Cadmium Plating (AMS‑QQ‑P‑416)

High‑Performance Rack Cadmium Plating for Aerospace & Defense Applications

Castle Metal Finishing Corp provides precision rack cadmium plating engineered for the demanding requirements of aerospace, defense, and high‑reliability industrial components. Located in Schiller Park, IL, we support OEMs, Tier‑1 suppliers, and manufacturers who require tight‑tolerance, spec‑driven, corrosion‑resistant coatings backed by decades of process expertise.

Cadmium plating remains the gold standard for fasteners, landing gear components, connectors, and high‑strength steel hardware where reliability and performance cannot be compromised.

Why Cadmium Plating?

Cadmium offers a unique combination of properties unmatched by other coatings:

  • Exceptional corrosion resistance
  • Superior lubricity for threaded components
  • Outstanding galvanic compatibility with aluminum
  • Uniform coverage on complex geometries
  • Reliable performance in aerospace and defense environments

When failure is not an option, cadmium remains the trusted solution.

Certified Cadmium Plating to AMS‑QQ‑P‑416

We plate to the full requirements of AMS‑QQ‑P‑416, including:

Types

  • Type I – As plated (no chromate)
  • Type II – With chromate conversion coating
  • Type III – With supplementary coatings

Classes

  • Class 1 – 0.0005 in. minimum thickness
  • Class 2 – 0.0003 in. minimum thickness
  • Class 3 – 0.0002 in. minimum thickness

Chromate Finishes

  • Clear chromate
  • Yellow chromate
  • Olive drab (when required)

Every job is processed with strict adherence to specification, traceability, and quality documentation.

Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief Baking

High‑strength steels require immediate post‑plate baking to prevent catastrophic failure. Castle Metal Finishing provides:

  • Hydrogen embrittlement relief baking
  • Stress relief annealing
  • Controlled temperature and time cycles
  • Full process documentation

This capability is a major differentiator — many plating shops cannot perform embrittlement relief in‑house.

Industries Served

Our cadmium plating services are engineered for:

  • Aerospace OEMs & Tier‑1 suppliers
  • Defense contractors
  • Military hardware manufacturers
  • Aviation fastener and landing gear suppliers
  • High‑strength steel component manufacturers

Typical Components We Plate

  • Aerospace fasteners
  • Landing gear hardware
  • Actuation components
  • Electrical connectors
  • High‑strength steel parts
  • Precision machined components
  • Defense system hardware

If your components require tight tolerances, masking, or complex rack setups, our team has the experience to handle them.

Quality, Traceability & Compliance

Castle Metal Finishing maintains rigorous process control to support regulated industries:

  • Controlled chemical baths
  • Documented inspection procedures
  • Thickness verification
  • Adhesion testing
  • Lot traceability
  • Conformance reporting

Our processes are built for customers who require repeatability, documentation, and reliability.

Why Choose Castle Metal Finishing for Cadmium Plating?

  • Decades of aerospace & defense plating experience
  • In‑house hydrogen embrittlement relief baking
  • Precision rack plating for complex geometries
  • Strict adherence to AMS‑QQ‑P‑416
  • Fast turnaround for production and critical‑need jobs
  • Located minutes from O’Hare for efficient logistics

We are a trusted partner for manufacturers who cannot afford coating failures.

If you require spec‑driven cadmium plating for aerospace, defense, or high‑reliability industrial components, our team is ready to support your project.

.

.