Everyday household fixtures such as doorknobs, shower heads, sink faucets, and other items commonly consist of a plastic or non-metal base material with a layer of copper or nickel underneath and capped by a thin layer of chromium plating. The chromium plating is decorative in nature but also needs to be long-lasting. So, by having a plating thickness best suited for that fixture’s intended environment, you can help ensure its look will last for many years.

In fact, each protective layer of these fixtures needs to be measured for proper thickness, too, so as to ensure not only attractiveness over time but durability as well.

Measuring plating thickness precisely is also very important, as it helps in providing a high degree of consistency in design and manufacture. And the best way to perform such exact measurements is via x-ray fluorescence instruments, which provide large detector areas in their chambers and are perfectly suited for odd or complex-shaped items.

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