Product Overview
Cadmium oxide (CdO) is a brown crystalline or amorphous powder used across pigment production, semiconductor fabrication, and electrochemical manufacturing. CAS 1306-19-0. This Technical grade material ships as a Class 6.1 poison (Packing Group I) under UN2570, requiring full DOT hazmat compliance from warehouse to delivery — a classification our team manages daily from our Taylor, TX facility.
Available in sizes from 1 lb to 50 lbs, this product serves buyers in ceramics, electronics, battery manufacturing, and chemical catalysis who need a reliable industrial-grade cadmium compound without analytical-grade cost.
Why This Grade
Technical grade cadmium oxide is procured for process applications where the material performs a functional role — generating pigment color in a ceramic glaze, acting as a semiconductor dopant, or serving as a cathode precursor — rather than for analytical reference work. Buyers running ceramic kiln lines, glass-coating operations, or nickel-cadmium battery assembly typically specify Technical grade because the application tolerates the trace impurity profile that comes with an industrial-grade product, and the cost difference over higher-purity grades is significant at production scale.
If your process requires a tighter assay or lot-specific impurity certification against a published standard, confirm the specification with your quality team before ordering. Our lot-specific Certificate of Analysis accompanies each shipment so you can verify incoming material against your internal acceptance criteria.
Chemical Profile
Cadmium oxide is an odorless, brown crystalline or amorphous powder with the molecular formula CdO and a molecular weight of 128.41 g/mol (CAS 1306-19-0). Its density is notably high at 8.15 g/cm³ in crystalline form and 6.95 g/cm³ in amorphous form — considerably denser than most metal oxide powders handled in industrial settings. The material is insoluble in water at less than 1 mg/mL, and its vapor pressure is negligible under standard conditions. These physical properties make it stable in dry storage but demand strict dust-control protocols during handling, given the inhalation hazard classification.
Industrial Applications
Cadmium oxide finds use across several established industrial processes:
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Pigment production. CdO serves as a precursor and colorant in ceramic glazes and glass formulations. The oxide's thermal stability allows it to survive kiln temperatures that degrade organic pigments, producing consistent color in finished ceramics and enamels.
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Semiconductor fabrication. As a wide-bandgap semiconductor material, cadmium oxide is used in thin-film deposition for transparent conducting oxides and photoconductive devices. Electronics manufacturers use it as a starting material for vapor-phase and sputtering processes.
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Battery manufacturing. CdO is a feedstock in the production of nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery electrodes. The oxide is reduced and processed into the cadmium electrode material that provides the cell's energy-storage capacity.
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Chemical catalysis. Cadmium oxide acts as a catalyst or catalyst support in certain organic synthesis and polymerization reactions, where its surface chemistry accelerates reaction kinetics.
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Glass coating. Applied in specialty glass manufacturing, CdO coatings modify optical and surface properties of the finished glass product.
Handling & Storage
Cadmium oxide carries a GHS signal word of Danger (per the product's GHS classification). The hazard statements for this product are serious and demand strict controls:
- H301 — Toxic if swallowed (per the product's GHS classification)
- H330 — Fatal if inhaled (per the product's GHS classification)
- H341 — Suspected of causing genetic defects (per the product's GHS classification)
- H350 — May cause cancer (per the product's GHS classification)
- H361fd — Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child (per the product's GHS classification)
- H372 — Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (per the product's GHS classification)
- H410 — Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (per the product's GHS classification)
Handle only in well-ventilated areas or under local exhaust ventilation. Full PPE is non-negotiable: respirator rated for toxic dusts, chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, and protective clothing that prevents skin contact. Avoid generating airborne dust during transfer or weighing operations.
Store in tightly sealed HDPE or glass containers in a cool, dry area, away from acids, strong oxidizers, and incompatible materials. Keep containers closed when not in use. Prevent any release to the environment — this material is classified as very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Hazmat & Shipping
Cadmium oxide ships under full DOT hazmat regulation. The governed transport classification:
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UN Number: UN2570 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 6.1 — Toxic substances (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: I (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Cadmium compound (Cadmium oxide) (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Packing Group I designates the highest degree of danger within Class 6.1. Every shipment leaves our Taylor, TX warehouse with compliant hazmat shipping papers, proper UN-specification packaging, and required diamond placarding. Our team handles PG I toxic materials as part of daily operations — proper classification and packaging are built into our shipping workflow.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order. SDS documents are available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available for specification review. Each lot ships with a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) so your QC team can verify incoming material against your acceptance criteria before it enters your process.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
Cadmium oxide is a Packing Group I poison — the most restrictive tier of toxic-substance packaging and documentation under DOT. Not every distributor will handle it. Our Taylor, TX warehouse ships Class 6.1 PG I materials with compliant packaging, labeling, and hazmat shipping papers as a matter of daily routine, with all shipping and handling guidance reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 customers since 1998, distributing industrial chemicals to operations that depend on correct classification and complete documentation arriving with every shipment.
