Cadmium Plating
Cadmium is used for providing sacrificial (cathodic) protection to steel.
Cadmium’s lubricity and capability to prevent galling between sliding surfaces is a key property responsible for many of its applications. In marine environments, cadmium is better than equal thicknesses of zinc. It is also readily solderable with nonacid fluxes, has good electrical conductivity and, when corroded, forms thinner and less harmful corrosion products than zinc does.
For installing fasteners, a predictable high tension is obtained at low torque with cadmium. This feature, combines with its compatibility with aluminum, has made cadmium a popular finish for aerospace fasteners and other aerospace and military applications.
Cadmium electroplating in a sodium cyanide solution results in fine grained deposits with relatively good thickness uniformity. Typical thickness of cadmium is .0002 - .0008 inch deposit.
