BLC Leather Technology

Chrome Tanning

molecules

Clearing the Chromium Tanning Confusion

There is much inaccurate information in circulation regarding the use of chromium salts and their associated safety for the tanning of leather.

Approximately 80% of global leather production is tanned with safe chromium 3 salts. It is a highly effective tanning agent producing a leather with a flexible range of properties making it suitable for many end uses.

Chromium is a transition metal that can exist in a number of different oxidation states each with distinctive properties.

Metallic chromium

This is a steel grey, hard metal found as chromite ore (it does not occur in the metallic state naturally). It is used to harden steel, to manufacture stainless steel, and to form alloys. It is also used in plating to produce a hard corrosion resistant surface.

Trivalent chromium - Chrome 3 - Cr3 - Cr III

Trivalent chromium 3 compounds occur naturally in the environment. They are found in rocks, soil, plants and volcanic emissions. Chromium salts are present in foodstuffs and are a necessary nutrient for the human body as trivalent chromium 3 is required for the normal metabolism of fats and sugars. Nutritional supplements are currently on sale containing chromium picolinate. Chromium 3 sulphate is considered safe to use in leather manufacture.

Hexavalent chromium - Chrome 6 - Cr 6 - Cr VI

Hexavalent chromium 6 is the hazardous form of this element. It can be formed when trivalent chromium is oxidised. This usually occurs in the presence of oxygen combined with other factors such as extremes in pH. The salts have a characteristic yellow colour and are classified as carcinogens. Chromium 6 is not used in the tanning of leather.

Background information:

bottom image
Anicca Solutions: Website Design & Website Development