Green Alternative for Cadmium and Chrome Plating
Chrome and cadmium plating has been used for many years for a variety of plating applications including the automotive industry, aerospace applications, defence and so on. It is primarily used for corrosion protection and aesthetic purpose.
The process involved in plating of chrome and cadmium uses hazardous chemicals that have adverse health effects as well as environmental effects. The common health hazards include:
- Skin Damage
- Respiratory Diseases
- Carcinogenic Effects
- Renal Effects
- Hepatic Effects
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Genetic Effects
- Environmental Effects
The plating process includes an electronic setup of anode, cathode and bath. This acid bath is very essential for plating process and uses toxic electrolytes. Few countries including USA and UK have banned the use of chrome and cadmium for the majority of applications.
Green Plating has been an emerging technology in the field of electroplating. The rectifier used in the plating process uses pulse direct current with tuneable parameters like duty cycle, current density, on time and off time.
The direct pulse current reduces the dislocation due to the process of grain size reduction. This helps in achieving nano crystalline structure and ensures uniform plating. Pulse plating technology uses less additives, levellers, brightening and wetting agents and thereby reducing toxic materials in the bath.
This is soon going to replace the conventional methods of plating as pulse plating technology is green and provides higher precision plating with uniform surface and better corrosion resistance. Let us do our bit for saving our mother earth and reduce/eliminate the hazardous effect of plating on our environment.