50 Waterman Avenue, North Providence, RI 02911 • 401-943-9900

Brass

Cadmium

Copper

Electroless Nickel

Nickel

Passivate

Precious Metals

Tin

Zinc

Zinc Nickel

Cadmium

 

Specifications: (AMS QQ P 416 or ASTM B 766)

 

Cadmium plating is under scrutiny because of the environmental toxicity of the cadmium metal.   However, cadmium plating can be and is still widely used in some applications such as aerospace fasteners and it remains in military and aviation specs.

 

Cadmium plating (or "cad plating") offers a long list of technical advantages such as excellent corrosion resistance even at relatively low thickness and in salt atmospheres, softness and malleability, freedom from sticky and/or bulky corrosion products, galvanic compatibility with aluminum, freedom from stick-slip thus allowing reliable torqueing of plated threads, can be dyed to many colors and clear, has good lubricity and solderability, and works well either as a final finish or as a paint base.

 

If environmental concerns matter, in most aspects cadmium plating can be directly replaced with gold plating as it shares most of the material properties, but gold is more expensive and cannot serve as a paint base.

 

We offer Cad plating responsibly and apply within the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency. We provide CAD plate to United States Military specifications and post-treated chromates are available.