Cadmium metal

Cadmium metal rod is a rod-shaped cadmium metal materials, with a silver blue-grey metallic luster, soft texture, chemical properties are more active, good electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, in batteries, electroplating and other industrial areas play a role, but because of cadmium toxicity, its use is also subject to a number of restrictions.

Characteristics

Symbol: Cd

Atomic number: 48

Atomic weight: 112.41

Appearance: Silver-white with a bluish-grey metallic luster.

Density: 8.65 g/cm3

Melting point: 320.9°C

Boiling point: 765°C

Thermal conductivity: 298.2K temperature, thermal conductivity of 0.969 watts / cm・Kelvin

Resistivity: 6.83 microohm/cm at 0°C

Electronegativity: 1.7 (Bowling scale)

Reactivity: Cadmium is relatively active and can react chemically with elements such as oxygen and sulphur. For example, when heated in air, cadmium will be oxidised to form cadmium oxide; when reacted with sulphur, cadmium sulphide can be formed.

Applications

Electroplating field: Cadmium metal rods can be used as electroplating anode material for electroplating on the surface of steel, iron, copper, brass and other metals, which can enhance the corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance and aesthetic appearance of the metal. For example, cadmium plating is used in the surface treatment of some mechanical parts and hardware products to make the products more durable and beautiful.

Battery manufacturing: can be used to manufacture nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd battery). Nickel-cadmium batteries have good charge and discharge performance and high cycle life, in the past was widely used in a variety of portable electronic equipment, power tools and other fields. However, as cadmium has a certain degree of toxicity, with the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the use of nickel-cadmium batteries is gradually restricted, and gradually replaced by other types of batteries such as lithium-ion batteries.

Pigment and dye production: Cadmium metal compounds are commonly used in the production of pigments, phosphors, paints, dyes and certain yellow pigments in printing inks. For example, cadmium yellow pigment is a commonly used yellow pigment with high colouring power and vividness, which is widely used in paint, plastic and rubber industries.

Nuclear reactor control: In nuclear reactors, cadmium rods are used to absorb neutrons and play a role in controlling the rate of nuclear reaction. By inserting or withdrawing cadmium rods, you can regulate the number of neutrons, thereby controlling the nuclear reaction or stop, to ensure the safe operation of nuclear reactors.

Light-emitting diodes and other electronic components: some compounds of cadmium such as cadmium selenide (CdSe) can be used in the manufacture of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), semiconductor lasers and other optoelectronic devices. These devices have a wide range of applications in electronic display, lighting, communications and other fields.

Tyre production: in the manufacture of tyres, the appropriate amount of cadmium compounds can be added to improve the performance of tyres, such as improving the wear resistance of tyres, aging resistance and so on.