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Thread 422/74
Powder coating over cadmium plating
I have forged steel links that are cadmium plated. They are used as the links that connect my BASE Jumping rig to my parachute risers. I need to powder coat these links for aesthetic purposes. My question is two-fold: Will the powder stick to the cadium plating? If not, will stripping the cadmium for powder coating affect the structural integrity of the forged steel. The link as it is now has a TS of 5,000 lbs.
They are the same L-Links that the military uses for there parachute rigging. I would prefer not to find the answer to these questions the hard way. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lee SammartinoBASE Jumper - San Diego, California
2006
publicly reply to Lee Sammartino
Cadmium plating is usually chromated or phosphated before painting. Was the part bright dipped, chromated (good), lacquered
(bad), some combination of these or something else? Check for lacquer or other organic coating using solvent.
Stripping the cadmium would lessen corrosion resistance, possibly risk hydrogen embrittling the steel, and necessitate phosphating prior to painting.
- Goleta, California

Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006
publicly reply to Ken Vlach
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