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This section provides an overview for chromium as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 chromium manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked chromium companies as of December, 2024: 1.ProChem, Inc., 2.Edgetech Industries LLC, 3.Accumet Materials Co..
Table of Contents
Chromium is a metallic element with atomic number 24 and element symbol Cr.
It was named by René Just Haüy after the Greek word chroma, meaning color, because compounds of chromium have a variety of colors.
Chromium is mainly extracted from chromite ore (FeCr2O4). More than 90% of the world's chromium resources are concentrated in two countries, South Africa and Kazakhstan, and are highly unevenly distributed.
Chromium is used primarily in the steel industry. Alloys of chromium and iron containing more than 12% chromium are called stainless steels and are widely used in machinery and kitchenware as a rust-resistant metal with high corrosion resistance. In addition, chromium metal is available as a plating because of its luster and high corrosion resistance.
Chromium is also an essential mineral involved in human metabolism. In particular, its ability to stimulate lipid metabolism helps lower cholesterol levels and neutral fats and can prevent arteriosclerosis and hypertension. It also helps insulin work and is said to be effective in preventing diabetes.
Chromium is a hard, silvery-white metal with a melting point of 1,907°C and a boiling point of 2,671°C. It is extremely stable at room temperature.
When dissolved in hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid, it forms a solution of divalent chromium salts, which are quickly oxidized to trivalent chromium by oxygen in the air due to its unstable divalent state.
The electron configuration of chromium is [Ar] 3d5 4s1. The crystal structure is a body-centered cubic lattice for α, a cubic close-packed structure for β, and a hexagonal close-packed structure for γ.
1. Chromium in the Body
Chromium is a trace essential element for humans. It is a material used to make up glucose tolerance factors that help bind insulin and receptors in the body. When the body is deficient in chromium, abnormalities in glucose metabolism may occur and diabetes may develop.
Examples of foods rich in chromium include shrimp, liver, mushrooms, beans, brewer's yeast, and black pepper. The daily requirement for chromium is 50 to 200 µg.
Unrefined grains contain it, but most chromium is lost during refining. It is reported that 98% of chromium is lost when flour is refined and 92% of chromium is lost when rice is refined. Furthermore, chromium is a mineral that is difficult to absorb into the body. Supplements are available to help the body absorb chromium.
2. Dangers of Chromium
Chromium alone and trivalent chromium are not toxic. However, hexavalent chromium compounds are highly toxic. In the past, hexavalent chromium was used for plating, but it is no longer used in chromate treatment of zinc plating due to soil contamination and other problems.
Chromium is a carcinogen found in cigarettes; tetravalent chromium compounds have been reported to be carcinogenic.
3. Isotopic Applications of Chromium
53Cr is a decay product of 53Mn, and isotopic contents of chromium and manganese are related and available in isotopic geology. Given the compositional ratios of chromium and manganese isotopes, the presence of 26Al and 107Pd in the early solar system is an indication that these isotopes were present in the early solar system. The diverse compositional ratios of 52Cr and 53Cr and Mn and Cr in the asteroid suggest that 53Mn decayed early in the formation of the object.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Exotech, Inc., established in 1990 and located in Pompano Beach, Florida, is a provider of scrap metal solutions and a manufacturer of chromium powder, niobium concentrates, and synthetic tantalum. The company's core business areas include processing exotic metals, producing concentrates, manufacturing custom powder, and in-house processing. The company is engaged in processing various forms of scrap metals, including germanium, niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and their alloys. It also produces synthetic tantalum concentrates and high-purity chromium powder. The company owns and operates a facility overseas to facilitate global shipping and delivery.
Edgetech Industries LLC (ETI) is a supplier of deposition and functional materials, rare earth elements, non-ferrous metals, and semi-metal elements that was established in 2015. Based in Weston, Florida, the company offers pure metals, alloys, compounds, ceramics and permanent magnets with applications in electronics, diagnostic imaging, power transmission, and sensors. ETI products supply clients in the medical, marine, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing sectors. The company also provides additional consultation, product design, laboratory testing for new materials, and technical support services.
