Cadmium Plating

Cadmium Electroplating

Electroplated cadmium is a corrosion resistant cyanide coating. Cadmium is a soft white metal that functions as a "sacrificial coating" corroding before steel, cast iron, malleable iron, copper, and powdered metal. To enhance the corrosion protection of cadmium plating, chromate conversion coatings can be applied over the plated metal. This is also how the different colors of plated cadmium, such as yellow, gold and black are achieved.

Cadmium plating offers an exceptional bonding surface for adhesives, such as those increasingly used in aircraft manufacturing, and is the preferred coating for salt-water environments. Additional advantages of cadmium plating include: low electrical resistance; outstanding conductivity; superior solderability; favorable galvanic coupling with aluminum; and excellent natural lubricity, which results in prevention of galling and a low coefficient of friction. This is especially useful in applications where components will be repeatedly disassembled and reassembled, such as in scheduled maintenance of aircraft. Thus cadmium plating continues to be critical to the aerospace industry.

Due to Cadmium's toxic nature, it is strictly prohibited from all food-handling applications, but this also prevents mold or bacteria from growing on cadmium plated surfaces. In some limited applications, zinc-nickel alloy plating offers some of the engineering properties of cadmium may be an acceptable alternative.

Chem Processing Inc. Cadmium Plating Capabilities:

• Plating Thickness Range of 0.0001 to 0.0010 in.
• Rack and Barrel Plating Available
• Clear Hexavalent Chromium and Yellow Dichromate Post-Treatment Seals
• Application of Zinc Phosphate as a Painting Pre-Treatment
• Available Masking for Selective Surface Plating
• Salt Spray Corrosion Test (480 hours to red rust)
• Thickness Analysis on a Fischer Technology XDL-B X-Ray Fluorescent Spec
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Adhesion Testing

Applicable Specifications:

Typical Cadmium Applications:

• Aerospace: corrosion protection on flight-critical componants
• Transportation: disc brake components, radiator hose fittings and door latches
• Electronics: connectors, relays and chassis
• Consumer Products: window hardware and home construction products
• Formed Products: shaped or formed pre-plated parts

Functional Properties: Cadmium vs. Zinc

Cadmium retains its original appearance longer than zinc, and is superior to zinc in marine and industrial environments. Due to Cadmium's lubricity, it is also preferred for moving parts, as well as parts that are made out of cast iron.

Environmental Stewardship

While cadmium offers engineering properties that have yet to be matched by a single finish, it is toxic. For this reason, Chem Processing, Inc. incorporates state-of-the-art environmental controls and redundant containment systems at its facility. CPI also is actively involved in the development of viable alternatives to cadmium plating.

Related Finishes

	Copper Plating		Zinc Nickel Plating		Silver Plating		Hard Chrome Plating		CARC Painting		Zinc Plating