Fluid Corrosion Compatibility Study of Electroplated Cadmium Alternatives on 4130 Steel

Steel panels of alloy 4130 measuring 1 inch x 1 inch x 0.0032 inches were coated with one of five surface treatments. The five surface treatments were electroplated aluminum (EA), zinc-nickel (Zn-Ni), sputtered aluminum (SA), ion vapor deposited aluminum (IVD), and a control of electroplated cadmium (Cd). Three replicate panels for each of these five surface treatments were immersed in fourteen different fluids at 100F. The fluids were reagent water, a propylene glycol/water mixture, synthetic sea water, aircraft de-icing fluid, runway de-icing fluid, a parts washer cleaning compound, an aerospace equipment cleaning compound, four different types of paint removers, a wheel well cleaning compound, and two different hydraulic fluids. Samples were assessed by monitoring weight loss and/or gain, and visually inspected for signs of color change and corrosion.