Cadmium Replacements for Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) Applications
Project Number: J-00-MF-024

The Meeting and Teleconference Summaries contain basic information about this project and a summary paragraph from each meeting or teleconference held for this project.

Contractors: BISDS-Kent, WA, BISDS-Philadelphia, PA, BISDS-St. Louis, MO Environmental Assurance, Bell Helicopter TEXTRON, Boeing Reusable Space Systems, Electric Boat Corporation, LM, United Technologies, UTRC

Depots: NADEP In-Service Support Center Cherry Point, FRC-SE (fka NADEP Jacksonville), FRC-SW (fka NADEP-North Island), OO-ALC, WR-ALC

Potential Programs/Owners: DoD and NASA Systems

Material(s) Targeted for Reduction/Elimination: Cadmium

Phase(s) in Methodology: I, Identification and II, Technical

Milestones and Prior Decisions:

• Technical representatives identified three functional requirements for cadmium alternatives as follows:
  • Sacrificial corrosion protection
  • Lubricity
  • Minimize adverse reactions with substrate
• Technical representatives identified the most challenging targets for eliminating cadmium in aerospace applications to be as follows:
  • High Strength Steel Structural Components
  • High Strength Steel Fasteners
  • Electrical Connectors
• Technical representatives identified metrics for measuring performance of cadmium alternative coatings for HSS Structural Components to be conducted in 3 Phases. Only qualified alternatives will continue to next phase. Required test are as follows:
  • Phase I
    • Hydrogen Embrittlement
    • Hydrogen Re-Embrittlement (Notched round bar immersion, exposed C-ring (Army))
    • Bend Adhesion (Q/A)
  • Phase II
    • General Properties
      • Appearance
      • Throwing Power and Alloy Composition Uniformity (XRF method)
      • Stripability of Coatings
      • Electrochemical Galvanic Potential
    • Adhesion
      • Bend Adhesion
      • Wet Tape Paint Adhesion
    • Corrosion
      • Unscribed Salt Spray (Fog) Corrosion Resistance
      • Scribed Salt Spray (Fog)Corrosion Resistance
      • Galvanic Corrosion Resistance
      • Fluid Corrosion Resistance Test
      • Scribed w/primer/topcoat NSS
      • SO2 Salt Spray (Navy)
    • Lubricity
      • Run-on and Breakaway Torque
      • Torque Tension
    • Hydrogen Embrittlement (Q/A)
    • Reparability
      • Appearance
      • Adhesion
      • Corrosion
  • Phase III
    • Rotating Beam Fatigue Smooth Bar (primary and repair coatings)
    • Rotating Beam Fatigue Notched Bar (primary coatings only)
    • Bend Adhesion (Q/A)
    • Hydrogen Embrittlement (Q/A)
• Technical representatives identified additional service specific testing requirements. These Extended Test requirements are noted in the JTP.
• Technical representatives agreed that post treatments, such as chromate conversion coating and others, should be included with any cadmium alternative coatings (although after the OSHA PEL reduction for Cr+6, non-chromate conversion coatings need to be pursued more aggressively).
• Drafts of JTPs for fasteners and electrical connectors identifying required and extended test requirements will be developed and distributed to the technical representatives for review and comment.

Date of Last Meeting: September 18, 2007
Next Scheduled Meeting: February 2008

Meeting and Teleconference Summaries:

On September 18, 2007, a teleconference was held with representatives from the Navy, Army, Air Force, NASA and OEMs to review the status of Phase II testing and some test results.

On January 23-25, 2007, a meeting was held in New Orleans, LA. Please click here to view meeting minutes.

On May 11, 2006, a telecon was held with representatives from the Navy, Army, Air Force, NASA, and OEMs to discuss possible restarting of the cadmium alternatives efforts for high strength steel fasteners. Please click here to view the meeting minutes.

On January 24-26, 2006, a meeting was held in San Diego, CA. Please click here to view presentation materials and meeting minutes.

On November 21, 2005, a telecon was held via Web Ex Resources. Please click here to view the meeting minutes. Also, you may view the presentation given during this meeting by clicking here.

On March 15-17, 2005, a meeting was held in Greensboro, NC. Please click here to view a summary of the meeting.

On August 6, 2003 , representatives from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, along with OEMs met to finalize the JTP for Validation of Alternatives for Low Hydrogen Embrittlement Cadmium for High Strength Steel Landing Gear and Component Applications and to down select the alternatives to be tested. Please click here to view the full version of the August 6, 2003 meeting minutes.

On March 4-5, 2003, representatives from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, along with OEMs met to gain agreement on the Draft JTP for Validation of Alternatives to Low Hydrogen Embrittlement Cadmium For High Strength Steel Landing Gear and Component Applications. Please click here to view the full version of the March 4-5, 2003 meeting minutes.

On June 5-6, 2001, representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, NASA, and OEMs met with representatives from the JG-PP WG to discuss the effect of cadmium alternatives on torque-tension requirements, determine the environmentally assisted cracking requirements/test methodology to be used for this project, and define NAVSEA's specific testing requirements for fasteners.

On August 15-17, 2000, representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, NASA and OEMs met with representatives from the JG-PP to review the draft screening and fastener JTPs, and review initial evaluation data of non-chromated post treatments for use on cadmium alternatives. A Group decision was made that ARL would conduct environmentally assisted cracking evaluation.

On January 26-27, 2000, representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, NASA and OEMs met with representatives from the JG-PP. The purpose of the meeting was to kick-off the ESTCP/JG-PP JCAT project, and to begin identifying potential alternative technologies and performance requirements for qualifying alternatives. Please click here to view the full version of the January 26-27, 2000 meeting minutes.

On June 29 1999, technical representatives from AFMC; ARDEC; Boeing Phantom Works-Seattle; CNO-N45; Electric Boat Corporation; NASA; NDCEE/CTC; NAVAIR; FRC-SW (fka NADEP North Island); NUWC; OO-ALC; and JG-PP met to discuss technical issues related to integrating various cadmium replacement technologies into a common joint Service program. This was the second technical meeting of this group and focused primarily on identifying performance specifications for non-cadmium coatings.

On April 12, 1999, technical representatives from NAVAIR, NAVSEA, NASA, AFMC, ARDEC, U.S. Marine Corps, NUWC, ARL Boeing, AMCOM, TACOM, CECOM, NSWC, and JG-PP met to discuss technical issues regarding integrating cadmium replacement projects, such as JG-PP/BISDS tin-zinc/zinc-nickel and ESTCP molten salt plating, into a coordinated joint services program. Please click here to view the full version of the April 12, 1999 meeting minutes.

This site last updated February 28, 2008.