Low Hydrogen Embrittlement (LHE) Alkaline Zinc Nickel (Zn-Ni) Plating
ES3, Clearfield Utah
David Frederick
417th SCMS/GUEA, Hill AFB Utah
Abstract
In January 2007, Executive Order (EO) 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, required government agencies to reduce the quantity of Cadmium (Cd) in use. The USAF Landing Gear Systems Engineering Group, located at Hill AFB Utah, ES3 and Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) has spent over six years performing qualification tests to certify that LHE Zn-Ni plating can be safely used as an alternative plating to Cd on high strength steel. The results of the testing showed that LHE Zn-Ni performed as well or better than Cd. Consequently, BR&T has added LHE Zn-Ni to Boeing Aircraft specification 5680 and the USAF has created LHE Zn-Ni plating specification drawing 201027456. Hill AFB has also installed a 3200 gallon LHE Zn-Ni plating line. Material test data and recommendations for use are detailed in this paper.