What is Chromium steel used for? Chromium, chromium trioxide and other form of this metal continue to be used in everyday items that many scrappers assume are just regular steel. Below I outline Chromium’s make up as well as provide details on what is chromium steel used for today.
Chromium is a hard metallic element from group six of the Table of Elements, represented by the letters Cr, with an atomic number of 24.
The characteristics of this element create a diverse number of uses due to its strength, high melting point, high polish and the intense color of its compounds.
While this element is available natively in small amounts, most commercial sources of the element come from extraction from chromite ore.
Once extracted, the element is utilized in several different ways.
What is Chromium Used for Currently
Alloy Material – Chromium plays an integral role in metallurgy by increasing the strength of steel objects through forming stable metal carbides. This element also increases steel’s resistance to corrosion.
Companies add this elements to strengthen and stabilize alloys like the nickel-based Inconel, which allows the material to be used in applications where other materials would fail, such as in jet engines.
Additional Applications for Chromium
Beyond metal applications, chromium’s history involves use in dyes, leather tanning and wood preservation.
The use of the element in dyes has faded due to environmental concerns, but once found uses in yellow paints, most recognizably the yellow color on school buses.
The element is still used in dyes for military IR reflecting paints and in some forms of glass making and ceramic glazes.
This element works in leather tanning by binding to proteins in the leather, which in turn increases the strength of the collagen fibers in the material.
In wood production, the toxic properties of this element treat timber against fungi, pest infestation and decay.
Scientific Uses of Chromium
Advances in science benefit from chromium’s natural properties, most notably in the early production of lasers using rubies. Ions from this element play an important role in the development of both natural and artificial rubies.
Synthetic rubies were the basis for early laser production starting in 1960 with the crystals used to emit light.
Negative Impacts Caused by Chromium and Chromium Trioxide
Chromium’s health and environmental impacts vary depending on the form of the element. Chromium(III) for example is water insoluble and in most cases safe, while Chromium(VI) is considered a carcinogen.
The oxidational properties of this form of the element travel through the bloodstream where it can cause damage to the kidneys and liver, in some cases causing organ failure.
Scrap Chromium is also very valuable as scrap. Some things that you will find out scrapping that are made of Chromium include, faucets, pots, pans, tire rims, motorcycle parts, door locks, wrenches, bike parts and kitchen sinks. Chromium scrap items can be found on just about every corner.