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I have heard that cutting and welding materials containing Chromium can create Hexavalent Chromium. Is this a problem?

April 26, 2017Chromium containing create cutting heard hexavalent Materials problem welding

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I have heard that cutting and welding materials containing Chromium can create Hexavalent Chromium. Is this a problem?

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It appears that welding stainless steel or chromium plated steel produces toxic fumes which contain chromium trioxide. This is possible as chromium metal will oxidise if heated and at welding temperature may make a small amount of CrVI. This must form as minute dust particles to exist in the hexavalent state because the oxide (CrO3) is unstable above its melting point, which is 197 deg C, decomposing to trivalent chromium oxide. There will not be Cr6 on the welded stainless steel surface because the steel will be too hot and any CrO3 that is present will decompose to CrIII.