Chemical Stability of Chromium Carbide and Chromium Nitride Powders Compared with Chromium Metal in Synthetic Biological Solutions

Jiang, Tao; Odnevall Wallinder, Inger; Herting, Gunilla

doi:https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/379697

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Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2012 | Article ID 379697 | https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/379697

Chemical Stability of Chromium Carbide and Chromium Nitride Powders Compared with Chromium Metal in Synthetic Biological Solutions

Tao Jiang,¹Inger Odnevall Wallinder,¹and Gunilla Herting¹

Academic Editor: L. Bazzi, R. Wang, K. N. Allahar

Received07 Mar 2012

Accepted06 May 2012

Published26 Jun 2012

Abstract

Chromium carbide (Cr-C) and chromium nitride (Cr-N) powders were compared with a chromium metal powder (Cr-metal) to evaluate their chemical stability in solution. All three powders were exposed in five different synthetic biological solutions of varying pH and chemical composition simulating selected human exposure conditions. Characterisation of the powders, using GI-XRD, revealed that the predominant bulk crystalline phases were Cr7C3 and Cr2N for Cr-C and Cr-N respectively. The outermost surface of Cr-C, determined by XPS, contained Cr7C3 and Cr2O3 and the corresponding measurement on Cr-N revealed Cr2N and CrN apart from Cr2O3. The presence of Cr2O3 was verified by XPS investigations of the Cr-metal powder. The mean particle size was similar for Cr-metal and Cr-N but slightly smaller for Cr-C. All three powders were poorly soluble and released very low amounts of chromium (<0.00015 μg Cr/μg loaded particles) independent on test solution. Slightly higher chromium concentrations were determined in the more acidic media (pH 1.7 and 4.5) compared with the near-neutral solutions (pH 7.2 and 7.4). Cr-C released the lowest amount of Cr despite having the largest surface area a feature attributed to the strong covalent bonds within the matrix.

1. Introduction

Chromium metal and chromium compounds are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from alloying to tanning of animal hides to pigmentation. The extensive use raises questions concerning the potential adverse effect on human health and on the environment. Within the European Community regulatory frame work, REACH, (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), the responsibility to ensure that all products are safe for use lies on the industry and they are consequently required to provide information on the product properties to allow safe handling.

Elaborate studies have been performed generating data on release, dissolution, and solubility aspects of chromium and chromium-containing alloys such as stainless steels and ferrochromium alloys [1–9], data that has been utilised within the framework of the European chemicals legislation (REACH) implemented in 2007. Bioaccessibility and environmental impact aspects of chromium have been discussed by, for example, [9–11]. Dissolution studies concerning chromium-containing materials like chromium carbide and chromium nitride are, however, much scarcer and have not been performed with the purpose to evaluate interactions with the environment or the human body [12, 13]. Both chromium carbide and chromium nitride are commonly used as coatings on stainless steels, enhancing the wear and corrosion resistance, and have accordingly been thoroughly investigated [14–20]. Chromium carbide (Cr₃C₂) has been shown to be practically insoluble in boiling HCl [12] whereas Cr₂N was shown to have higher solubility in HCl compared with CrN [13]. In addition, surface and bulk characteristics of both chromium carbide and chromium nitride have been carefully examined with techniques such as XPS, SEM, and XRD [21–25].

Exposing metal and ceramic powders in synthetic body fluids is important in order to understand and gain information on how the particles and potential metal release from the powders may influence the environment or the human body.

Occupational exposure to airborne powders of chromium carbide and chromium nitride is a potential issue during manufacture and use and information on released chromium is, therefore, essential to assess potential risks on human health and the environment.

In this study, powders of chromium metal, chromium carbide (Cr₇C₃), and chromium nitride (Cr₂N) were exposed to five different synthetic body fluids to investigate the extent of chromium release. The total released amount of chromium was measured with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, GF-AAS, the surface composition was evaluated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS, and the bulk composition and phase composition were determined using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, GI-XRD.

The objective was to provide a unique set of in vitro bioaccessibility data for use within the framework of REACH.

2. Experimental

Powders of Cr-metal (sized less than 25 μm), chromium carbide (Cr-C, sized less than 40 μm), and chromium nitride (Cr-N, sized less than 40 μm) were supplied by Delachaux, France. The Cr-metal powder was crushed, sieved, and recrushed to produce similar particle sizes as the Cr-C and the Cr-N powders. Chemical bulk compositions based on supplier information are presented in Table 1.

Measurement of the specific surface area per weight, m²/g, was performed using BET analysis (nitrogen absorption at cryogenic conditions) using a Micromeritics Gemini V instrument at five different local areas.

Particle size distribution measurements were conducted for at least two different samples of each powder in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 instrument with a Hydro SM dispersion unit operating at standard conditions. Refractive indexes for chromium (3.51) and water (1.33), water is the solvent for PBS, were used as input parameters.

Particle morphology of the powders was examined by means of scanning electron microscopy, using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope, FEG-SEM, LEO 1530 instrument with a Gemini column.

Identification of possible crystalline phases was accomplished by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, GI-XRD, carried out with an X’pert PRO PANALYTICAL system, equipped with an X-ray mirror (CuKα radiation— Å, 35 mA, 45 kV) and a 0.27° parallel plate collimator on the diffracted side. The measurements were performed with a grazing angle of 88° versus the surface normal.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS, UltraDLD spectrometer, Kratos Analytical, Manchester, UK, with a monochromatic Al X-ray source (150 W) was utilised to determine the composition of the outermost surface film (2–10 nm). Wide- and high-resolution spectra (20 eV pass energy) of Cr2p, N1s, O1s, and C1s were at three different areas. Calibration was conducted performed assigning the C–C, C–H peak to 285.0 eV. A linear base line was employed for all spectra.

All laboratory equipment was acid cleaned for a minimum of 24 hours in 10% nitric acid and rinsed four times with ultrapure water (MilliQ 18.2 MΩcm) and dried in ambient air prior to use. All fluids were prepared using ultrapure water (18.2 MΩcm) and analytical grade chemicals. The compositions of the individual fluids are presented in Tables 2 and 3.

Exposures were conducted for periods of 2, 4, 8, 24, and 168 hours using triplicate samples and a powder loading of mg in 50 mL test solution for each exposure period. Powders were weighed using Nalge polymethylpentene (PMP) vessels on a Mettler AT20 balance (readability 2 μg) to which 50 mL test solution was carefully added. Blank samples (50 mL of test solution without addition of powders) were exposed in parallel for all exposure periods. The vessels were placed in a Stuart platform rocker incubator, shaking at bilinear conditions (25 cycles per minute) at 37 ± 0.5°C.

After completed exposures, remaining particles were removed from the solution by centrifugation, 3000 rpm for 10 minutes, and the supernatant was decanted into an HDPE flask. The supernatant was acidified with 65% supra pure nitric acid to a pH less than 2 prior to total metal concentration analysis, a standard analytical procedure to ensure that all metal is in solution. Successful removal of all particles from the supernatant was confirmed by dynamic light scattering (Malvern Zetasizer nano-ZS instrument).

Total chromium concentrations were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, GF-AAS, using a PerkinElmer AAnalyst 800 instrument. Measured concentrations were based on triplicate readings of each sample and quality control samples were analysed every eight samples. The limit of detection (LOD) for chromium in each test fluid is given in Table 3.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Bulk and Surface Characteristics of Nonexposed Powders

Differences in particle shape and morphology between the investigated powders are displayed in Figure 1. Individual particles of the crushed (cf. experimental) Cr-metal powder were predominantly shaped as thin (1–5 μm) flakes, typically sized between 10 and 20 μm, Figures 1(a) and 1(b). The particles were highly irregular and revealed cracks as a consequence of the brittle properties of chromium metal and the crushing procedure. The BET-area was determined to 0.46 m²/g. The surface area of the Cr-N powder was relatively similar, 0.61 m²/g, and the particles displayed the presence of several large chiselled boulder-like particles, typically sized 20–30 μm, to which smaller-sized particles (⩽5 μm) adhered to a large extent, Figures 1(c) and 1(d). In addition, a significant amount of smaller-sized particles (<10 μm), all with sharp edges, were present within the powder. Despite large differences in particle sizes and morphology between the Cr metal and the Cr-N powder, very similar surface areas were established, an effect believed to be related to the highly cracked surface of individual Cr metal flakes increasing the surface area. The Cr-C powder revealed similar particle morphology as the Cr-N powder except for the presence of significantly larger numbers of smaller-sized particles (<10 μm) and the presence of only few, though very large boulders, Figures 1(e) and 1(f). As a consequence, this powder resulted in the largest measured surface area, 1.26 m²/g.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Cr₂N was identified as the predominant crystalline phase of the Cr-N powder according to the GI-XRD investigation [21, 25, 32]. In addition, a weak reflection 43.6° (2θ) was observed that may possibly be assigned to the CrN (200) orientation [21, 25]. Both phases are according to the literature thermodynamically stable [21]. The main diffraction peaks of chromium metal were in addition observed. The calculated bulk compositional mass ratio of nitrogen to chromium (0.08), based on supplier information was lower than the stoichiometric ratio for Cr₂N (0.12) which support the occurrence also of chromium metal in the bulk powder. The presence of both Cr₂N and CrN was evident from analysis of the outermost surface by means of XPS. Cr, N, O, and C were the main elements observed on the surface. XPS spectra of Cr2p_3/2 and N1s are presented in Figure 2.

(a)

(b)

Three main components corresponding to different chemical chromium species were observed in the high-resolution Cr2p_3/2 spectrums. The first peak at eV was assigned to Cr₂N and the second component to CrN, centred at 576.1 ± 0.3 eV, in agreement with literature findings [24, 33]. Due to peak overlap, this peak could also be attributed to Cr₂O₃ [34], also indicated by a distinct O1s peak at 530.6 eV typical for Cr₂O₃ [24]. The presence of CrN was verified when resolving the N1s peak with nitrogen components assigned to nitride in Cr₂N and CrN observed at 398.1 ± 0.3 eV and 396.8 ± 0.3 eV, respectively [24]. The proportion between the nitrogen peaks assigned to Cr₂N and CrN suggested a relative surface proportion of 1 : 1. A second component centred at 399.5 ± 0.3 eV was resolved from the N1s peak and was possibly attributed to chromium nitrates as reported in the literature [24]. A third component centred at 577.5 ± 0.5 eV was in addition resolved for the Cr2p_3/2 peak and assigned to other oxidised chromium(III) compounds such as Cr(OH)₃ or CrOOH [24, 33, 34] with additional O1s peaks centred at 532.0 ± 0.2 and 533.4 ± 0.2 eV. These oxygen peaks may also be attributed to C–O and C=O in oxidized carbon surface contaminants evident from the C1s spectra (spectra not shown) [24]. Similar observations with oxidised chromium on chromium nitride surfaces have been reported in the literature [22].

The identification of oxidized chromium compounds on the Cr-N powder surface was consistent with findings for the Cr-metal powder that clearly revealed a metallic chromium peak at 574.4 eV (Cr2p_3/2) and a peak at assigned to Cr₂O₃ (O1s 530.4 eV) and a broad peak assigned to oxidized Cr(III) species such as Cr(OH)₃ and CrOOH, centred at 577.1 ± 0.3 eV [24, 33, 34].

Cr₇C₃ was the predominating crystalline phase determined with GI-XRD measurements of the Cr-C powder showing all main reflections [23]. Its presence was furthermore supported by a calculated carbon to chromium bulk compositional mass ratio of 0.11, very similar to its theoretical stoichiometric ratio (0.10). Cr₇C₃ is according to literature findings the most thermodynamically stable existing chromium carbide compared with Cr₃C₂ and Cr₂₃C₆ [35]. The presence of chromium carbides was furthermore supported by XPS findings showing a C1s peak at 283.8 eV corresponding to Cr-C bonding and a Cr2p_3/2 peak at 574.6 eV assigned to chromium carbide (Cr₇C₃) [23, 36]. XPS also identified peaks attributed to oxidized chromium(III) species (in particular Cr₂O₃) similar to observations made for the Cr-N powder.

3.2. Particle Size Distribution and Extent of Chromium Release in Biological Solutions of Relevance for Human Exposure Scenarios

The size distribution of each powder in PBS is presented in Figure 3 and compiled in Table 4 both according to particle volume (mass) and particle number (only Cr-C and Cr-N). Consistent with the morphological investigation with SEM, Figure 1, the Cr metal powder revealed a relatively even size distribution in solution with a mean particle size (based on volume) of 16 μm (), meaning that 50% of the particles had a diameter of 16 μm or less. A noneven particle size distribution was observed for the Cr-N powder with two domains with values of 4 and 26 μm (volume). Differently sized particles were consistent with the morphological investigation by means of SEM, Figure 1. Smaller-sized particles (-1 μm) present and partly shown by SEM to adhere to the larger particles of the Cr-N powder at dry conditions were dispersed in solution, Figure 3. Contradictory to the other powders, the Cr-C powder was heterogeneous as illustrated by differences in number distribution between different samples. A large number distribution of both smaller (-0.3 μm) and larger particles (-1.6 μm) were observed for the Cr-C powder. No sample heterogeneity was observed for the distribution of larger-sized particles by volume (-7.7 μm).

(a)

(b)

The release of chromium from the different powders was quantified for time periods up to one week at standard conditions in artificial biological fluids of varying pH and composition of relevance for human contact. Since the release of dissolved metal species, an extent not possible to predict from bulk compositional data [2, 37], is believed to induce acute effects on human health, measurement of released metal species into artificial body fluids can indicate whether in vivo toxicity, at least acute is likely to occur.

The released amount of chromium of the total amount of chromium in the different powders was for all powders and test fluids very low (<0.02%). This is illustrated in Figure 4 after 168 hours of exposure. The general trend for all powders was a slightly increased amount of released chromium with increasing fluid acidity, for example, artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF-pH 4.5) and gastric juice (GST-pH 1.5), see Figure 4. The released amount of chromium expressed as % (μg Cr/μg Cr*100) decreased according to the following sequences for the different powders: (i)Cr-metal: GST (<0.017%) > ALF (<0.010%) > ASW (<0.003%) > PBS (<0.0002%) ≈ GMB (<0.0004 %),(ii)Cr-N: GST (<0.015%) ≈ ALF (<0.014%) > ASW (<0.007%) > PBS (<0.0030%) ⩾ GMB (<0.002%),(iii)Cr-C: GST (<0.0050%) ⩾ ALF (<0.0040%) ⩾ ASW (<0.003%) > PBS (<0.0006%) ≈ GMB (<0.0008%).

(a)

(b)

Differences in release rates between the powders could not be attributed to differences in surface area (BET) at dry conditions, Figure 4(b), or to the corresponding particle size distribution in solution, (cf. Figure 3), since the lowest release was obtained from the powder with the largest surface area and smallest particle size (Cr-C—1.26 m²/g), compared to Cr-N (0.61 m²/g) with a significant number of smaller-sized particles and Cr-metal (0.46 m²/g) with primarily larger-sized flake-like particles, (cf. Figure 2).

Very low concentrations of chromium were released from the chromium metal powder (specific surface area of 0.46 m²/g) due to the presence of passive chromium(III)-rich surface oxides. After 168 h of in vitro exposures to synthetic biological fluids of different composition and pH, the following released concentrations of chromium were determined; <15 μg/L in artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) and artificial gastric fluid (GST), <3 μg/L in artificial sweat (ASW) and <1.5 μg/L in PBS buffer and Gamble’s solution (GMB). Even though a time and pH effect was evident, only less than 0.02% of the total amount of loaded powder was dissolved after 168 hours of exposure, see Figure 5. A higher amount of released chromium from surfaces of chromium-rich surface oxides exposed to solutions of high acidity is consistent with previous studies [1, 38].

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 5

Release of chromium from powders of Cr-C, Cr-N and Cr-metal exposed up to 168 h in synthetic biological fluids of different pH and composition (GMB—Gamble’s solution, pH 7.2; PBS—phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4; ASW—artificial sweat, pH 6.5; ALF—artificial lysosomal fluid, pH 4.5; GST—Gastric fluid, pH 1.7) expressed as the amount of chromium released per amount of chromium in the loaded powder (μg Cr/μg Cr in Cr-N, Cr-C, Cr-metal). Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of triplicate samples. Relatively high standard deviations are related to powder heterogeneity and low released chromium concentrations (<5 μg/L).

The Cr-C powder was the least soluble powder investigated, probably due to strong covalent bonds within the matrix [39]. Chromium carbides are according to the literature chemically stable [40], insoluble in water and also nonsoluble or poorly soluble in HCl [12]. The release of chromium from Cr-C occurred primarily during the initial 24 hours of exposure in the near-neutral solutions of GMB and PBS, Figure 5. Additional amounts of chromium, though still very low levels, were released between 24 and 168 hours to some extent in ASW and to a higher extent in the acidic media of ALF and GST. A slightly higher release of chromium after long exposure periods may be related to a partial dissolution of chromium(III) oxides observed on the surface of the Cr-C powder by means of XPS, an effect also observed for the Cr-metal powder. The comparison with previously performed identical exposures of Cr₂O₃ powder in ASW and ALF [1, 38] shows higher released amounts of chromium from the Cr-C powder, however, still at very low levels (<0.005% or 0.00002 μg/cm²/h). This comparison was relevant since all powders revealed the presence of chromium(III) oxides, primarily Cr₂O₃ on the surface.

