No cost, no registration, no passwords -- just aloha, fun & authoritative answers
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989

-----

Looking for Replacement for Diffused NiCd plating

Our company supplies the Nuclear Powerplant industry. We have assemblies where there could be friction between two cylinders, one moving in a linear motion inside the other. Both are made of carbon steel per ASTM A519 and could possibly be installed in a high heat atmosphere (400 deg.F ±). I'm looking for a replacement for the Diffused NiCd plating we currently use. I need to have a finish color somewhere between matt grey and black and very good corrosion resistance. Any ideas?

Rick Schween
Production Manger - Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA
December 5, 2010

Hi, Rick.

According to adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992apmf.confR....S, zinc-nickel plating and electroless-nickel-with-diffused PTFE coating are the closest general replacements for nickel-cadmium diffused coatings. But are you dead certain that the cadmium plays no nuclear role here? Nuclear engineering is beyond my experience, but I have heard that cadmium is used for its neutron absorbing capacity. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 6, 2010

Ted,
I apologize for my slow reaction (must be that time of year).
Regarding Neutron absorption - The assemblies (some of them) are regularly exposed to moderate radiation for long periods of time (sometimes years), but that doesn't seem to have any effect on their performance. Corrosion on the other hand has a significant impact on their service life. I will have our engineer address that issue.

Thank you for the advice and recommendations.
I'll try and keep you posted on our progress.

Rick Schween
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA
December 29, 2010

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: