[kxkraze]

Hey,

First of all, thanks for all of the information that people are posting here. It is both interesting and helpful.

So, has anyone come up with a definitive method for the yellow chromate slough-off problems? I purchased one of the cad/zinc kits + trivalent yellow chromate. I am getting EXCELLENT results with everything but the chromate durability. I have tried many of the suggestions & methods that I have read in this forum. So far, KCV6's method has shown the best results. Let me caveat that by saying that I used muratic acid instead of sulferic acid and it only works without the zinc brightener additive -- as seanc has stated several times. With brightener in the electrolyte solution, the chromate comes off in the post-chromate water rinse. With KCV6's method, and the absence of brightener, I get OK results, but the chromate will have good adhesion properties in most places, while rubbing off in others.

As far as my setup (temps etc.) it is mostly all by the book. I use a CC power supply and I calculate the surface area of each substrate item down to 0.001 inch accuracy -- even taking into account the surface area of the wire conductor. My only change to the book is that I clean each item in an ultrasonic cleaner BEFORE I begin any of the Caswell process. My plating results are outstanding.

I am hoping through others experiences and knowledge, that can get a good method down for the chromate.