PLATING OF AEROSPACE MATERIALS

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Stainless Steel

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Cadmium Nickel

Steel

Reason for use: Good corrosion resistance and preferred in Aerospace over Zinc

Finish/Color: Typical colors include Yellow (common in Aerospace), Iridescent, Amber, Black, or Olive Drab (Military applications)

Specs: QQ-P-416

Types:1 – No supplemental treatment2 – Supplemental chromate treatment (Most common)3 – Supplemental phosphate treatment

Class (Thickness):1 – .0005” min2 – .0003” min3 – .0002” min

Cadmium Plating

Reason for use: Good corrosion resistance and used if environmental restrictions prevent use of Cadmium

Finish/Color: Dull or Bright

Specs: QQ-N-290

Class 1 (Common for corrosion protection):Grade A thru D: Not commonGrade E – 0.0006" minGrade F – 0.0004" minGrade G – 0.0002" min

Class 2: .002” min (For Engineering applications only)

Nickel Plating

Aluminum

Hard Anodize Chem Film

Reason for use: Good corrosion resistance and heavy wear resistant

Finish/Color: Black (Common in Aerospace), Clear, and a variety of other colors used for cosmetic appearance only

Specs: MIL-A-8625

Type III - .0005 to .006” thickness

Hard Anodize

Reason for use: Repairs on aluminum parts

Finish/Color: clear or yellow

Specs: MIL-C-5541

Class 1A – For corrosion prevention

Class 2 – For corrosion prevention where low electrical resistance is required

Chemical Film

Stainless Steel

Passivation Cadmium

Reason for use: Improve corrosion resistance by removing foreign materials from the surface.

Finish/Color: No change in color from process

Specs: QQ-P-35

Passivation (process)

Reason for use: Creates an additional layer of protection on stainless steel

Finish/Color: Typical colors include Yellow (common in Aerospace), Iridescent, Amber, Black, or Olive Drab (Military applications)

Specs: QQ-P-416

Types:1 – No supplemental treatment2 – Supplemental chromate treatment (Most common)3 – Supplemental phosphate treatment

Class (Thickness):1 – .0005” min2 – .0003” min3 – .0002” min

Cadmium

Steel plating – Cadmium is preferred

Aluminum plating – Hard Anodize is preferred

Stainless Steel – Passivation is preferred process

Summary