Latest Chromium Stories

Two Dartmouth researchers have determined that the element chromium displays electrical properties of magnets in surprising ways. This finding can be used in the emerging field of "spintronics," which might someday contribute to new and more energy efficient ways of processing and storing data.The study, titled "Electrical effects of spin density wave quantization and magnetic domain walls in chromium," will be published in the April 17 issue of the journal Nature.Electrons have an intrinsic...

By Kumar, Sunil Sharma, Vishal; Bhoyar, R V; Bhattacharyya, J K; Chakrabarti, Tapan ABSTRACT: The effect of heavy metals on the activities of earthworm species Eudrillus eugineae was studied during vermicomposting of municipal solid waste (MSW) spiked with heavy metals. The activities of earthworms, in terms of growth and biomass production and number of cocoons produced, were monitored periodically, and the concentration of heavy metals in earthworms and substrates was determined at...

UC Davis researchers have dated the earliest step in the formation of the solar system -- when microscopic interstellar dust coalesced into mountain-sized chunks of rock -- to 4,568 million years ago, within a range of about 2,080,000 years.UC Davis postdoctoral researcher Frederic Moynier, Qing-zhu Yin, assistant professor of geology, and graduate student Benjamin Jacobsen established the dates by analyzing a particular type of meteorite, called a carbonaceous chondrite, which represents the...

By Rajesh, Puspalata Kumar, Padma S; Suresh, Sumathi; Chandran, Sinu; Et al Type 304 stainless steel and carbon steel are extensively used as structural materials in the reactor coolant systems of nuclear power plants. The corrosion of these structural materials during normal operation and the subsequent neutron activation of their corrosion products leads to the build-up of radiation on the out-of-core surfaces of the coolant systems. The Dilute Chemical Decontamination (DCD) process Is one...

A new report by a noted metallurgist finds that process engineers should specify duplex 2205 stainless steel for process equipment instead of 316L stainless steel. The report, published by Dr. Hira Ahluwalia, a metallurgist with Material Selection Resources, Inc. (www.doctormetals.com), documented the improved corrosion resistance, the superior localized pitting and crevice corrosion resistance, and resistance to chloride-stress cracking properties of duplex 2205. The report is an...

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Ugine Stainless & Alloys announced that it has become part of the newly formed company Schmolz + Bickenbach AG and will now operate as UGITECH USA, responsible for all sales and distribution of UGITECH division products in North America. The move is part of a global expansion made this year by Schmolz + Bickenbach, a company with a tradition that dates back over a century, and today the leading supplier of high quality specialty steel solutions...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Contrary to expectations, high-dose chromium supplementation does not improve blood-sugar control or other parameters in obese patients with poorly controlled, insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, according to a new study."Chromium treatment has been reported to improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in specific populations of patients with type 2 diabetes," Dr. Nanne Kleefstra, of Isala Clinics, Zwolle, the Netherlands, and colleagues write.They...

By Deborah Zabarenko WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Workplace watchdogs and industry advocates agree: too much hexavalent chromium -- the same chemical at the heart of the movie "Erin Brockovich" -- puts people at risk for lung cancer. But how much is too much? The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is set to rule on that on Tuesday. But in the run-up to the decision, the journal Environmental Health reported that industry-commissioned scientists withheld data suggesting even...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Supplements containing the mineral chromium may be useful in treating some cases of depression -- particularly when carbohydrate craving is a prominent symptom, a new study suggests. The study, of 113 people with a disorder known as atypical depression, found that although chromium picolinate supplements were no more effective than an inactive pill in relieving depression overall, they did appear to aid certain, mainly appetite-related, symptoms. Moreover,...

Using a high-tech but low-cost technique, a Johns Hopkins undergraduate has tested tiny samples of four metal alloys to find the best blend for use in platinum jewelry. After evaluating four metal mixtures, student researcher Christopher Kovalchick determined that platinum combined with a small amount of chromium in a cold-rolled and heat treatment process displayed the greatest strength.The finding is important because pure platinum is too soft for use in a durable piece of jewelry. Yet many...