This chrome vs nickel thing will never die
Every so often I like to check in and see what the latest discussion is. For those that aren't sure what the difference in appearance is between ABC and ABN I have some good photos on my website:
http://sparkysbarn.com/motodynamo/chromenickel.htm
Hard chrome plating truly is an environmental concern among developed countries. Last October in the US OSHA proposed a new standard for occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium, one which seeks to lower the permissible exposure limit (PEL) from 52 ug/m3 to 1 ug/m3 as an eight-hour time weighted average. This is 1/50th the current standard! This will heavily impact the industries in this country which perform decorative chrome plating, hard chrome plating, chromating processes and anodizing. Many folks say the limit will be impossible to meet. Here's a link to the article:
http://www.pfonline.com/articles/120401.html
It will be interesting to see what kind of ramifications this will have on other developed countries.
Electroless nickel is a fair substitute for ABC, but it isn't the same as the electro-deposited Nikasil type coatings found in automotive and industrial engines. For a better description of composite electro-plated nickel coatings check out these sites:
http://sparkysbarn.com/motodynamo/nikasil.htm
http://www.usnicom.com/What_Is_NiCom/what_is_nicom.html