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Master’s in Chrome, Nickel Plating and Surface Treatments Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in chrome plating, nickel plating and surface treatment engineering, structured in 12 modules covering surface electrochemistry, part preparation, copper, nickel and chrome plating, other metal treatments, mechanical polishing, quality testing, bath control, environment and safety and application in restoration, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the electrochemical principles of electroplating.

02

Prepare parts for high-quality coatings.

03

Apply copper, nickel and chrome plating.

04

Select alternative surface treatments.

05

Control electrolytic baths and processes.

06

Evaluate coatings with standardised tests.

07

Manage the environmental and occupational risks of chromium VI.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Electroplating technicians working with copper, nickel and chrome baths.
  • Chrome restorers handling bumpers, trims and badges on classic vehicles.
  • Metal polishers specialising in stainless steel, aluminium and brass.
  • Plating line managers responsible for bath chemistry and process control.
  • Coating quality technicians running thickness, salt spray and CASS tests.
  • Environmental technicians in surface treatment plants dealing with chromium VI and wastewater.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into classic vehicle restoration.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 1456 (electrodeposited coatings of nickel, nickel plus chromium, copper plus nickel and copper plus nickel plus chromium)
  • Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), Annex XIV (authorisation list of substances of very high concern, including chromium VI compounds)
  • ISO 9227 (corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — salt spray tests)
  • ISO 2081 (electroplated coatings of zinc on iron or steel)
  • ISO 7599 (anodising of aluminium and its alloys)
  • ISO 4527 (autocatalytic (electroless) nickel-phosphorus coatings)
  • ISO 2178 (non-magnetic coatings on magnetic substrates — measurement of coating thickness)
  • Directive 2010/75/EU (industrial emissions)
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Fischer WinFTM
  • Minitab
  • Adobe Lightroom
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Principles of electrodeposition
  2. 1.2Faraday's laws
  3. 1.3Potential and current density
  4. 1.4Cathode efficiency of the bath
  5. 1.5Deposit distribution and throwing power
  6. 1.6Soluble and insoluble anodes
  7. 1.7Electrolytic surface preparation
  8. 1.8Adhesion of deposits
  9. 1.9Deposit defects
  10. 1.10Case study: calculating deposition time
  1. 2.1Disassembly and sorting
  2. 2.2Stripping old chrome plating
  3. 2.3Removing corrosion
  4. 2.4Repairing pitting
  5. 2.5Welding and filling zamak parts
  6. 2.6Preliminary mechanical polishing
  7. 2.7Chemical and electrolytic degreasing
  8. 2.8Surface activation
  9. 2.9Preparation control
  10. 2.10Workshop: preparing a bumper
  1. 3.1The role of copper as a base layer
  2. 3.2Alkaline and acid copper
  3. 3.3Copper on zamak
  4. 3.4Surface levelling
  5. 3.5Polishing the copper
  6. 3.6Recommended copper thicknesses
  7. 3.7Bath control
  8. 3.8Common problems and their solutions
  9. 3.9Safety in copper baths
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: acid copper plating of a part
  1. 4.1Bright and semi-bright nickel
  2. 4.2Duplex and triplex nickel
  3. 4.3Autocatalytic electroless nickel
  4. 4.4Composition of Watts baths
  5. 4.5Brightening additives
  6. 4.6Thicknesses for exterior use
  7. 4.7Period chrome-free nickel
  8. 4.8Analytical bath control
  9. 4.9Defects and solutions
  10. 4.10Laboratory: bright nickel plating in a Hull cell
  1. 5.1Hexavalent chromium: chemistry and hazards
  2. 5.2Decorative trivalent chromium
  3. 5.3Differences in appearance
  4. 5.4Industrial hard chrome
  5. 5.5Microcracking and microporosity
  6. 5.6REACH restriction of chromium VI
  7. 5.7Alternatives to chromium VI
  8. 5.8Chrome plating period parts
  9. 5.9Thickness standards
  10. 5.10Case study: comparing chromium VI and III
