Vacuum Cadmium
PVD cadmium for maximum corrosion protection in aerospace
Process Description
The vacuum cadmium process is a specialized PVD process in which cadmium is evaporated in a high vacuum and deposited on components.
The resulting cadmium layer is characterized by its self-healing properties — in the event of local damage, a protective cover layer forms through electrochemical reaction.
This process is particularly suitable for safety-critical aerospace components, as it causes no hydrogen embrittlement while providing the highest level of corrosion protection.
Advantages
Applicable Standards & Norms
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Why is cadmium still used despite regulatory restrictions?
Cadmium remains technically indispensable for certain applications — particularly for highly loaded, safety-critical aerospace components. Aero-Coating applies vacuum cadmium selectively, in a controlled and specification-compliant manner, and recommends alternatives such as IVD Aluminum or RBC where they are technically suitable and approved.
What are the self-healing properties of cadmium?
Cadmium provides galvanic protection to steel: in case of local damage to the coating, cadmium electrochemically dissolves and forms a protective layer over the damaged area. This maintains corrosion protection even with minor surface damage.
Does the PVD cadmium process cause hydrogen embrittlement?
No. The vacuum cadmium process operates in high vacuum without electrolytic media and therefore causes no hydrogen embrittlement — a decisive advantage over electroplated cadmium processes for high-strength steels.