SMELT METALCHROMIUM

METALLURGICAL GRADE — aluminothermic feedstock

The chrome oxide green that becomes metallic chromium. Engineered for aluminothermic reduction: controlled particle gradation, low carbon and silicon — so your metal comes out clean and your yield stays predictable.

Metallic chromium produced by aluminothermic reduction
Fig. 01 — Metallic chromium, aluminothermically reduced from Cr₂O₃

THEPROCESS

Aluminothermic (Goldschmidt) reduction — one of the oldest and still the cleanest routes from oxide to metal.

01

THE REACTION

Cr₂O₃ + 2 Al → 2 Cr + Al₂O₃. A self-sustaining exothermic reaction reaching well above the melting point of both chromium (1907 °C) and alumina slag — the metal settles, the slag floats.

02

WHY OUR OXIDE WINS

Metallic yield is set by oxide purity and particle contact with aluminium powder. Our smelting grade is screened to a controlled window — fine enough for fast, complete reaction, coarse enough to stay mixed before ignition.

03

IMPURITY CONTROL

Low carbon and low silicon in the oxide translate directly into low carbon and silicon in the metal — critical for the aerospace-grade and ferroalloy markets that specify 99%+ chromium.

REACTION& HEAT

The aluminothermic (Goldschmidt) process in numbers — one reaction, self-sustaining, no external fuel.

IGNITION · SELF-SUSTAINING MOLTEN Al₂O₃ SLAG ≈ 2.7 g/cm³ · FLOATS LIQUID CHROMIUM ≈ 6.3 g/cm³ · SINKS SOLIDIFIED METAL BLOCK ≈ 2400–2700 °C REACTION ZONE STAGE 1 MELT STAGE 2 SEPARATE STAGE 3 SOLIDIFY

Density does the separating: liquid chromium (6.3 g/cm³) sinks below molten alumina (2.7 g/cm³) — no stirring, no tapping, just gravity and a clean slag line.

01

THE CHEMISTRY

Cr₂O₃ + 2 Al → 2 Cr + Al₂O₃. The oxide hands its oxygen to aluminium; molten chromium sinks, alumina slag floats, and the two separate cleanly.

02

THE HEAT

Reaction enthalpy ≈ −536 kJ per mole of Cr₂O₃ — enough to drive the charge to roughly 2400–2700 °C adiabatically, far above the melting points of chromium (1907 °C) and the alumina slag.

03

THE SEPARATION

Density does the work: liquid chromium (≈6.3 g/cm³) settles below the molten alumina slag (≈2.7 g/cm³). A clean slag line means a clean metal block on solidification.

METAL SPECTARGETS

Typical chromium-metal targets that our smelting-grade oxide is engineered to support (reference grades per GB/T 3211; confirm final specs with your smelter).

ElementTypical targetWhere the limit comes from
Chromium≥ 99.0 %Oxide purity — every impurity in the oxide reports to the metal
Carbon≤ 0.03 %Low-C oxide feedstock; aerospace-grade alloys demand it
Silicon≤ 0.25 %Controlled by charge stoichiometry and oxide cleanliness
Iron≤ 0.35 %Oxide Fe content plus aluminium-powder purity
Aluminium≤ 0.30 %Excess reductant — tuned by your charge recipe
Sulphur≤ 0.02 %Low-S oxide lot selection

TYPICALSPEC

Values verified per batch with full traceability from Cr ore (HS 261000) to pallet.

ParameterTypical valueParameterTypical value
Cr₂O₃ content≥ 99.0 %Particle gradationControlled window (custom)
CarbonLowBulk densityHigh (sintered)
SiliconLowMoisture≤ 0.3 %
Packaging25 kg bags · 1 t big bagsTraceabilityBlockchain QR per lot

QUESTIONSANSWERED

Most smelters run a two-fraction blend; we ship the oxide fractions separately only — never pre-blended with aluminium powder. Pre-blending Cr₂O₃ with aluminium creates a thermite mixture, which we do not produce or sell.
No. We do not supply aluminium powder and we do not premix oxide with aluminium. A chrome oxide / aluminium powder mixture is a thermite composition: it burns above 2000 °C and is regulated as a hazardous material. We supply only the chrome oxide green and charge-design support; the smelter sources aluminium powder from licensed specialists and mixes it at the point of use under its own safety procedures.
Trial lots of 1 t are available to qualify a new charge design; regular supply runs in 20 t container lots with monthly scheduling.

APPLICATIONNOTES

Metallurgy articles written around the smelting-grade oxide — chemistry, quality and process notes.

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