Industries
Aerospace
Nadcap-accredited surface finishing for flight-critical components.
Nadcap
Aerospace Quality AC7004
ISO 9001
All Facilities
60+
Years in Aerospace
Cd-Free
Cadmium Replacement Pioneer
Aerospace Surface Finishing
When Failure Isn't an Option.
Aerospace components operate in extreme environments — temperature cycling, vibration, salt exposure, and mechanical stress that would degrade an unprotected surface rapidly. A coated surface that fails isn’t a maintenance issue. It’s a safety event.
KC Jones has been finishing flight-critical components since the early years of the industry. We hold Nadcap accreditation for the Aerospace Quality System (AC7004) — the standard aerospace and defense supply chains require — and our Michigan facility has maintained that accreditation continuously because our processes and documentation hold up under independent audit.
Credentials & compliance
Nadcap — AC7004
Aerospace Quality System accreditation from the Performance Review Institute. Michigan facility.
ISO 9001:2015
Certified Quality Management System across all KC Jones facilities.
RoHS / ELV Compliant
Hazardous substance compliant processes. Cadmium-free zinc-nickel available per Air Force requirements.
Processes for Aerospace
Three Processes. Proven in the Field.
KC Jones runs three distinct plating processes for aerospace programs — each with different performance characteristics. The right choice depends on substrate, environment, and specification requirements.
Corrosion Resistance
Zinc-Nickel Plating
Cadmium replacement for high-strength steel
Sacrificial barrier that absorbs corrosion before it reaches the substrate. LHE alkaline zinc-nickel complies with US Air Force environmental directives while meeting all performance requirements for high-strength alloy components including landing gear. Excellent temperature and abrasion resistance.
Wear Resistance
Electroless Nickel-Boron
Hard chrome replacement — KC Jones proprietary
KC Jones applies more square inches of nickel-boron than any other company worldwide. Exceeds hard chrome in wear resistance, heat resistance to 1,976°F, and operates without the environmental and health hazards of hexavalent chromium. 70 HRC+. No hydrogen embrittlement.
Wear & Machinability
Miccrolloy® Bronze Plating
Nadcap-accredited — proprietary to KC Jones
Our proprietary Miccrolloy® bronze coating is Nadcap-accredited specifically for aerospace and defense applications. Outstanding resistance to severe grinding and shear adhesion, superior machinability, and exceptional surface-bearing properties. Used on cylinder block faceplates, pistons, rotors, and landing gear systems.
Cadmium Replacement
KC Jones Helped Replace Cadmium in Aerospace.
Cadmium was the standard protective coating for high-strength steel alloys in aerospace for decades — including landing gear components. It works well. It’s also a known carcinogen associated with kidney failure, liver damage, and respiratory disease, and the US Air Force has actively targeted it for elimination.
KC Jones was among the first plating companies to establish LHE alkaline zinc-nickel as a viable, performance-equivalent replacement. Low hydrogen embrittlement zinc-nickel meets every performance requirement of the original high-strength alloy designs while complying with Air Force environmental objectives. We’ve been running these programs for years.
LHE zinc-nickel meets Air Force environmental requirements without compromising performance on high-strength steel landing gear components.
Zinc-Nickel vs Cadmium
Corrosion performance
LHE Zn-Ni meets or exceeds cadmium in salt-spray and corrosion resistance testing.
Hydrogen embrittlement
LHE alkaline process — safe for high-strength steel alloys where HE is a critical concern.
Environmental compliance
Meets US Air Force environmental directives. No carcinogens, no hazardous waste disposal concerns.
Approvals
Approved for landing gear components on high-strength steel alloy designs previously coated in cadmium.
Common applications
- Landing gear components — high-strength steel alloys
- Flight-critical structural components
- Engine and turbine components
- Hydraulic and pneumatic fittings
- Actuator housings and shafts
- Cylinder block faceplates and pistons
- Rotors and bearing assemblies
- Defense and military hardware
- Power generation components
Applications
Substrates & Environments
Aerospace components face conditions most industrial parts never encounter: extreme temperature cycling, vibration, salt fog, hydraulic fluids, and fatigue loading — often simultaneously.
Our processes protect titanium, steel, aluminum, magnesium, and beryllium substrates across commercial aviation, military, and defense applications. Full traceability and documentation available for all aerospace programs.
Discuss Your Aerospace Program.
Whether you need Nadcap-accredited processing, a cadmium replacement solution, or a supplier who can document full traceability for flight-critical components — our engineering team can review your requirements and confirm KC Jones is the right fit.