Science, Tech, Math › Science Metal Profile: Chromium Share Flipboard Email Print Chromite ore at Hernic Ferrochrome's mine in South Africa. Terence Bell Science Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Terence Bell Terence Bell Metal Expert University of British Columbia Carleton University Terence Bell is a former writer who has been involved in the rare earth and minor metal industries for over 10 years. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 03, 2019 Chromium metal is most widely recognized for its use in chromium plating (which is often referred to simply as 'chrome'), but its largest use is as an ingredient in stainless steels. Both applications benefit from chromium's hardness, resistance to corrosion, and ability to be polished for a lustrous appearance. Properties Atomic Symbol: CrAtomic Number: 24Atomic Mass: 51.996g/mol1Element Category: Transition MetalDensity: 7.19g/cm3 at 20°CMelting Point: 3465°F (1907°C)Boiling Point: 4840°F (2671°C)Moh’s Hardness: 5.5 Characteristics Chromium is a hard, gray metal that is valued for its incredible resistance to corrosion. Pure chromium is magnetic and brittle, but when alloyed can be made malleable and polished to a bright, silvery finish. Chromium derives its name from khrōma, a Greek word meaning color, due to its ability to produce vivid, colorful compounds, such as chrome oxide. History In 1797, French chemist Nicolas-Louis Vauguelin produced the first pure chromium metal by treating crocoite (a chromium-containing mineral) with potassium carbonate and then reducing the resulting chromic acid with carbon in a graphite crucible. While chromium compounds have been used in dyes and paints for thousands of years, it was not until well after Vauguelin's discovery that chromium use in metal applications began to develop. In the late 19th and early 20th century, metallurgists in Europe were actively experimenting with metal alloys, trying to produce stronger and more durable steels. In 1912, while working at Firth Brown Laboratories in the UK, metallurgist Harry Brearley was tasked with finding a more resilient metal for gun barrels. He added chromium, which was known to have a high melting point, to traditional carbon steel, producing the first stainless steel. However, at about the same time, others, including Elwood Haynes in the US and engineers at Krupp in Germany, were also developing chromium containing steel alloys. With the development of the electric arc furnace, large-scale production of stainless steel followed shortly after that. During the same period, research was also being done on electro-plating metals, which allowed cheaper metals, such as iron and nickel, to adopt onto their exterior chromium's resistance to abrasion and corrosion, as well as its aesthetic qualities. The first chrome features appeared on cars and high-end clocks in the late 1920s. Production Industrial chromium products include chromium metal, ferrochrome, chromium chemicals, and foundry sands. In recent years, there has been a trend toward greater vertical integration in the production of chromium materials. That is, more companies are involved in the mining of chromite ore are also processing it into chromium metal, ferrochrome and, ultimately, stainless steel. In 2010 global production of chromite ore (FeCr2O4), the primary mineral extracted for chromium production was 25 million tons. Ferrochrome production was around 7 million tons, while chromium metal production was approximately 40,000 tons. Ferrochromium is produced solely using electric arc furnaces, whereas chromium metal can be produced via electrolytic, silico-thermic and aluminothermic methods. During the production of ferrochrome, the heat created by electric arc furnaces, which reaches 5070°F (2800°C), causes coal and coke to reduce chromium ore through a carbothermic reaction. Once sufficient material has been smelted in the furnace hearth, the molten metal is drained out and solidified in large castings before being crushed. Aluminothermic production of high purity chromium metal accounts for over 95% of chromium metal produced today. The first step in this process requires that the chromite ore is roasted with soda and lime in the air at 2000°F (1000°C), which creates a sodium chromate containing calcine. It can be leached away from the waste material and then reduced and precipitated as chromic oxide (Cr2O3). The chromic oxide is then mixed with powdered aluminum and put into a large clay crucible. Barium peroxide and magnesium powder are then spread onto the mixture, and the crucible is surrounded by sand (which acts as insulation). The mixture is ignited, resulting in the oxygen from the chromic oxide reacting with the aluminum to produce aluminum oxide and, thereby, liberating molten chromium metal that is 97-99% pure. According to US Geological Survey statistics, the largest producers of chromite ore in 2009 were South Africa (33%), India (20%), and Kazakhstan (17%). The largest ferrochrome producing companies include Xstrata, Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (Kazakhstan), Samancor (South Africa), and Hernic Ferrochrome (South Africa). Applications According to the International Development Association for Chromium, of the total chromite ore extracted in 2009, 95.2% was consumed by the metallurgical industry, 3.2% by the refractory and foundry industry, and 1.6% by chemical producers. The major uses for chromium are in stainless steels, alloyed steels, and nonferrous alloys. Stainless steels refer to a range of steels that contain between 10% to 30% chromium (by weight) and that do not corrode or rust as easily as regular steels. Between 150 and 200 different stainless steel compositions exist, although only about 10% of these are in regular use. Chromium Superalloy Trade Names Trade Name Chromium Content (% Weight) Hastelloy-X® 22 WI-52® 21 Waspaloy® 20 Nimonic® 20 IN-718® 19 Stainless Steels 17-25 Inconel® 14-24 Udimet-700® 15 Sources: Sully, Arthur Henry, and Eric A. Brandes. Chromium. London: Butterworths, 1954. Street, Arthur. & Alexander, W. O. 1944. Metals in the Service of Man. 11th Edition (1998). The International Chromium Development Association (ICDA). Source: www.icdacr.com Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Bell, Terence. "Metal Profile: Chromium." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/metal-profile-chromium-2340130. Bell, Terence. (2020, August 26). Metal Profile: Chromium. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/metal-profile-chromium-2340130 Bell, Terence. "Metal Profile: Chromium." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/metal-profile-chromium-2340130 (accessed May 30, 2023). copy citation Featured Video By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies