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Does cadmium plating on aluminum require a nickel strike first?

We do not plate cadmium but I was wondering if cadmium can be plated directly on aluminum? Is a nickel underplate or electroless nickel plate usually plated first to get good adhesion. We usually apply nickel as an under plate when we plate gold on aluminum.

Jon Werner
Engineer Plater - Orlando, Florida, USA
2007

Preferred activation for aluminum and its alloys is a zincate immersion plating cycle (double or even triple). Neutral or slightly alkaline nickel solutions are sometimes used with success though.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2007

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