Abstract
Although perhaps more familiar to those of us of a certain age who remember when all cars had sparkling mirror-finish bumpers, chromium still plays a big part in industry. Chromium is valued for its brightness, durability, resistance to corrosion, and hardness. It is used as a pigment in paint, inks, and plastics, as an anticorrosion agent in protective coatings, and in chrome plating on such things as aircraft engine components, tool and die parts, railroad wheel bearings, and, of course, the “brightwork” that trims motorcycles, cars, and trucks. As more and more scientific studies have revealed, however, chromium also has a darker side. The chromium used in the plating industry is primarily hexavalent chromium, which is a very different animal from the trivalent form required by the human body. Hexavalent chromium is a potent human carcinogen, and can also cause dermal irritation and kidney and liver damage. Now, in an effort to find safer alternatives, researchers are looking at tailored nanostructures that offer the appearance and durability of hexavalent chromium without the hazards.
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