European Union : FAQ
Question 4: Do there exist alternatives, substitute materials?
There are many alternatives to cadmium for most applications:
- tin and its alloys;
- zinc and its alloys (e.g. zinc/cobalt);
- ion vapour deposition (aluminium coatings);
- nickel;
- epoxide;
- plasticised coatings that have been developed for specialised use.
Where weight is not an issue, nickel / aluminium / bronze alloys can be used for corrosion resistant connectors. These alloys may increase the weight of each connector by a factor of 2 or 3 in comparison with cadmium-plated aluminium connectors. New materials continue to be developed, many of which exceed the performance of existing cadmium coatings. Pending complete performance coverage, the EC is investigating the possibility of exempting cadmium in electrical contact applications.
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