Corrosion Resistance Plating

To prevent corrosion or galling, fastener threads are often nickel or cadmium plated. Which process would be preferred if you were building spacecraft hardware in a Class 10,000 clean room?

Expand Hint
Class 10,000 clean rooms are very controlled environments, designed to minimize Foreign Object Damage (FOD) by reducing contaminants in the “clean” surrounding.
Hint 2
For cadmium plated hardware, the cadmium acts as a sacrificial component and will corrode away first to prolong the fastener’s life span.
Class 10,000 clean rooms are very controlled environments, designed to minimize Foreign Object Damage (FOD) by reducing contaminants in the “clean” surrounding.
For cadmium plated hardware, the cadmium acts as a sacrificial component. As the hardware endures the harsh surroundings, the cadmium will first corrode away, prolonging the fastener’s life. However, the corroded cadmium are particle contaminants, and now increase the risk of Foreign Object Damage (FOD), which is a serious concern for nearby sensitive parts and equipment. Nickel plated fasteners are a preferred method due to its corrosion resistance without any sacrificial aspects.
Nickel plating
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