Cadmium plated fasteners are most popular plated fasteners because it provides excellent corrosion protection from salt water and other kinds of salts, plus this type of plating was relatively inexpensive. Cadmium Plated Stud Bolts have a comparatively low and fairly consistent coefficient of friction. Cadmium plating’s finish luster does not tarnish or fade. Cadmium is relatively easy to electroplate onto high strength steel, and for those steels whose strength is too high to tolerate the hydrogen embrittlement from electroplating.