The Uerdingen chrome plant has been liberating the sodiumdichromate raw

Tag : chrome
Chrome oxides are used as green colorants in all kinds of paintsand surface coatings. The range extends from building paints andfloor coatings to heavy-duty industrial coatings and automotivetopcoats. With their high heat, light, weather and chemicalresistance, chrome oxide pigments are also ideal for coloringplastics, building materials and ceramics. Their high lightscattering power for infrared light and high absorption capacityfor UV radiation are just some of their attractive opticalproperties.
Their high melt point of 2,435 ? and chemical resistance to acids,alkalis and solvents means that the pigments can be used forhigh-refractory chrome oxide bricks as are used, for example, inglass melting furnaces.
The Uerdingen chrome plant has been liberating the sodiumdichromate raw material from chrome ore since 1895. Experimentsfrom 1918 led to chrome oxide and, since 1938, there has been anindependent chrome oxide plant, which was quickly expanded. In themid 1950s, it was joined by a second production line, doubling theoriginal capacity. At the beginning of the 1960s, a thirdproduction line was built and followed in the mid-1970s by afourth.
To respond to the stagnating demand at the beginning of the 1990sand the general cost increases, the largest production line wasexpanded so that it could provide 80 percent of the then totalcapacity. It meant that the other three production lines could beclosed down.
Since 1999, the lion's share of the sodium dichromate raw materialhas been coming direct from South Africa, where a wholly ownedsubsidiary of LANXESS, Chrome International South Africa (Pty) Ltd.(CISA), looks after the processing of the chrome ore, while LANXESSMining (Pty) Ltd. mines the ore itself.
The Inorganic Pigments business unit is part of the LANXESSPerformance Chemicals segment, which posted sales in fiscal 2007 ofEUR 1,970 million.
LANXESS is a leader in specialty chemicals with sales in 2007 ofEUR 6.61 billion and currently around 15,100 employees in 21countries. The company is represented at 44 production sitesworldwide. LANXESS's core business comprises the development,manufacture and sale of specialty chemicals, plastics, rubber andintermediates.
This news release contains forward-looking statements based oncurrent assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management.Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factorscould lead to material differences between the actual futureresults, financial situation, development or performance of thecompany and the estimates given here. The company assumes noliability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements orto conform them to future events or developments.
Source: The LANXESS News Team