Type: E
Accession Number: 41374
Code: Active
Narrative:
Replace cadmium with a less hazardous or non-hazardous solution for plating, to reduce the amount of the wastestream generated. One option being investigated electro deposits directly from an acid bath. The brightness of the deposit is comparable to that obtained from the most widely used cyanide cadmium baths.
Funding: MANTECH/WMCA. COST: $76K (equipment)
Cost: $76K (equipment)
Status:
- Sep 89 Tobyhanna is using a non-cyanide cadmium plating process called KADIZID Bright Acid Cadmium. The solution can be used for barrel and rack plating and is easy to operate and control. Throwing power is good and plating speed is comparable to cyanide baths. An automatic cadmium plating bath analysis system is now being tested, and is scheduled to be completed Oct 90.
- Jul 90 The automatic cadmium plating bath analysis systems originally scheduled to be complete Oct 90 is now projected for completion in Jun 91. Problems were encountered with a contract modification for equipment and software. Hughes Aircraft Corp is working with a chemist from TOAD to work out these problems. No further updates to this project will be reported until that time.
- Oct 90 The contract with Hughes Aircraft for the bath analysis system testing was to have been completed Dec 90. However, a modification to the contract, to include automating the addition of chemicals to keep the plating bath operational, has been accomplished and will include employee training for the whole system.This modification extends the contract completion time frame until Mar 91. The final evaluation period, following implementation, is still projected for Jun 91.
- Jan 91 Operations continue under contract with Hughes.
- Jun 91 Final evaluation completed.
- Jan 92 Current program is being revised and updated to establish new methodology and system hardware. This project is funded from MANTECH, therefore contract modification for automated chemical addition has not been accomplished as this part of the budget has not yet been signed.
- Apr 92 The installation of the system for the automated addition of chemicals is delayed due to lack of MANTECH funding. TOAD is expecting to fund the additional equipment required to complete the project with FY92 Capitalization Funding.
- Jul 92 TOAD is trying for WMCA funding. Equipment is available at Hughes.
- Oct 92 Equipment to be delivered
- Dec 92 Analysis portion of the equipment installed.
- Feb 93 Hughes Aircraft has been collecting raw data under field test conditions. Several problems encountered during this testing may be due to the analysis equipment in old plating solution. This situation is currently being evaluated.
- Mar 93 Installation of replenishment portion of the analysis unit is projected. Actual use of the analysis unit to begin.
- Aug 93 Hughes is currently requiring analysis of TOAD's plating bath. The raw data from TOAD's plating cell bath is not the same as Hughes laboratory analysis for making bath additions. CECOM is currently asking for additional funding to perform analysis to determine if the difference in the raw data may be caused by interference from TOAD's solution.
- Aug 94 This project has evolved into using automatic bath adjustments to minimize waste and worker exposure. Method is still not making proper adjustments. NDCEE will try to improve/expand process.
Update Submission Date: 1994-08-09
Lead Service: Army
Key Words: Cadmium, Electro Deposits
Point of Contact - Name: Tierney, Pat
Point of Contact - Organization: Tobyhanna AD
Point of Contact - Phone: DSN 795-6725
Last Updated: 10/29/96