cadmium

[cyclops@mindlink.bc.ca (cyclops)]

i think you'll find that cadmium by itself is pretty tame. the problem
arises when it is overheated and gives off fumes which are toxic. some
silver brazing filler metals contain cadmium and the welder must be careful
to stay within the prescribed heat range,
hth
mike mulholland
86 5kcdtq
cyclops bicycles designer and builder


>
>Is there a coating of some sort on the brake calipers Audi uses (G60
>calipers, in particular) to prevent corrosion?
>
<snip>
>Part of the caliper that was cleaned,
>though, appears to be oxidizing (or reacting in some manner).  The
>shiny gold-ish color metal is turning a sickly-looking gray.  I was
>wondering if the wire brush has removed some kind of coating which will
>make the caliper more prone to rusting.


I hope that you were wearing a dust mask when you were cleaning the caliper.
I strongly suspect that the gold-ish colour metal is cadmium plating, which
does turn sort of dull grey when it starts to corrode. I believe that
cadmium is very nasty stuff, highly poisonous.

Jim Haseltine.