The chromium plating layer shows excellent wear resistance under lubrication at low speed and light load. However, its wear resistance is not very good at high speed and heavy load. The newly developed substitute chromium brush plating layer behaves satisfactorily under both sets of conditions. Friction and wear tests were conducted and average and flash temperatures of substitute chromium plating layer were calculated. The microstructures of plating layer before and after the wear process were analysed by SEM, AES and XPS. The mechanism of its excellent wear resistance at high speed and heavy load is described.