Chrome chemicals
Most people are familiar with chrome as an alloying element in stainless steel, however, chrome is widely used in the chemical, leather tanning, and pigment industries. Sodium dichromate is the principal product containing chrome in the chemical industry.
Chemical grade chrome ore
Chemical grade chrome ore represents 3 to 5% of the global chrome ore output, used by the chrome chemical industry.
This chemical grade chrome ore is transformed into sodium dichromate, which is the primary base material for the manufacture of chromium chemicals used in several key applications.
Sodium dichromate
Sodium dichromate is the principal product containing chrome in the chemical industry. It is used both as a feed material for the production of other chrome chemicals and as a process material for the surface treatment of metals.
Chemicals made from sodium dichromate include chromic acid, chrome oxide, and potassium dichromate. The uses of chrome chemical products are diverse including metal finishing, leather tanning, pigment production, wood preservation, and chrome metal.
Commercial manufacture of chrome chemicals began in the UK and USA within 30 years of chromium first being identified as an element in 1797.
Uses of chrome chemicals
The extent to which chrome chemicals are used in the production of everyday items is astonishing, especially considering that they are all ultimately derived from one chemical solution.
Chemical grade chrome ore
Sodium dichromate
%
Chrome
sulphate
Leather tanning
%
Chromic
acid
Timber treatment
Metal finishing
%
Chromic oxide metal grade
Refractories
Chrome metal
%
Chromic oxide green pigment grade
Pigments
%
Other chrome
chemicals products
Dietary supplements
Medicine
Oil and gas
Catalysts
Market Insights
For all the latest market data on the global chrome and ferrochromium markets, as well as chrome ore resources, visit our Market Insights page.
