Jul 11th, 2010 | Written by scotty | Posted in Automotive |

Car wheel rims are the best accessories that can improve the look of a car. Car rims are now available in different sizes, designs, and colors. Indeed, these have become one of the most common trends nowadays. This would be so since rims don’t just add aesthetic value to a car but they also provide it with improved performance.

One of the most popular types of rims nowadays would be black rims. In this article, we will look at how these things of beauty are made. The main reason behind the price tags on these gems is the labor required in making them. These things are not created solely by machines but rather, they require a huge amount of manual labor. In here, the success of the final product lies almost entirely on how well their surfaces are prepared before the whole electroplating process is started. The first step of the process involves cleaning the substrate surface completely – plus scratches, pits, and corrosion detected are repaired or removed. After which the rims’ surfaces are then washed in an acid solution and polished as nicely as possible.

The step of the process involves electroplating them with a copper or nickel layer. Electroplating is the only process that is able to do this. In this phase, the rims are submerged in a bath with a liquid copper or nickel solution. After this, an electrical connection is attached on the rims and inside the bath. This allows a nickel or copper layer to attach to the rims. When this is done, the rims are again acid washed and polished.

After being polished well, a second coat or layer is then applied. This layer is made from nickel. Nickel is used for this step since it is a very durable and hard material. This is also the one responsible for the shine emitted by the rims. When the layer of nickel has been successfully applied, the whole process of acid washing and polishing is repeated. Lastly, the rims are given a final coat by submerging them inside a chromium solution. The solution is added with a black powder chemical contaminant, which gives the rims their nice color. They are then plated with chrome to provide them with a final protective layer.

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