Cadmium ban spurs interest in zinc-nickel coating for corrosive aerospace environments

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Hazmat World; (United States)

OSTI ID:5262692

Bates, J ^[1]

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1. Pure Coatings Inc., West Palm Beach, FL (United States)

OSHA recently reduced the permissible exposure level for cadmium. The new standard virtually outlaws cadmium production and use, except in the most cost-insensitive applications. Aerospace manufacturers, which use cadmium extensively in coatings applications because of the material's corrosion resistance, are searching for substitutes. The most promising alternative found to date is a zinc-nickel alloy. Tests show that the alloy outperforms cadmium without generating associated toxicity issues. As a result, several major manufacturing and standards organizations have adopted the zinc-nickel compound as a standard cadmium replacement. The basis for revising the cadmium PEL -- which applies to occupational exposure in industrial, agricultural and maritime occupations -- is an official OSHA determination that employees exposed to cadmium under the existing PEL face significant health risks from lung cancer and kidney damage. In one of its principal uses, cadmium is electroplated to steel, where it acts as an anticorrosive agent.

• OSTI ID: 5262692
• Journal Information: Hazmat World; (United States), Journal Name: Hazmat World; (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN HMWOED; ISSN 0898-5685
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALLOYS
CADMIUM
CORROSION PROTECTION
CORROSION RESISTANCE
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METALS
NICKEL
STEELS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC