Development of Cad Plating Replacement with Zinc Nickel on High Strength Steel Components

Landing gear components utilize steels with tensile strengths above 280 KSI. Components manufactured from these alloys require sacrificial protective coatings to perform successfully in service. Cadmium has been the baseline coating for such components for decades. The problems with cadmium, a known carcinogen, create occupational safety and health (OSH) risks; raising maintenance costs throughout the life of all cadmium plated parts. In Phase I of this project, ES3 will investigate a promising alkaline Zn-Ni coating process, and conduct the research and development work necessary for USAF landing gear usage, such as developing paint adhesion and torque-tension relationships. Additionally, several production features (such as tank chemistry, and hydrogen embrittlement test methods) will be investigated for future utilization in a DoD depot or commercial production environment.