  1. 6.1Zinc plating and passivation
  2. 6.2Historic cadmium plating and alternatives
  3. 6.3Phosphating and parkerising
  4. 6.4Bluing steel parts
  5. 6.5Anodising aluminium
  6. 6.6Colour anodising
  7. 6.7Silver and gold plating
  8. 6.8Tin plating
  9. 6.9Conversion coatings
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: anodising a trim strip
  1. 7.1Polishing with mops and compounds
  2. 7.2Final buffing with compounds
  3. 7.3Polishing stainless steel
  4. 7.4Polishing aluminium
  5. 7.5Satin and brushed finishes
  6. 7.6Decorative shot blasting
  7. 7.7Vibratory finishing and tumbling
  8. 7.8Tools and machines
  9. 7.9Safety in polishing
  10. 7.10Workshop: polishing aluminium trims
  1. 8.1Thickness measurement
  2. 8.2Neutral salt spray test
  3. 8.3CASS corrosion test
  4. 8.4Corrodkote corrosion test
  5. 8.5Coating adhesion
  6. 8.6Porosity assessment
  7. 8.7Gloss and reflectance
  8. 8.8Visual inspection of defects
  9. 8.9Quality report
  10. 8.10Laboratory: CASS test on a chrome-plated part
  1. 9.1Chemical analysis of baths
  2. 9.2Hull cell tests
  3. 9.3Filtration and purification
  4. 9.4Temperature and agitation
  5. 9.5Rectifiers and current control
  6. 9.6Managing contaminants
  7. 9.7Process documentation
  8. 9.8Plant maintenance
  9. 9.9Process indicators
  10. 9.10Practical exercise: control plan for a nickel bath
  1. 10.1Hazards of chromium VI
  2. 10.2Occupational exposure to chromium
  3. 10.3Ventilation and extraction
  4. 10.4Protective equipment
  5. 10.5Wastewater treatment
  6. 10.6Sludge management
  7. 10.7Environmental permits for the workshop
  8. 10.8Best available techniques
  9. 10.9Sustainable alternatives to chromium VI
  10. 10.10Case study: environmental management plan for a plating shop
  1. 11.1Originality criteria
  2. 11.2Period thicknesses and appearance
  3. 11.3Zamak parts
  4. 11.4Brass parts
  5. 11.5Badges and enamels
  6. 11.6Headlamps and bezels
  7. 11.7Treating fasteners
  8. 11.8Coordination with the restorer
  9. 11.9Full documentation of the process
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: treatment plan for a set of chrome parts
  1. 12.1Selecting the parts
  2. 12.2Diagnosis and analysis
  3. 12.3Treatment plan
  4. 12.4Preparation and deposition
  5. 12.5Quality testing
  6. 12.6Environmental management of the process
  7. 12.7Full documentation of the process
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Microsoft Excel, Fischer WinFTM, Minitab and Adobe Lightroom, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: salt spray and CASS tests, Hull cell tests and coating thickness measurements. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: ISO 1456, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), Annex XIV, ISO 9227, ISO 2081, ISO 7599, ISO 4527, ISO 2178, Directive 2010/75/EU.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 1456, REACH Annex XIV and ISO 9227 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Microsoft Excel, Fischer WinFTM, Minitab and Adobe Lightroom, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a complete plating treatment of a set of parts, from diagnosis and deposition to quality testing and environmental management, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Part diagnosis
Diagnose and prepare a set of parts, including stripping old chrome and repairing pitting.
Copper and nickel layers
Apply acid copper and bright nickel, controlling the bath with Hull cell tests.
Chrome plating
Plan the chrome finish, comparing chromium VI and III against originality criteria.
Quality and environment
Verify the coating with CASS and thickness tests and define the environmental management of the process.
Master's Thesis
A complete documented plating restoration project, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Electroplating technicianChrome restorerMetal polisherPlating line managerCoating quality technicianSurface treatment environmental technician
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Microsoft Excel, Fischer WinFTM, Minitab and Adobe Lightroom, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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