Chromium (Cr) Sputtering Targets

Chromium is a chemical element with symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in group 6. It is a steely-grey, lustrous, hard and brittle metal which takes a high polish, resists tarnishing, and has a high melting point. The name of the element is derived from the Greek word, meaning color, because many chromium compounds are intensely colored. Chromium metal is of high value for its high corrosion resistance and hardness. It is obtained by the aluminium reduction of Cr2O3, the source of which is chromite, a double oxide of chromium and iron which generally also contains magnesium. It has an abundance within the earth's crust of approximately 100 ppm. Chromium is soluble in HCl and H2SO4, but not in H3PO4, HNO3 or HClO4 due to the formation of a stable and insoluble oxide layer on its surface; this, along with its hardness, has been used to advantage in the chromium plating of steel which has good corrosion resistance. Chromium is alloyed with nickel in the manufacture of heat resisting alloys, and with iron, or nickel and iron, to produce stainless and heat resistant steels.