Cadmium is a highly desirable material due to its range of beneficial properties. Cadmium plating is what’s known as a sacrificial coating, meaning it corrodes and breaks down before the underlying material, adding a layer of protection to the metal below.
Cadmium has a number of properties that set it apart as a coating material. Those properties include:
Military and Aerospace: Cadmium electroplating has anti-corrosive qualities combined with its natural lubricity make it ideal for essential in-flight. Its adhesive properties make it especially useful in bonding materials to the aluminum frames of aircrafts.
Transportation: Cadmium plating is often found in disc brakes and hoses in high performance consumer vehicles, tractor trailers, and other forms of transportation due to its resistance to corrosion.
Marine: Cadmium plating offers protection against salt water corrosion, making it highly valuable in marine applications.
Consumer Electronics: The conductivity of cadmium electroplating makes it ideal for use in connectors and relays in electronics. It is also used to make batteries for cell phones and laptops.
Construction and Manufacturing: Many typical components used in industrial construction are coated with cadmium, such as hardware and industrial fasteners. It can also be found in prefabricated products used in a variety of manufacturing settings.