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Nahaufnahme einer beschichteten, metallischen Oberfläche mit hexagonalem Muster, behandelt mit dekorativen Elektrolyten wie Sauer Kupfer, Nickel und Chrom

Decorative electrolytes

For Brilliant Decorative Finishes on Plastic and Metal

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DR. HESSE

Our Decorative Electrolytes

We develop high-performance electrolytes for premium decorative copper, nickel and chromium plating on plastic and metal. With PRIMUS®, CUSUN, SUPRATIAL, SUPRAGAL®, SUPRAPORE, SUPRAMATT, HESSOTRICHROME® and HESSOCHROME®, DR. HESSE offers a fully integrated plating system for brilliant decorative finishes, economical production and consistently reproducible coating quality.

Our decorative plating systems are designed for demanding applications requiring outstanding appearance, corrosion resistance and process reliability. Typical industries include sanitary fittings, automotive, hardware, furniture and premium design and functional components made from plastic and metal.

From low-dye and dye-based acid copper electrolytes to semi-bright, bright, satin and microporous nickel systems, as well as trivalent and hexavalent chromium plating, DR. HESSE covers the complete decorative plating process. All systems are engineered for simple bath operation, excellent process stability, superior surface quality and cost-efficient high-volume production.

Nahaufnahme eines glänzenden, modernen Wasserhahns mit einem Wassertropfen am Auslauf, behandelt mit dekorativen Elektrolyten wie Sauer Kupfer, Nickel und Chrom

Acid Copper Electrolytes

PRIMUS® and CUSUN provide high-performance acid copper electrolytes for premium decorative copper plating. The systems deliver outstanding levelling, brilliant brightness, uniform metal distribution and reliable production processes—making them ideal for demanding applications in the sanitary fittings, automotive and hardware industries, while providing the perfect foundation for subsequent nickel and chromium plating.

Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.
Decorative Copper Coating

Features / Benefits:

  • Simple process control: Only three additives ensure easy bath management with low maintenance and straightforward analysis.

  • Consistently pore-free copper coatings: Provides an ideal foundation for subsequent nickel and chrome plating.

  • Exceptional throwing power: Delivers uniform copper deposition even on complex component geometries.

  • Excellent leveling: Smooths surface imperfections to produce brilliant decorative copper finishes.

  • No edge build-up: Ensures uniform coating distribution without excessive copper deposition on edges.

  • High temperature stability: Reliable operation at temperatures up to 36 °C.

PRIMUS®

Low-Dye Acid Copper Plating Electrolyte

Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the CUSUN® dyed acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing superior leveling, excellent throwing power and uniform copper deposition.
Decorative Copper Coating

Features / Benefits:

  • Excellent throwing power: Uniform copper deposition, even on complex part geometries.

  • Superior leveling: Produces exceptionally smooth surfaces as the ideal base for subsequent nickel and chrome plating.

  • Controlled edge build-up: Balanced metal distribution for high-quality decorative finishes.

  • Simple bath maintenance: Only three additives for make-up and replenishment ensure economical and repeatable production.

  • Excellent temperature stability: Reliable operation at bath temperatures up to 36 °C.

CUSUN

Dyed Acid Copper Plating Electrolyte

Nahaufnahme einer hochglänzenden, verchromten Oberfläche – dekorative Elektrolyte für Halbglanz-, Glanz- und mikro-porige Nickel- sowie Chromverfahren (SUPRATIAL, SUPRAGAL®, HESSOPORE).

Nickel Plating Electrolytes for Decorative Finishes

SUPRATIAL, SUPRAGAL® and SUPRAPORE form a high-performance system of semi-bright nickel, bright nickel and microporous nickel plating electrolytes for premium decorative finishes. The processes provide excellent leveling, outstanding brightness, optimized multilayer coatings and long-lasting corrosion protection for sanitary fittings, automotive components, decorative hardware and premium design surfaces.

Schematic illustration of the semi-bright nickel layer structure using SUPRATIAL® sulfur-free semi-bright nickel plating electrolyte for duplex nickel systems and decorative multilayer coatings by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.

Semi-Bright Nickel

Features / Benefits:

  • Consistently high potential difference: Ideal foundation for duplex and multilayer nickel systems with enhanced corrosion protection.

  • Sulfur-free nickel deposition: Ensures a defined coating structure and excellent corrosion resistance.

  • Simple bath operation: Only one additive is required for easy adjustment and reproducible production.

  • Uniform brightness profile: Provides the ideal base for subsequent bright, satin or microporous nickel coatings.

SUPRATIAL

Semi-Bright Nickel Plating Electrolyte

Schematic illustration of the bright nickel layer structure using SUPRAGAL® bright nickel plating electrolyte for high-gloss decorative multilayer coatings and reliable chrome plating by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the semi-bright nickel layer structure using SUPRATIAL® sulfur-free semi-bright nickel plating electrolyte for duplex nickel systems and decorative multilayer coatings by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.

Bright Nickel

Features / Benefits:

  • Adjustable leveling performance: From good to excellent leveling, adaptable to different part geometries and plating requirements.

  • Pore-free nickel deposit: Provides the ideal foundation for decorative chrome plating with enhanced corrosion protection.

  • High ductility: Produces formable nickel deposits with excellent adhesion and outstanding mechanical durability.

  • Low passivity: Ensures optimum layer activity for subsequent plating processes.

  • No white washing: Reliable bright nickel deposition without white washing during chromium plating – even at high leveling performance.

