A method for producing a black plated resin part includes the steps of electroplating a resin substrate provided with an underlying plating layer in a trivalent chromium plating bath containing thiocyanic acid, to thereby form, on the underlying plating layer, a black chromium plating layer composed of trivalent chromium and having a thickness of 0.15 μm or more; and immersing the resin substrate provided with the black chromium plating layer in warm water at 30° C. or higher for a predetermined time. In the method, the amount of thiocyanic acid contained in the trivalent chromium plating bath, the temperature of the warm water, and the time of immersion of the resin substrate in the warm water are adjusted so that the black chromium plating layer exhibits a b* value of −1.7 or less based on the L*a*b* color system.

A method for producing a black plated resin part includes the steps of electroplating a resin substrate provided with an underlying plating layer in a trivalent chromium plating bath containing thiocyanic acid, to thereby form, on the underlying plating layer, a black chromium plating layer composed of trivalent chromium and having a thickness of 0.15 μm or more; and immersing the resin substrate provided with the black chromium plating layer in warm water at 30° C. or higher for a predetermined time. In the method, the amount of thiocyanic acid contained in the trivalent chromium plating bath, the temperature of the warm water, and the time of immersion of the resin substrate in the warm water are adjusted so that the black chromium plating layer exhibits a b* value of −1.7 or less based on the L*a*b* color system.

An aqueous electroplating bath is disclosed. The aqueous trivalent chromium bath comprises:—trivalent chromium cations in an amount of 0.12-0.276 mol/l,—ammonium ions in an amount of 4.0-6.0 mol/l, and—carboxylate ions in an amount of 2.0-7.4 mol/l, and the molar ratio of trivalent chromium cations to the carboxylate ions is 0.016-0.099, and the pH of the aqueous trivalent chromium bath is 2-6.

An aqueous electroplating bath is disclosed. The aqueous trivalent chromium bath comprises:—trivalent chromium cations in an amount of 0.12-0.276 mol/l,—ammonium ions in an amount of 4.0-6.0 mol/l, and—carboxylate ions in an amount of 2.0-7.4 mol/l, and the molar ratio of trivalent chromium cations to the carboxylate ions is 0.016-0.099, and the pH of the aqueous trivalent chromium bath is 2-6.

In certain aspects, a coated steel substrate comprises a single or multiple-layer electroplated aluminum coating over a steel substrate. The multiple-layer electroplated aluminum coating comprises one or more porous layers and one or more compact layers. The one or more porous layers comprise a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys. The one or more compact layers comprise a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys. In certain aspects, a method of depositing a multiple-layer aluminum coating over a steel substrate includes electroplating one or more porous aluminum layers over the steel substrate. The one or more porous aluminum layers comprise a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys. One or more compact aluminum layers are electroplated over the steel substrate. The one or more compact aluminum layers comprise a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys.

An object comprising a chromium-based coating on a substrate is disclosed. The chromium is electroplated from an aqueous electroplating bath comprising trivalent chromium cations, wherein the chromium-based coating comprises: a first chromium-containing layer, on the substrate, having a thickness of at least 100 nm, and a Vickers microhardness value of 700-1000 HV; a second chromium-containing layer, on the first chromium-containing layer, having a Vickers microhardness value that is at least 1.3 times higher than the Vickers microhardness value of the first chromium-containing layer, and a crystal size of 8-35 nm; and wherein the chromium-based coating exhibits a critical scratch load value (L.sub.C2) of at least 60 N in the adhesion test according to ASTM C1624-05 (2015; point 11.11.4.4), and wherein the chromium-based coating does not contain chromium carbide. Further is disclosed a method for its production.

An object comprising a chromium-based coating on a substrate is disclosed. The chromium is electroplated from an aqueous electroplating bath comprising trivalent chromium cations, wherein the chromium-based coating comprises: a first chromium-containing layer, on the substrate, having a thickness of at least 100 nm, and a Vickers microhardness value of 700-1000 HV; a second chromium-containing layer, on the first chromium-containing layer, having a Vickers microhardness value that is at least 1.3 times higher than the Vickers microhardness value of the first chromium-containing layer, and a crystal size of 8-35 nm; and wherein the chromium-based coating exhibits a critical scratch load value (L.sub.C2) of at least 60 N in the adhesion test according to ASTM C1624-05 (2015; point 11.11.4.4), and wherein the chromium-based coating does not contain chromium carbide. Further is disclosed a method for its production.

An aqueous electroplating bath is disclosed. The aqueous trivalent chromium bath comprises:—trivalent chromium cations in an amount of 0.12-0.276 mol/l,—ammonium ions in an amount of 4.0-6.0 mol/l, and—carboxylate ions in an amount of 2.0-7.4 mol/l, and the molar ratio of trivalent chromium cations to the carboxylate ions is 0.016-0.099, and the pH of the aqueous trivalent chromium bath is 2-6.

An aqueous electroplating bath is disclosed. The aqueous trivalent chromium bath comprises:—trivalent chromium cations in an amount of 0.12-0.276 mol/l,—ammonium ions in an amount of 4.0-6.0 mol/l, and—carboxylate ions in an amount of 2.0-7.4 mol/l, and the molar ratio of trivalent chromium cations to the carboxylate ions is 0.016-0.099, and the pH of the aqueous trivalent chromium bath is 2-6.

A method for electrolytically passivating a surface of silver, silver alloy, gold, or gold alloy, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a substrate comprising the surface, (ii) providing an aqueous passivation solution comprising trivalent chromium ions, and one or more than one species of carboxylic acid residue anions, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing an electrical current between the substrate as a cathode and an anode such that a passivation layer is electrolytically deposited onto the surface, wherein the trivalent chromium ions with respect to all species of carboxylic acid residue anions form a molar ratio in the range from 1:10 to 1:400.