Editing Plating (section)

===Cadmium plating===
[[Cadmium]] plating is under scrutiny because of the [[cadmium poisoning|environmental toxicity]] of the cadmium metal. Cadmium plating is widely used in some applications in the aerospace, military, and aviation fields. However, it is being phased out due to its toxicity.<ref>[http://www.finishing.com/136/09.shtml Why use cadmium plated fasteners in the aeronautical field] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702002108/http://www.finishing.com/136/09.shtml |date=2008-07-02 }}. finishing.com</ref> Military and Aerospace components manufacturers, such as [[Amphenol|Amphenol Aerospace]], have recently been exploring drop-in electroplating replacements for use with currently fielded equipment in order to support the phaseout of the dangerous finish.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Summary of Cadmium's Compatibility with Dissimilar Metal Finishes|url=https://www.amphenol-aerospace.com/resources/literature/view/summary-of-cadmium-s-compatibility-with-dissimilar-metal-finishes}}</ref>

Cadmium plating (or ''cad. plating'') offers a long list of technical advantages such as excellent corrosion resistance even at relatively low thickness and in salt atmospheres, softness and [[malleability]], freedom from sticky and/or bulky corrosion products, galvanic compatibility with aluminum, freedom from [[stick-slip]] thus allowing reliable [[torque|torquing]] of plated threads, can be dyed to many colors and clear, has good lubricity and solderability, and works well either as a final finish or as a paint base.<ref name="fin2">"[http://www.finishing.com/130/89.shtml Cadmium vs. Zinc vs. Nickel Plating Comparison] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515153159/http://www.finishing.com/130/89.shtml |date=2009-05-15 }}" Finishing.com</ref><ref>[http://erieplating.com/cadmium-plating Cadmium plating] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001234316/http://erieplating.com/cadmium-plating |date=2008-10-01 }}. Erie Plating Company</ref>

If environmental concerns matter, in most aspects cadmium plating can be directly replaced with gold plating as it shares most of the material properties, but gold is more expensive and cannot serve as a paint base.