Bob,
Good question. I don't know why plating stainless steel is desirable.
Probably because the color of polished stainless is not the same as
chromed & they want the rim & spoke colors to match. I don't know what
type of stainless Dunlop uses or if they passivate it with a baking
cycle. I would assume that they do.
Hydrogen embrittlement can be avoided by baking the plated parts at
around 400 degrees F. for 18 to 20 hours.
Dayton may use non plated stainless to avoid the baking step. Their
spoke & rim colors are slightly different.
It is generally true that steels are subject to hydrogen embrittlement
during most types of plating. Cad plating causes less problems than
chrome plating which is the worst.
Carbon steels - Definitely
Type 400 & 1700 stainless - Yes
Type 300 stainless - Not likely.
I doubt if either wheel of recent manufacture will have problems.
Dave Russell
Robert Poague wrote:
> The British Wire Wheels website includes this statement:
>
> "Most Dunlop chrome wheels have chrome-plated stainless steel spokes and
> nipples. All DAYTON chrome wheels have polished stainless steel spokes and
> chrome nipples."
>
> My understanding is that the chrome plating process applied to regular steel
> spokes causes "hydrogen embrittlement", resulting in spokes that break more
> easily than painted spokes. Would the same concept apply to chrome plating
> stainless steel? And why would it be desirable to chrome plate stainless
> steel spokes? Cheaper than polishing?
>
> Bob
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