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Lead-cadmium in electroless nickel

2006

I would like to know the permissible limits of LEAD AND CADMIUM in electroless nickel plated deposits. Our coatings are found to contain 5 ppm cadmium and 31 ppm lead. Please advise if this is considered LEAD and CADMIUM FREE as per ROHS. Your immediate reply will be of immense help. THANKS IN ADVANCE-

Vikram Dogra
Irusha India - Chandigarh, India

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Max 0.1% Pb (1000 ppm) and 0.01% Cd (100 ppm) is allowed for any homogenous material under RoHS. Your EN coating still consider comply to RoHS requirement.

David Shiu
- Singapore
2006

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2006

Hi VIKRAM,

In my understanding and as per new amended RoHS regulations.
They are allowing less than 100 ppm of Cadmium and 1000 ppm of Lead in the deposit.

Sridhar Bushigampala
- Toronto, Canada

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Although your coatings are below the PROHIBITED limits, they cannot be called Cd-free or Pb-free. My understanding is that any detectable concentrations of Cd or Pb must be DECLARED.

A 'Global Automotive Declarable Substance List (GADSL)' is available at http://www.gadsl.org
This list incorporates ROHS, ELV and several other national and international limits on hazardous substances.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006

Dear Vikram,

Actually we are facing the same issue that always an issue between us and customer. Of course it's an allowed figure under RoHS compliance, but what kind of method you used to detect the detection?

We are an in house plating doing the SCF(Self clinching fasteners)EN plating. For your acknowledgement, some of our customer very rely on the result checked by XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) machine.Some time the machine will detect the cadmium and other elements, although the same part doing the ICP Test(under SGS-a professional lab)showing that it's a cadmium free.Is there any good and formal way to convince them? While actually the parts being plated is an homogeneous or not, also a hot topic too...arguments start from here...

Thank you..

Ng Wee Chong
plating - Kuala Lumpur, M'sia