McGean-Rohco Inc. is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, founded in 1929 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The company's diverse product range includes aircraft cleaners, engine overhaul products, paint strippers, and maritime solutions. The company is also providing lavatory maintenance items like deodorants, cleaners, fresheners, and portable toilet deodorants. McGean-Rohco's Ohio and Michigan facilities hold certifications to SOCMA's ChemStewards EHS&S management system, while its U.K. facility holds ISO 14001 certification for the environmental management system.
ProChem, Inc was founded in 9186 and is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The company is a manufacturer of high-purity inorganic chemicals and materials including rare earth, sputtering targets, and organometallic compounds. The company serves numerous industries including research and manufacturing and has collaborated with such organizations as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The company offers custom synthesis of advanced materials, product-specific packaging, purification services, and costume blending and tooling of chemical compounds.
Belmont Metals was founded in 1896 as a nonferrous dealership on Brooklyn’s Belmont Avenue where it remains to this day. The company serves many industries with individualized alloys such as those for jewelry, marine applications, countertops, and babbitt bearings. The company produces alloys based on several metals including aluminum, bismuth, copper, lead, and zinc. The company also employs several other metals such as cadmium, indium, nickel, and tin in standard grades up to 99.99% purity.
Accumet Materials Co. is headquartered in Ossining, New York. The company is a metal and ceramics manufacturer and distributor that provides metal engineering solutions to customers around the world. The company specializes in three primary materials: ceramics, metal, and powders. The company offers custom products based on several materials including ceramics, zirconium, magnesium oxide, crystals, and other metals. The company’s facilities include ceramics fabrication, vacuum & arc melting furnaces, a custom foundry, crystal growing, and powder production systems.
Nippon Chemical Industrial Co. Ltd., started in 1893 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of inorganic and specialty chemicals. In 1950, the company started the production of phosphate fertilizer at the Koriyama factory and the production of insecticides at the Miharu factory. In 1970, it began producing phosphoric acid, and in 1971, it started making chromium compounds. Its portfolio includes chromium compounds, inorganic phosphorus compounds, electronic ceramic materials, pharmaceutical intermediates, and agrochemicals. It also offers custom manufacturing for various industries, including agricultural chemicals, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
ACI Alloys, Inc. was founded in 1985 and based in San Jose, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company manufactures sputtering targets, evaporation sources, and specialty materials for thin-film and related applications both for educational and industrial customers. The company manufactures materials from most elements and has developed or manufactured hundreds of alloys over the past 11 years. The company works with most rare earth elements to create unique alloys for customers, apart from promethium which is radioactive. The company can also reclaim unused elements of alloys.
AD International was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Heijningen, Netherlands, as a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of surface treatment chemicals for industrial processes. The company's product list encompasses Sodium Dichromate Solution, Chromic Acid/Chromium Trioxide, Chrome III Phosphate Solution, Chrome III Sulphate Solution, and Chrome III Nitrate Solution, among others. The chemicals find applications in metal finishing, wood preservation, plastics production, ceramic glazes, and laboratory cleaning. Serving purposes such as corrosion resistance, the chemicals are also used in metalworking, electroplating, pigments, and chemical intermediates. The company serves various industries, including glass, electrical, metallurgy, manufacturing, construction, and ceramics.
Noah Chemicals Corporation was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company is a distributor of advanced materials and specialty chemicals for industries such as aerospace, agriculture, nuclear, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The company’s product categories include inorganic, evaporate materials, intermediates, rare earths, and ceramics. The company’s services include trial burns to help customers protect the environment, custom fertilizer development to produce more environmentally efficient fertilizers, and custom clean in place chemicals for equipment sanitization.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ProChem, Inc. |
22.2%
|
| 2 | Edgetech Industries LLC |
12.6%
|
| 3 | Accumet Materials Co. |
12.2%
|
| 4 | Belmont Metals, Inc. |
10.0%
|
| 5 | Exotech, Inc. |
8.7%
|
| 6 | ACI Alloys, Inc |
8.3%
|
| 7 | Noah Chemicals Corporation |
7.0%
|
| 8 | McGean-Rohco Inc. |
6.5%
|
| 9 | NIPPON CHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD. |
6.5%
|
| 10 | AD International |
6.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the chromium page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
6 | 85.7% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 14.3% |