SUPRAGAL®

Bright Nickel Plating Electrolyte

Schematic illustration of the microporous nickel layer structure using SUPRAPORE® microporous nickel plating electrolyte for decorative multilayer systems with enhanced corrosion protection according to automotive requirements by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the bright nickel layer structure using SUPRAGAL® bright nickel plating electrolyte for high-gloss decorative multilayer coatings and reliable chrome plating by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the semi-bright nickel layer structure using SUPRATIAL® sulfur-free semi-bright nickel plating electrolyte for duplex nickel systems and decorative multilayer coatings by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.

Microporous Nickel Layer

Features / Benefits:

  • Uniform pore distribution: Meets common automotive specifications and enhances the corrosion protection of decorative nickel systems.

  • Neutral brightness level: One electrolyte for both satin and bright nickel finishes, reducing process complexity and simplifying bath operation.

  • Optimized microporous structure: Supports durable duplex and multilayer nickel systems with outstanding corrosion resistance.

  • High process stability: Ensures reproducible results and consistent pore formation over extended operating periods.

SUPRAPORE

Microporous Nickel Plating Electrolyte

Nahaufnahme einer satinierten Nickeloberfläche im SUPRAMATT® Verfahren – zeigt die edle, matte Optik an einer Automobil-Mittelkonsole. Eigenschaften: einfache Handhabung, zwei Mattierungszusätze zur Einstellung von Glanzgrad und Korngröße, Erzielung aller gängigen Automobil-Farbtöne, stabile 24/7 Produktion sowie Spezialnetzmittel ohne Streifenbildung.

Satin Nickel

SUPRAMATT delivers premium satin nickel coatings with a uniform matte finish, excellent process stability and highly reproducible surface quality. The system is ideal for decorative plating of sanitary fittings, automotive components, architectural hardware and premium industrial parts where elegant appearance and consistent quality are essential.

Schematic illustration of the SUPRAMATT satin nickel coating layer structure for decorative nickel plating with adjustable matte finish, reproducible surface quality and high process stability by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the semi-bright nickel layer structure using SUPRATIAL® sulfur-free semi-bright nickel plating electrolyte for duplex nickel systems and decorative multilayer coatings by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.

Satin Nickel Coating

Features / Benefits:

  • Easy bath operation: Two matting additives allow precise adjustment of gloss level and grain structure, including mixing of both additives.

  • Variable satin finish: Adjustable matte appearance to meet different design and surface requirements.

  • All common automotive colour shades: Reproducible satin nickel coatings for decorative automotive, sanitary and industrial applications.

  • Stable 24/7 production: Bypass filtration ensures maximum process stability and consistent surface quality.

  • Special wetting agent without streaking: Can be dosed even into existing baths to produce uniform satin nickel coatings without streak formation.

SUPRAMATT

Satin Nickel Electrolyte

Automotive-Innenraum mit verchromten Bedienelementen – Darstellung der Chrom-Verfahren HESSOTRICHROME® (3-wertig) und HESSOCHROME® (6-wertig). Diese Systeme erfüllen höchste Anforderungen an Korrosionsbeständigkeit, Farbkonstanz (stabile L-A-B-Werte) und sind kompatibel mit Mischverbau-Lösungen.

Decorative Chromium Plating Systems – Trivalent & Hexavalent

HESSOTRICHROME® and HESSOCHROME® provide high-performance trivalent and hexavalent chromium plating systems for decorative chrome finishes. The processes deliver brilliant chrome surfaces, reproducible colour, excellent process stability and cost-efficient production for sanitary fittings, automotive components, architectural hardware and premium decorative applications.

Schematic illustration of the layer structure of the HESSOTRICHROME® trivalent chrome coating for high-quality decorative copper, nickel and chrome plating systems by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the microporous nickel layer structure using SUPRAPORE® microporous nickel plating electrolyte for decorative multilayer systems with enhanced corrosion protection according to automotive requirements by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the bright nickel layer structure using SUPRAGAL® bright nickel plating electrolyte for high-gloss decorative multilayer coatings and reliable chrome plating by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the semi-bright nickel layer structure using SUPRATIAL® sulfur-free semi-bright nickel plating electrolyte for duplex nickel systems and decorative multilayer coatings by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.

Trivalent Chromium Coating

Features / Benefits:

  • Stable L*a*b* colour values: Reproducible chrome shades for consistent decorative chromium plating.

  • Compatible with hexavalent chromium: Enables mixed assembly with Cr(VI)-plated components in existing production lines.

  • High corrosion resistance: Meets the requirements of common automotive, sanitary and industrial standards.

HESSOTRICHROME®

Trivalent Chromium Electrolyte

Schematic illustration of the HESSOCHROME® layer structure for decorative hexavalent chromium plating with excellent throwing power, a soluble catalyst system and reliable chromium plating without white-washing effects by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the microporous nickel layer structure using SUPRAPORE® microporous nickel plating electrolyte for decorative multilayer systems with enhanced corrosion protection according to automotive requirements by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the bright nickel layer structure using SUPRAGAL® bright nickel plating electrolyte for high-gloss decorative multilayer coatings and reliable chrome plating by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of the semi-bright nickel layer structure using SUPRATIAL® sulfur-free semi-bright nickel plating electrolyte for duplex nickel systems and decorative multilayer coatings by DR. HESSE.
Schematic illustration of a decorative copper coating demonstrating the PRIMUS® low-dye acid copper electrolyte by DR. HESSE, providing pore-free copper deposition, excellent leveling and outstanding throwing power.

Hexavalent Chromium Coating

Features / Benefits:

  • Easy bath operation: Only one catalyst for make-up and replenishment, available in liquid or solid form.

  • Soluble catalyst system: No sludge formation for clean and stable process control.

  • Excellent throwing power: Uniform chromium deposition, even on complex component geometries.

  • No white washing: Special additive ensures reliable chromium plating without white-washing effects.

HESSOCHROME®

Hexavalent Chromium Electrolyte

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