The present invention refers to an electroplating bath for electroplating a chromium or chromium alloy layer, the bath comprising trivalent chromium ions, organic carboxylic acid, sulfate ions, sodium conductive ions, and additives in the form of inorganic sulfur compound and boric acid as well as a process using such an electroplating bath.

Methods for treating a substrate are disclosed. A method includes contacting a substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal and an electropositive metal and passing an electric current between an anode and the substrate serving as a cathode to deposit a coating from the pretreatment composition on the substrate. A method for treating an electrically conductive substrate also includes contacting the electrically conductive substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal and an electropositive metal and electrodepositing a coating on the electrically conductive substrate from the pretreatment composition. A method further includes contacting an electrically conductive substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal and an electropositive metal; and electrodepositing a coating on the electrically conductive substrate from the pretreatment composition, wherein the coating comprises each of the Group IVB metal and the electropositive metal.

Methods for treating a substrate are disclosed. A method includes contacting a substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal and an electropositive metal and passing an electric current between an anode and the substrate serving as a cathode to deposit a coating from the pretreatment composition on the substrate. A method for treating an electrically conductive substrate also includes contacting the electrically conductive substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal and an electropositive metal and electrodepositing a coating on the electrically conductive substrate from the pretreatment composition. A method further includes contacting an electrically conductive substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal and an electropositive metal; and electrodepositing a coating on the electrically conductive substrate from the pretreatment composition, wherein the coating comprises each of the Group IVB metal and the electropositive metal.

Method for reducing concentration of iron ions in a trivalent chromium electroplating bath, including: (i) providing the trivalent chromium electroplating bath including trivalent chromium ions, and iron ions, (ii) subjecting at least a portion of the bath to air agitation, to obtain an air-agitated portion of the bath, (iii) contacting the air-agitated portion with an ion exchange resin, to obtain a resin-treated portion of the bath, and (iv) returning the resin-treated portion of the bath to the trivalent chromium electroplating bath,
provided that the bath provided in step (i) was or is utilized for electrodepositing chromium on a substrate applying a cathodic current density of 18 A/dm.sup.2 or more, after step (iii), iron ions in the resin-treated portion have a lower concentration than in the air-agitated portion, and after step (iv), iron ions in the bath have a concentration below 50 mg/L.

Method for reducing concentration of iron ions in a trivalent chromium electroplating bath, including: (i) providing the trivalent chromium electroplating bath including trivalent chromium ions, and iron ions, (ii) subjecting at least a portion of the bath to air agitation, to obtain an air-agitated portion of the bath, (iii) contacting the air-agitated portion with an ion exchange resin, to obtain a resin-treated portion of the bath, and (iv) returning the resin-treated portion of the bath to the trivalent chromium electroplating bath,
provided that the bath provided in step (i) was or is utilized for electrodepositing chromium on a substrate applying a cathodic current density of 18 A/dm.sup.2 or more, after step (iii), iron ions in the resin-treated portion have a lower concentration than in the air-agitated portion, and after step (iv), iron ions in the bath have a concentration below 50 mg/L.

A decorative component includes a plurality of metal finish layers deposited over a substrate and a plurality of sub-layers. The outermost metal finish layer is selectively deposited or removed to define one or more recesses to create different appearances of the component. The outer metal layer may undergo laser ablation to remove at least a portion of the outer layer while still exposing the outer layer in the area of removed material. The recess may extend fully through the outer layer to expose the underlying metal finish layer, and/or the recess may have a sloped bottom surface to define a gradient appearance. The outer layer may be applied over a mask that is applied to the underlying layer, such that the outer layer is selectively applied. The outer layer may be removed to expose the underlying finish layer without exposing a nickel sublayer and without requiring a top coat.

A decorative component includes a plurality of metal finish layers deposited over a substrate and a plurality of sub-layers. The outermost metal finish layer is selectively deposited or removed to define one or more recesses to create different appearances of the component. The outer metal layer may undergo laser ablation to remove at least a portion of the outer layer while still exposing the outer layer in the area of removed material. The recess may extend fully through the outer layer to expose the underlying metal finish layer, and/or the recess may have a sloped bottom surface to define a gradient appearance. The outer layer may be applied over a mask that is applied to the underlying layer, such that the outer layer is selectively applied. The outer layer may be removed to expose the underlying finish layer without exposing a nickel sublayer and without requiring a top coat.

Provided is a golf shaft, capable of ensuring peeling resistance of a colored layer to endure a bending process and the like. The golf shaft has a metal element tube, and a colored plating layer being a colored layer formed on a surface of the element tube, wherein the colored plating layer has a first strike plating layer on the element tube side, a satin-like plating layer layered on a surface of the first strike plating layer, a second strike plating layer layered on a surface of the stain-like plating layer, and a decorative plating layer layered on a surface of the second strike plating layer and colored according to a color of the colored plating layer.

An object comprising a chromium-based coating on a substrate is disclosed, wherein the chromium is electroplated from an aqueous electroplating bath comprising trivalent chromium cations, wherein the chromium-based coating comprises 87-98 weight-% of chromium, 0.3-5 weight-% of carbon, and 0.1-11 weight-% of nickel and/or iron, and wherein the chromium-based coating has a Vickers microhardness value of 1000-2000 HV, and wherein the chromium-based coating does not contain chromium carbide. Further is disclosed a method for its production, and an aqueous electroplating bath.

An object comprising a chromium-based coating on a substrate is disclosed, wherein the chromium is electroplated from an aqueous electroplating bath comprising trivalent chromium cations, wherein the chromium-based coating comprises 87-98 weight-% of chromium, 0.3-5 weight-% of carbon, and 0.1-11 weight-% of nickel and/or iron, and wherein the chromium-based coating has a Vickers microhardness value of 1000-2000 HV, and wherein the chromium-based coating does not contain chromium carbide. Further is disclosed a method for its production, and an aqueous electroplating bath.