Cadmium plating involves applying a coating of cadmium to a conductive surface, providing benefits such as malleability, corrosion resistance, and lubricity. The process is similar to other metal plating processes and can be done with or without electricity. However, cadmium is highly toxic, and alternatives like gold exist but have drawbacks.
The main action involved in cadmium plating involves applying a coating of cadmium to a conductive surface. The cadmium layer is deposited on a plastic or metal object to provide benefits such as malleability, easier weldability, excellent lubricity, corrosion resistance, or a smooth base for applying paint or finish. This type of industrial plating is mainly used in the production of aerospace components, steel storage tanks and fasteners. Cad plating is also an integral part of many military specifications.
The process involved in cad plating is very similar to any other metal plating process. Cadmium is a metallic chemical element that is soft and bluish-white in color; shares many properties with mercury and zinc. The cadmium coating is fused to the conductive surface using an electrical plating process called electroplating. This practice involves the deposition of cadmium in an acid or cyanide solution. The solution is then applied to the surface of the object with the aid of an electric current, which stimulates and displaces the ions in the metal.
Although cadmium electroplating is the most common mode of application, sometimes procedures without electricity are involved in the creation of cadmium plating. No electricity is used in chemical plating. The process is carried out by strictly chemical means. Simultaneous reactions of the chemical, which has been placed in a water-based solution, create the uniform layer of cadmium on the surface of an object. Chemical plating is known for creating smooth, evenly distributed layers and is commonly employed when cadmium is to be used in combination with nickel.
Despite the benefits of the finished product, there are concerning and possibly dangerous risks involved in cadmium. Cadmium has an exceptionally high level of toxicity and, even in unusually low quantities, is extremely carcinogenic. The potential dangers that cadaver plating poses to workers has raised a number of environmental and health concerns. Sweden, for example, has attempted to outlaw cadmium due to its negative impact on health and ecology. However, some applications require the result that only cadmium can provide, and while alternatives exist, they do not fully mimic the qualities of cadmium.
Gold is a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to cadmium. The two materials have very similar properties and can be applied here for many of the same purposes. However, gold has its drawbacks. The cost is usually prohibitive, and a finished product made with gold plating typically doesn’t adhere to paint as efficiently as cadmium does.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
