AEROSPACE METAL FINISHING
CADMIUM PLATING
Precision corrosion protection for
aerospace, defence and high-reliability
applications.
Speciliast Cadmium Plating
Russell Laboratories provides specialist cadmium plating for aerospace, defence and high-reliability applications, offering excellent corrosion protection for steel components and compatibility with aluminium assemblies.
As a NADCAP accredited chemical processing facility, we provide controlled and fully traceable cadmium electroplating to customer and industry specifications, including AMS-QQ-P-416 and AMS 03-19
Why Cadmium Plating?
Cadmium provides excellent sacrificial corrosion protection to iron and steel components. Its relatively low electrical contact resistance and favourable galvanic compatibility with aluminium make it particularly suitable for aerospace components, fasteners and assemblies.
The coating is ductile and provides good lubricity, making it suitable for components requiring reliable corrosion protection without compromising functional performance.
Finishes Available
Clear Passivation – Provides a clean silver/white appearance with corrosion protection.
Yellow Passivation – Produces a yellow/gold finish and provides enhanced corrosion resistance.
Olive Drab Passivation – Produces a dark olive-green finish with a high level of corrosion protection.
Aerospace Cadmium Plating
Russell Laboratories has extensive experience processing components for the aerospace and defence sectors, where coating consistency, traceability and specification compliance are critical.
Where required by the applicable specification, hydrogen de-embrittlement treatment can be carried out following plating for high-strength steel components.
Specifications & Quality
Cadmium plating can be processed to a range of customer and industry specifications, including:
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AMS-QQ-P-416
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AMS 03-19
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Customer-specific aerospace and defence specifications
Processing is supported by our quality management and inspection systems, with certification and full traceability provided as required.
CADMIUM PLATING
Olive, Yellow or Clear Passivation
Cadmium plating gives the appearance of a silver white metal that offers excellent corrosion resistance. Cadmium has the advantage of being harder than tin, being very ductile therefore making it useful as a coating for work which requires flexibility. Cadmium is typically deposited in matt conditions when intended purely for protection, but can also offer the alternative of being an attractive bright appearance when electroplated. When cadmium plating finishes are to be passivated a bright finish is often preferred.
Finishes Offered
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Bright – Giving the Surface a silvery / white appearance.
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Dull - Giving Cadmium’s natural state, being a matt deposit.
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Chromate - Applying a golden yellow film with a high degree of protection against atmospheric corrosion.
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Olive drab - Producing a dark green finish, with a further increase in corrosion resistance.
Cadmium plated articles offer excellent corrosion protection to iron and steel as the cadmium coating is electrolytically sacrificed to protect the underlying ferrous metal. Cadmium electroplating is primarily in the electrical and aircraft industries due to its low contact potential difference in relation to aluminium. This results in the possibility of electrolytic corrosion at the point of contact being greatly reduced, for when cadmium is deposited on steel fittings or fasteners in contact with aluminium frame or skin of an aircraft.
Cadmium is a controlled substance and can only be used in specific applications. The usual thickness of Cadmium applied for a commercial basis is between the limits of 8 – 15 Microns (0.0003 – 0.0006″) or to the relevant BS or Aerospace specification.
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Key Characteristics of Cadmium Plating
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High Corrosion Protection
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Used extensively in the aerospace industry
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Ductility
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Temperature Resistance
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Low contact resistance in relation to aluminium