Evaluation of Environmentally Acceptable Substitutes for Cadmium Plating

Cadmium has been identified as a threat to worker health and the environment. A test program was conducted to evaluate the performance of environmentally acceptable substitutes for cadmium plating. Fifteen test coatings were exposed to natural marine, industrial, and rural atmospheres for 12 months. Additional laboratory tests were conducted to determine coating abrasion resistance, adhesion, fastener breaking torque, and electrochemical behavior. The relative merits and limitations associated with the alternative cadmium substitutes are discussed.