Grantee Research Project Results
Environmentally Safer Zinc-Cadmium Alloy Dry Plating as a Substitute for Cadmium Electroplating
EPA Contract Number: 68D10039Title: Environmentally Safer Zinc-Cadmium Alloy Dry Plating as a Substitute for Cadmium Electroplating
Investigators: Sunthankar, Mandar
Small Business: IonEdge Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1991 through March 1, 1992
Project Amount: $46,918
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1991) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Cadmium electroplating in cyanide baths is of significant environmental concern. As a consequence, a unique dry plating concept has been developed. Unlike conventon electroplating, this method would use no liquid chemicals. The dry plating concept utilizes a novel vapor deposition technique for cadmium or zinc. To minimize occupational hazards of toxic cadmium, and to accomplish in situ cad- mium management, a reclaim method was also developed. The use of cadmium in dry plating could be further reduced by substituting a zinc-cadmium alloy for cadmium. The aims of the proposed research in the Phase I are (1) to demonstrate the feasibility of depositing zinc-cadmium alloy of the desired composition using the dry plating technique and (2) to measure the level of cadmium dust release in the environment, if any. If this research indicates acceptable results according to the current standards, fur ther development of the technique would lead to a method which could potentially minimize environmental and occu- pational hazards of cadmium electroplating.Supplemental Keywords:
Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Engineering, Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, HAPS, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, New/Innovative technologies, Cadmium Compounds, dry plating , pollution prevention, electroplating, novel vapor deposition technique, electroless plating, waste reductionProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Zero-Waste Dry Plating CommercializationThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.