Chromium powder

Such Cr properties as corrosive resistance, hardness and high melting temperature determined the industrial applications of chromium in whole and in particular, this semi-finished product.

Metotechnics offers electrolytical and reduced chromium powder. The available products can be ordered by phone, fax, via e-mail or on the website.

See the corresponding sections on this page for the properties, production methods and applications of the stated products.

Grades

Chromium powder grades depend on the production method. Products made of electrolytic raw materials have PM-ERKh grade where Cr content is given in %. E.g., PM-ERKh 99,98 contains at least 99.98% of Cr. Electrolytical powders have such admixtures as oxygen (O), sulphur (S), nitrogen (N), carbon (C), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and some other chemical elements. There are 5 industrial grades of chromium powder: PM-ERKh 99,99; PM-ERKh 99,98; PM-ERKh-1; PM-ERKh-4; PM-ERKh 99,6. There are high-or low-pure products (with a high admixture content). Cr weight percent in PM-ERKh-1 and PM-ERKh-4 is 99.95%.

Reduced chromium powders have two grades: PKh1 and PKh2. Cr content is 99.12% and 98.8%. They contain such admixtures as N (0.009% / 0.10%), C (0.07% / 0.15%), Fe (0.20% / 0.40%), Ni (0.10% / 0.40%), Si (0.10% / 0.15%), Ca (0.10% / -%) and O (0.30% / -%).

Production

Electrolytical powder production is the most simple technological process. It is made by mechanical scale grinding. Electrolytical Cr production is described on the Chromium scale page. The purity of the chemical composition of the end product is determined by the corresponding raw materials’ properties.

The manufacturing cycle for reduced powder is more complicated. Cr is reduced from oxide (Cr₂O₃). Silicon (Si) is used as a reducing agent. The basic chemical reaction is the following: 2Cr₂O₃ + 3Si = 4Cr + 3SiO₂. If aluminum (Al) is used as a reducing agent, it is consumed more than Si.

Application

Powder made of reduced or electrolytical chromium is applied for production (sputtering targets and evaporated cathodes) with powder metallurgy methods.

Reduced powder and electrolytical chromium as individual components are used in technological processes of sputtering chromium coatings. In particular, reduced Cr is widely used in frame and diffusion plating. The latter is based on the diffusion mechanism when Cr atoms under high temperatures penetrate the surface layer of the processed metal and create a wear-resistant longeval coating. Frame plating provides the formation of small molten metal drops (particles) and transferring them on the processed surface where they stick creating a continuous coating.

Prices

Cost of chromium, certain properties and grades so as the form for ordering products online is given on the Prices page.