Cadmium - ₄₈Cd: uses

The following uses for cadmium are gathered from a number of sources as well as from anecdotal comments. I would be delighted to receive corrections as well as additional referenced uses.

Rather like zinc, cadmium is used to a small extent as coatings (often achieved by electroplating) to protect metals such as iron. Its use is restricted because of environmental concerns. The metal is a component of some specialist alloys including solders and alloys with low coefficients of friction and good fatigue resistance. Cadmium is a component of Ni-Cd batteries. Cadmium is used in some control rods and shields within nuclear reactors.

Cadmium is used in black and white television phosphors and in blue and green phosphors for colour TV tubes. Some semiconductors contain cadmium. The sulphide (CdS) is used as a yellow pigment. Some compounds are used as stabilizers for PVC.