The most widely used cycle
- Acid copper
- BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO
- Gold flash*
- BLUCLAD® 7900 HT
- Gold finish
FASHION catalogue
BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO
BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO, a patented high-phosphorus deposit for nickel-containing and hypoallergenic cycles.
The barrier deposit
A patented high-phosphorus alloy, used as a barrier layer before precious metal finishes. It increases the chemical and mechanical resistance of the cycle and reduces the amount of precious metal required.
The limits of traditional cycles
- Cycles with bright nickel plating do not meet the new hypoallergenic standards
- Gold finishes on traditional bronze degrade more in oxidation tests
- Uneven thickness on parts of different shapes and sizes, even at high volume
With BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO
- An electroplated barrier with superior corrosion resistance
- Compatible with the hypoallergenic palladium-nickel cycles already validated by brands
- Reproducible in barrel and rack, on brass and zamak, with 2 µm thicknesses
Already in production
For years in the hypoallergenic cycles of luxury Maisons, from small parts to belt buckles, and now being extended to new suppliers. Two patented processes that work together: BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO and BLUCLAD® 7900.
For aged finishes, with a harder deposit
- Acid copper
- BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO
- Hypoallergenic palladium-nickel
- Gold and ageing
* The gold flash counts towards the thickness required by the specification: it adds to the final gold, with no extra precious metal.
Tests passed
| Test | Standard | Conditions | Result | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO₂ / NOx oxidation (China Test) | In-house method | 8 hours | 4/5 | Pass |
| SO₂ oxidation | UNI ISO 4524/2:2008 | 8 hours | 5/5 | Pass |
| Neutral salt spray (NSS) | UNI EN ISO 9227:2017 | 16 hours at 35 °C | 4/5 | Pass |
| Turbula + synthetic sweat | ISO 23160:2011 / NF S 80-772 | 24 hours at 55 °C | 5/5 | Pass |
| Turbula + artificial sweat | ISO 23160:2011 / ISO 3160/2 | 24 hours at 40 °C | 5/5 | Pass |
| Artificial sweat resistance | ISO 3160/2:2015 | 24 hours at 40 °C | 5/5 | Pass |
| Turbula + damp heat | UNI EN ISO 4611:2011 | 24 hours at 40 °C | 5/5 | Pass |
| Turbula + damp heat with leather | UNI EN ISO 4611:2011 | 24 hours at 40 °C | 4/5 | Pass |
Bright gold finish. Scale: 5/5 no change, 4/5 slight change; acceptance limit 4/5.
<0.88µg/cm²/week
Nickel release below the limit
REACH Regulation, Annex XVII, entry 27 · method UNI EN 1811:2015
Cycles compared
Gold finish on brass: cycles that pass the most aggressive tests (3 minutes of wear in the Turbula and 48 hours of damp heat with leather).
Standard cycle
- Gold0.5 µm
- Palladium-Ni1.0 µm
- Flash strike0.03 µm
- White bronze3 µm
- Copper8–10 µm
- Brass
=performance
in the most aggressive tests
Cycle 1 · ACCIAIO + 7900 HT
- Gold0.5 µm
- Palladium-Ni0.1 µm
- BLUCLAD® 7900 HT0.3 µm
- Flash strike0.03 µm
- BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO2 µm
- Copper8–10 µm
- Brass
0.2 µmtotal palladium in cycle 1
versus 1.0 µm of palladium-nickel
Cycle 2 · ACCIAIO only
- Gold0.5 µm
- Palladium-Ni0.2 µm
- BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO2 µm
- Copper8–10 µm
- Brass
−2layers in cycle 2
no flash strike or 7900 HT
BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO under PVD
A cycle that competes with classic stainless steel + PVD: it eliminates the precious palladium-nickel layer and replaces white bronze, a cyanide process, in full compliance with the REACH Regulation.
Standard cycle
- PVD
- Palladium-Ni0.2 µm
- White bronze
- Copper
- Brass
BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO cycle
- PVD
- BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO
- Copper
- Brass
PassNickel release, 1N gold PVDbelow the 0.88 µg/cm²/week limit
PassNickel release, black PVDbelow the 0.88 µg/cm²/week limit
PassSynthetic sweat NF S 80-7725/5 on both finishes · 24 hours at 55 °C
No precious metals
On brass, the plating preparation stops at BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO and moves on to a dedicated PVD cycle. On zamak it is being verified.
Better-looking surfaces
Levelling acid copper gives bright, even surfaces without the mechanical polishing that stainless steel needs before PVD.
A competitive supply chain again
Brass and zamak, processed with existing plants and know-how, become competitive again with PVD-coated steel accessories.
Why BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO
01
Superior performance
Passes SO₂ / NOx, sulphur dioxide, salt spray, synthetic and artificial sweat, and damp heat with and without leather.
02
REACH compliance
Nickel release below the 0.88 µg/cm²/week limit, method UNI EN 1811:2015.
03
Exclusive patent
A patent-protected formulation: a unique technology in the fashion plating market.
04
In production for the Maisons
Included in official specifications and in production for years, now being extended to new sites and suppliers.
05
Full support
On-site set-up, operator training and periodic analytical control of the bath by the Bluclad laboratory.
06
Ready for the future
Adopting BLUCLAD® ACCIAIO today means being ready for brands’ next requirements.