Chromium oxide, known for its exceptional durability and aesthetic appeal.

Is This the Material You’re Looking For?

• Are you building in a marine environment?
• Are you looking for unique, beautiful, and permanent color and finish solutions?
• Do you need a material that offers exceptional corrosion resistance?
• Are you seeking a maintenance-free solution that will last for decades?
• Do you require a versatile aesthetic with various color and finish options?
• Are you interested in a sustainable and environmentally friendly material?
• Do you need a finish that can withstand high temperatures and harsh conditions?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then our chromium oxide finish on duplex stainless steel is the ideal solution for your project.

Overview

Chromium oxide, known for its exceptional durability and aesthetic appeal, is an ideal finish for duplex stainless steel in marine environments. This advanced finishing process offers a unique combination of corrosion resistance, color variety, and maintenance-free longevity, making it a preferred choice for demanding applications.

The Process

The chromium oxide finish is achieved through an electrochemical process. This computer-controlled method builds a transparent chromium oxide layer on the stainless steel surface without using dyes or pigments. The result is a robust, durable finish that enhances the material’s natural properties.

• Electrochemical Process: Utilizes a controlled process to create a transparent chromium oxide layer.
• Interference Effect: Different colors emerge based on the thickness of the chromium oxide layer, light composition, and viewing angle.
• Stainless Steel Character: The thin chromium oxide layer maintains the stainless steel’s inherent structural and visual qualities.

Durability and Resistance

Chromium oxide finishes offer outstanding resistance to various environmental factors:

• Corrosion Resistance: Enhances the base material’s resistance, making it suitable for marine environments.
• Light, Weather, and Aging Resistance: The finish does not crack, fade, or peel over time.
• Temperature Resistance: Withstands continuous exposure to temperatures up to 200°C (392°F). Short-term temperature spikes of up to 300°C (572°F) are typically tolerated without significant color changes.
• Mechanical Resistance: The flexible chromium oxide layer is organically bonded to the base material, allowing it to withstand deformation without surface damage. However, its thinness limits resistance to abrasive wear.

Duplex Stainless Steel for Marine Applications

Duplex stainless steel, with its superior corrosion resistance and high strength, serves as the ideal substrate for marine applications when coated with a chromium oxide finish. This combination ensures that the material withstands harsh marine environments, offering unparalleled durability and aesthetic versatility. The advanced electrochemical process used to apply the chromium oxide layer not only enhances the stainless steel’s natural properties but also provides a long-lasting, maintenance-free solution. With various color and finish options, this substrate-finish pairing is both a practical and visually appealing choice for demanding marine applications.

Color and Finish Options

A range of colors and finishes can be achieved with this process, providing versatile aesthetic choices:

Standard Colors: Champagne, gold, bronze, steel blue, cobalt blue, green, red, and a special black.

Custom Colors: Available upon request, with minimum production quantities required.

Finish Variations: These finishes do not have to be shiny or iridescent. Various levels of matte finishes and custom colors can be achieved, offering flexibility in design and application.

Surface Finishes in Color

Achieving the Patina Look with Chromium Oxide

For clients seeking the dynamic and aged appearance of patina without the drawbacks of changing and deteriorating over time, the chromium oxide finish offers an excellent solution. This advanced process can mimic the visual complexity and depth of patina while providing a stable, permanent result. Unlike traditional patina, which evolves and can degrade, the chromium oxide finish maintains its appearance indefinitely, combining the desired aesthetic with the durability and reliability of modern materials.

Stainless steel sheets can be finished in a variety of textures and colors using the chromium oxide process. Options include brushed, glass bead blasted, polished, and patterned finishes, allowing for extensive design possibilities.

Application Details

Sheets: One-sided (or both sides if required) with maximum dimensions of 2000 x 6000 mm and thicknesses from 0.5 to 4.0 mm. These can be delivered in smooth, patterned, profiled, ground, and electropolished surfaces.

Pipes, Profiles, and Rod Steel: Up to a maximum length of 6000 mm and a diameter of 50 mm, available upon request.

Expanded Metals, Wire Meshes, and Similar Products: The process can also be applied to expanded metals, wire meshes, screws, fasteners, and other small parts.

Decorative Applications

Chromium oxide finishes are ideal for various decorative applications, both indoors and outdoors:

• Decorative Diversity: Suitable for high-traffic areas such as elevators, countertops, and lobbies.
• Wire Mesh and Expanded Metals: Our team has extensive experience in enhancing wire and expanded metal meshes, offering numerous design possibilities.
• Expanded Metals: Produced by simultaneous cutting and stretching, expanded metals can be treated with the chromium oxide process or electropolished for perfect visual effects.

Unique Surfaces for Demanding Designs

We fabricate from materials treated with this advanced chromium oxide finish to create permanent solutions for the most challenging environments. Our expertise ensures that these materials are transformed into robust, maintenance-free solutions suitable for any application.

Cost and Value

While these premium finishes come with a higher price tag, they are an investment that will outlast any other option available, making them a responsible choice for long-term budget considerations.

The Difference Between Titanium Nitride and Chromium Oxide.

Have questions about the difference between Chromium Oxide and Titanium Nitride? Click here to learn more.

Contact Us

For more information on how we can incorporate chromium oxide finishes into your projects and enhance your designs with this exceptional finishing technique, please contact us. 801-462-5264 Our team is ready to assist you in exploring the vast possibilities of this durable and aesthetic solution.