United States. A new survey highlights aerospace specifications and prime requirements as the top barriers to cadmium removal in the U.S. aerospace industry, and suggests more clarity is needed on the issue.
In recent years there has been speculation that the U.S. aerospace industry will phase out cadmium in 2023. However, the survey, conducted by SIFCO's Applied Surface Concepts (ASC), found that only 23% of respondents believe it will be cadmium-free in the next five years. What's more, just under half of respondents who perform corrosion protection tweaks and repairs don't feel they have the resources to make an informed decision about a cadmium alternative. When asked why, 100% cited "the lack of credible resources and documentation."
Although research indicates that zinc-nickel may be a reliable alternative to cadmium in aerospace, two-thirds of respondents say cadmium cite aerospace specifications and prime requirements as their biggest obstacles to its elimination.
More than 50% of respondents who plate cadmium believe they have no other option for corrosion protection. As one of the respondents said, "We depend on what the [original equipment] manufacturer specifies when it comes to corrosion-resistant plating. Scott Peterson, Sifco ASC Training Manager and a professional who is involved in bringing a cadmium alternative to the OEM and MRO markets, said: "What this survey really shows is that there is a lot of doubt in the industry about this issue. Most respondents who do not believe the deadline will be met say the reason is the lack of alternatives, but we believe this highlights the need for greater knowledge sharing and collaboration to provide the level of trust needed to make the change.
To help the industry obtain credible, detailed and up-to-date research on cadmium and its alternatives, SIFCO ASC has created an online Cadmium Knowledge Centre, where its technical experts will regularly share a variety of content on the subject, such as manufacturers' test reports and academic research papers. The site also encourages any other industry professional to submit their own conclusions in order to help the industry move forward on this issue.
Source: www.sifcoasc.com
