Provided is a shock absorber in which trivalent chromium is used to achieve both high hardness and low frictional force at a high level without using hexavalent chromium which is suspected of causing damage to the human body and the environment, and a method for manufacturing the shock absorber.

A shock absorber (100) of the present invention includes: a cylinder (1) which is filled with hydraulic oil (3); a piston rod (2) which is movable in the cylinder (1); and an oil seal (8) which is fixed to the cylinder (1) and slides on the piston rod (2), in which a hard layer mainly containing chromium obtained from a trivalent chromium plating bath is provided on a surface of the piston rod (2), and the hard layer contains both a crystalline material and an amorphous material, and also contains an additive other than chromium.

A method for creating a chrome-plated surface having a matte finish that typically includes: controlling a resistance of a current bridge circuit; depositing a first chromium layer on a substrate positioned in a chromium bath, wherein the first chromium layer is deposited by supplying current from a power source that is electrically connected to the substrate and to anodes positioned in the chromium bath; etching the first chromium layer by engaging a current bridge that closes the current bridge circuit; depositing a first intermediate chromium layer, wherein the first intermediate chromium layer is deposited by supplying current from the power source; etching the first intermediate chromium layer, wherein the first intermediate chromium layer is etched by engaging the current bridge; and depositing a final chromium layer, wherein the final chromium layer is deposited by supplying current from the power source.

A method for creating a chrome-plated surface having a matte finish that typically includes: controlling a resistance of a current bridge circuit; depositing a first chromium layer on a substrate positioned in a chromium bath, wherein the first chromium layer is deposited by supplying current from a power source that is electrically connected to the substrate and to anodes positioned in the chromium bath; etching the first chromium layer by engaging a current bridge that closes the current bridge circuit; depositing a first intermediate chromium layer, wherein the first intermediate chromium layer is deposited by supplying current from the power source; etching the first intermediate chromium layer, wherein the first intermediate chromium layer is etched by engaging the current bridge; and depositing a final chromium layer, wherein the final chromium layer is deposited by supplying current from the power source.

A method for producing an electrolytic copper foil is provided. The method includes preparing a copper electrolytic solution including at least one addition agent and performing an electroplating step including: electrolyzing the copper electrolytic solution to form a raw foil layer. The raw foil layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum of the first surface, a ratio of the diffraction peak intensity I(200) of the (200) crystal face of the first surface relative to the diffraction peak intensity I(111) of the (111) crystal face of the first surface is between 0.5 and 2.0. A ratio of the diffraction peak intensity I(200) of the (200) crystal face of the second surface relative to the diffraction peak intensity I(111) of the (111) crystal face of the second surface is between 0.5 and 2.0.

Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a vehicle member including pretreating the surface of an electrically conductive plastic molded product and forming a metal plating layer on the molded product, wherein the metal plating layer includes a copper plating layer, a nickel plating layer and a chromium plating layer, which are sequentially formed, and a vehicle member manufactured by the method.

Coatings that can be used on limited line of sight substrates are described. In some embodiments, the coating may be a metal alloy coating applied to an inner surface of an article such as a rod, tube or pipe. The inner surface can be present within a cavity of an article.

Shock absorbers that include a piston member configured to contact a functional fluid during movement of the piston member are described. The piston member can include a coating on a surface of the piston member. The coating can include a metal or metal alloy such as, for example, molybdenum or tungsten in combination with one or more other materials.

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.

Rods and pipes that include a coated surface are described. The rod or pipe can include an alloy layer on a surface. The alloy layer can include molybdenum or tungsten and at least one element or at least one compound comprising one or more of nickel, cobalt, chromium, tin, phosphorous, iron, magnesium or boron.