quality products and services, we export to over 120 countries.
