PCHROME SPRAYING INSTRUCTIONS FOR DECORATIVE APPLICATIONS

To finish a number of articles with PChrome at the same time, attach them
firmly to a rack or spindle and be sure all visible surfaces are accessible
to the spray.  Remember, some of the steps are time sensitive so don¹t
overdo with a batch containing too many items.

The basic shop requirements include the following:

1. Compressed air -- you¹ll need approximately 5 cubic feet per minute at 60-70 psi. To avoid tarnishing the finish be sure the air supply is clean, filtered and dry.

2. A spray area with adequate ventilation and a powerful exhaust fan to extract fumes away from the operator.

3. Long-lasting, blemish-free, mirror-like finishes, are only attainable if the water you use is deionized, demineralized, or distilled. The minimum acceptable limit of dissolved solids is 10ppm.   Should you observe brown silver deposits as a bright, metallic color, you are probably using water containing impurities.

To test your water add one drop of concentrated PChrome S Solution to 15 ml (1/2 fluid ounce) of water and heat for twenty minutes. A cloudy or white precipitate indicates impurities.

Preparation of Solutions

Directions for the mixing and application of PChrome proprietary silver and
reducer formulations are provided below.  If they are followed carefully
users can be assured of a long lasting, high shine finish on a wide variety
of substrates.
* PChrome S Solution
Measure 2 fluid ounces (60 ml) of concentrated PChrome S Solution and add to one gallon of distilled or deionized water and mix. This solution must be prepared fresh daily.
* PChrome R Solution
Measure 1.5 fluid ounces of concentrated PChrome R Solution into a separate container and dilute with water to one gallon. This concentration should not be varied. Ready-to-spray reducer solution left over after a day's operation  cannot be kept for use the next day. Check with local regulations for proper disposal.
* PChrome D Solution
Measure 4 fluid ounces of PChrome D Solution into a clean container and dilute to one gallon.  This solution must be prepared fresh daily
* #77 Degreaser Solution
Measure 4 fluid ounces of #77 Degreaser Solution and add deionized water to make 1 gallon. You can use a “Windex” type spray bottle to apply this solution.
* PChrome Strip Solution
Add 4 Oz. Of PChrome Strip Solution to a gallon of water. Stir well. It can be applied with a “Windex” type spray bottle. Only prepare the amount of ready-to-spray PChrome Strip Solution you will use in a day.
* In General
PChrome Solutions can be used at ambient temperatures or heated to increase the speed of silver deposition. The recommended range of temperatures for optimal PChrome deposition is 85- 100 F (30-38 C). If solutions are fed to the  spray gun, a four to six foot head is required. Solution containers and fluid tubing should be rinsed with distilled water at the end of each day.  A silver strip solution should be sprayed through the PChrome SR spray gun once a week.

Step 1 - Apply and Cure a White Base-Coat

Articles molded, cast, or otherwise formed of plastic, wood, plaster, or metal require a special silverable base coat to attain a smooth, high gloss finish appearance. Uniform thickness and proper curing of this base coat are essential to a good result. If a frosted or crackled appearance shows up in the bright-shine layer it indicates that the base was not properly cured.
Peacock¹s PChrome base coat consists of:
        (1) A clear two part coating of Permalac 2KA (clear basecoat), and Permalac 2KB (hardener).
        (2) # 281 thinner.
        (3) White basecoat additive.
Begin the process by mixing 150 ml of Permalac 2KA, 150 ml of Permalac 2KB, 45 ml of #281 thinner and 1 Oz. of White basecoat additive. Spray this mixture evenly on the substrates to be PChromed.  Make sure that the entire surface is coated evenly. With this mix quantity you should be able to basecoat about 20 Sq. Ft. This mixture has a pot life of about 2.5 hours. Do not continue to spray when time has expired.
At room temperature (25šC /75šF), the base coat requires two hours to cure. Curing time can be cut to forty minutes if the object is air dried for ten minutes and then baked in an oven at 65ºC for thirty minutes.

Step 2. Degreasing the surface

Thoroughly apply the #77 dilute (4 fluid ounces of #77 Degreaser Solution combined with enough deionized water to make 1 gallon) to your white, base-coated part.  Make sure that the entire surface is covered. Wait 30 seconds and then rinse well with deionized water.

