Propiedades toxicológicas y ambientales de un electrolito de cromado basado en CrIII/cloruro de colina

Resumen

At present, industrial application of hard

chromium electroplating is based on electrolytic

baths of sulphuric acid and chromium

trioxide solutions in water. Toxicological and

environmental properties of these chromium

(VI) baths show the convenience of searching

for new CrVI free formulations. Research

activities have shown that chromium metallic

coatings from an ionic liquid (IL) using trivalent

chromium salts can be successfully produced.

A highly promising CrVI free, bright, thick and

hard chromium deposition process has been

developed based on an ionic liquid composed

of Chromium chloride (CrCl3 .6H2O) and Choline

chloride (HOC2 H4 N(CH3 ) 3+Cl−).

Jointly with technological properties evaluation,

a methodological study on environmental risk

analysis and on implications in health & safety

for the referred ionic liquid bath has been carried

out. With that aim, experimental tests on the

basis of toxicological properties, of effects on

human health and of environmental effects were

conducted. Comparisons of the obtained results

with the behaviour of traditional baths used

for the same purpose were also accomplished,

showing for the ionic liquid formulation a lower

toxicity and less environmental risk than for the

CrVI formulation.