Cadmium is a silver-white metal with excellent corrosion resistance in a range of conditions, including marine and tropical. This metal is harder than tin, but is very ductile, meaning it can be cut with a knife, rolled into a foil or manipulated into a wire.

When marine and tropical conditions are encountered cadmium plating forms a basic chloride on its surface, which prevents further attack and protects the metal underneath. It is what’s known as a self-sacrificing treatment.

There are issues surrounding the environmental toxicity of cadmium, and rigorous environmental standards must be adhered to in order to maintain a Cadmium treatment line.