Step 3. - Applying PChrome D Solution

Spray the PChrome D solution using the single nozzle PChrome D spray gun which has been specifically engineered for this purpose. It is important that the entire surface being coated is liberally covered with this solution. Once finished be sure to rinse everything thoroughly with deionized water.  When finished, carefully observe the surface. If the water beads up instead of evenly sheeting, re-spray the entire surface with PChrome D immediately. Do not go on to the next step until no water breaks appear anywhere on the surface. Once comprehensive water sheeting has been achieved, proceed immediately to PChroming, (Step 4 below).  The surface must not be allowed to dry.

Step 4 PChroming

Follow the instructions under “Preparation of Solutions” for proper mixing of the two PChroming solutions -- PChrome S & PChrome R.  Be sure to use appropriate fluid dispensers, or tubing and fittings in addition to the special PChrome SR Spray Gun for this step. All parts of this spray gun which have contact with the PChrome solutions are made of stainless steel to resist any corrosive reaction to PChrome chemicals. Additionally, the solutions leave the gun atomized by compressed air at 40-60 psi and do not combine until they reach a distance of about 6 inches from the gun.  This process makes sure the mixture takes place on the surface of the object which assures an enduring bond.

For best results begin the spray pattern at the bottom of the object and
ascend in a horizontal manner to the top before returning to the bottom to
re-spray. Repeat this process until you have the desired reflection and
brightness level. The initial PChrome bright-shine film will appear as a dark blue color but quickly develops a bright chrome-like shine. When spraying a vertical object, you will have to spray a few extra seconds at the top to compensate for the gravitational drop of the PChrome Solutions that could leave the upper portion with a lighter bright-shine (silver) layer.

Following the PChrome application, the bright-shine film should be thoroughly rinsed with deionized water.  If necessary, the PChrome finish can be easily stripped by applying the orange PChrome Strip Solution. This allows you to go back and re-spray the PChrome layer, should you be dissatisfied with your first try.

Step 5 - Drying the PChrome Film

The PChrome finish must be completely dry and free of water before proceeding. You have the option of air drying, drying inside the 65ºC oven for about 45 minutes, or using a hot air gun for a few minutes.

Step 6 - Applying Protective Top Coating

Top coating can be applied by electroplating Copper, Nickel, or any other metal, or by applying a coating of clear Permalac 2K.

First, mix 150 ml of Permalac 2KA with 150 ml of Permalac 2KB Hardener and stir well.  Next add 45 ml of #281 Thinner.  For a straightforward Chrome-like finish it is recommended that 12 ml of Violet Tint be added to the mix. Once prepared, spray the mix evenly over the entire surface. The top coat can be dried in a 65ºC oven for about 30 minutes, or air dried to the touch in about 2 hours. Allow the part to sit for 24 hours to complete the hardening.  

When a color is desired, a dye is either incorporated into the Permalac 2K top coating before spraying or applied as an additional top coat after the first top coat has completely dried.  To create a gold finish, for example, add 2 parts black toner, 2 parts yellow toner and 6 parts orange toner to the clear mixture before spraying and curing. A brass look can be obtained by adding 1 part black toner, 2 parts yellow toner, and 6 parts orange toner.  A variety of other tints can also be ordered.
    
ALL YOU NEED TO GET STARTED PCHROMING
PChrome Concentrates
PChrome S Solution -1 Pint
PChrome R Solution- 1 Pint
PChrome D Solution - 1 Pint.
Permalac 2KA: 2 Gallons
Permalac 2KB: 2 Gallons
#281 Thinner: 1 Gallon
White Base coat additive: 1 Pint
Violet Tint Additive: 4 Oz.
#77 Degreaser Solution: 1 Pint
PChrome Strip Solution: 1 Pint
EQUIPMENT:
PChrome SR spray gun -1
PChrome D spray gun -1
Siphon Bottles (Qt)-3
Rubber Gloves: Two pairs, assorted sizes, please specify.
Safety Glasses: Two pairs. Wear a pair at all times when working with
chemicals.
Clear Vinyl Aprons: Two only.
Cartridge Type Respirator: Includes ammonia, and organic vapor
cartridges – 2

To achieve the exact PChrome finish you have in mind may involve variations from these instructions.  Experimentation in mix formula and application technique are always encouraged.  Once you have achieved the look you desire, proceed to PChrome the object you wish to finish.
PEACOCK LABORATORIES, INC.
Correspondences: Shipping:
1901 South 54th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Telephone: (215) 729-4400
Fax: (215) 729-1380
www.peacocklabs.com