Summary for cadmium plating density Discussion
Cadmium density vs. plating speed is discussed in the context of ASTM F519 hydrogen embrittlement failures in an alkaline cadmium cyanide bath with nickel sulphate brightener. Mark Lees asked whether plating speed correlates with the density of cadmium deposits and whether coating density affects embrittlement. He noted an article suggesting that lower porosity can trap more hydrogen, and that lower plating efficiency may be linked to lower current densities. Ted Mooney replied that he may be misunderstanding, but his view is that more porosity helps hydrogen escape during baking, and that higher current densities tend to reduce efficiency and increase porosity. He concluded that operating just short of burning is probably the best current density, saying this appears consistent with Safranek. The thread suggests the practical focus is on current density, porosity, and bake-out behavior rather than plating speed alone.
Q. Hello Folks,
Can anyone tell me if there is a correlation between plating speed and density of deposition of cadmium?
We are using an alkali cadmium cyanide bath, with nickel sulphate added as brightener.
I ask this as i want to understand the correlation between coating density and the likelihood hydrogen embrittlement of test pieces.
Thanks and best regards,
Mark Lees 
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– A bright and shining rock in the Irish Sea
November 12, 2024
“The Properties of Electrodeposited Metals and Alloys”
by William Safranek
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A. Hi Mark.
I’m not aware of much literature on that subject, and after brighteners have been brought into play I’m not sure that plating speed has that much influence anymore.
However, Safranek says “a cyanide solution with no organic additives or contamination is used at high current densities to produce a porous deposit.” ⇨
He references MIL-STD-870 and an article by G.T. Sink, “A Low Embrittlement Cadmium Plating Process” from Plating Vol. 55, p. 449-455, 1968.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
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Q. Thanks Ted, We have been getting a few ASTM F519 embrittlement failures.
And i am trying to understand why. I read an article suggesting that porosity of the cadmium can determine the hydrogen embrittlement, as a less porous surface traps more of the hydrogen from plating. Also, lower plating efficiency seems to lead to this via lower current densities.
I am still experimenting with the help of our platers, with it taking up to 10 days to get an answer from the F519 test as whether we are going in the right direction.
Best regards
Mark
Mark Lees
– A rainy rock in the Irish sea
November 15, 2024
A. Hi again. I could be misunderstanding, but I believe that you are right, that you want porosity to allow the hydrogen to more easily leave upon baking, and that higher current densities result in lower efficiency and more porosity. So just short of burning is probably the best current density — which seems to be what Safranek is saying.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.