REPAIR OF METAL-COATING USING ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPLIANT BRUSH-PLATINGSOLUTIONS

Cadmium plating is widely used in the aerospace industry for the corro sion protection of steels. Despite the many advantages of cadmium plat ing, alternatives are required because of the toxicity of the metal an d its compounds. One of the criteria used in selecting a replacement f or cadmium Is that the coating can be repaired in-situ, using a techni que such as brush plating. This paper presents results of research car ried out into the brush plating of steels using zinc-nickel and zinc-c obalt electrolytes. Assessment has been made of the corrosion resistan ce of brush-plated steel test panels and the use of zinc-nickel and zi nc-cobalt alloy plating solutions in the repair of damaged metal coati ngs.