The release of chromium from the Cr-N powder was after 168 hours approximately 2-3 times higher compared to Cr-C powder in all fluids, though at still very low levels (<0.015% of chromium released compared to the amount of chromium in the loaded powder). XPS analysis of Cr-N particles exposed in GST for 168 hours shows that the CrN/Cr₂N ratio in the outermost surface has increased from 1.3 to 2.4 compared with unexposed particles. These results are in agreement with literature where Cr₂N is significantly more soluble compared with CrN in HCl at 100°C, and significantly more soluble in HCl compared with both H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ [13]. Even though no information was provided for room temperature conditions, the results are in concordance with observations in this study with higher released amounts of chromium in GST (composed of HCl, cf. Table 2) compared with the other fluids. Almost similar amounts of chromium were released in PBS (pH 7.2) as in GST, at least during the first 24 hours, an observation that may be explained by similar molar concentrations of chloride, 0.15 and 0.17 M in PBS and GST, respectively. Exposures in ALF and GST conveyed very similar amounts of released chromium after 168 hours of exposure (0.014 % dissolution, 0.00014 μg/cm²/h). This effect could not be attributed to the molar concentration of chloride since it is significantly lower in ALF (0.06 M) compared with GST. However, this may be explained by a higher dissolution of Cr₂N in this solution compared with CrN according to the findings of Lyutaya and Kulik [13] combined with a partial dissolution of chromium(III) oxides observed on the surface of the Cr-N powder by means of XPS. Another reason may be related to the presence of organic complexing agents such as citric acid in ALF, previously shown to enhance the release of metals including chromium from stainless steel [7, 41, 42].

Released amount of chromium is expressed as % (μg Cr/μg Cr*100).

4. Conclusions

Nonmetallic powders of chromium carbide (Cr-C) and chromium nitride (Cr-N) compared with chromium metal (Cr-metal) were characterised and exposed to in vitro environments simulating exposures in different human fluids and in surface waters. The aim was to generate unique solubility data to be used for the assessment of potential risks on human health and the environment induced by a potential exposure to these powders. The following main conclusions were drawn.

The released amount of chromium of the total amount of chromium expressed as % (μg Cr/μg Cr*100) in the different powders was for all powders and test fluids very low (<0.02%) or significantly lower depending on test fluid and pH), and decreased according to the following sequences:(i)Cr-metal: GST (<0.017%) > ALF (<0.010%) > ASW (<0.003%) > PBS (<0.0002%) ≈ GMB (<0.0004%),(ii)Cr-N: GST (<0.015%) ≈ ALF (<0.014%) > ASW (<0.007%) > PBS (<0.003%) ⩾ GMB (<0.002%),(iii)Cr-C: GST (<0.005%) ⩾ ALF (<0.004%) ⩾ ASW (<0.003%) > PBS (<0.001%) ≈ GMB (<0.001%).

The particle size distributions of Cr-metal and Cr-N were similar in addition resulting in comparable surface areas (BET). The Cr-metal particles were flake-like and fairly even in size whereas Cr-N contained a large amount of smaller-sized particles both as individual particles and adhered to the surfaces of significantly larger boulder-like particles. Similar observations were made for Cr-C except for a significantly larger amount of smaller-sized particles (<10 μm) and only a small fraction of very large boulder-like particles (40–50 μm) resulting in a surface area approximately twice that of Cr-metal and CrN.

Cr₂N was determined as the predominant constituent of the Cr-N powder supported by GI-XRD data and a calculated bulk compositional mass ratio of nitrogen to chromium of 0.09, similar to its stoichiometric ratio (0.12). XPS findings suggested the additional presence of CrN, also indicated by GI-XRD data and oxidised Cr(III)-oxides, in particular, Cr₂O₃ on the powder surface.

The main crystalline phase in the Cr-C powder was, by GI-XRD, determined to be Cr₇C₃ confirmed by the similarity of the calculated compositional bulk mass ratio (0.11) and the theoretical stoichiometric ratio (0.10). Cr₇C₃ was also the most abundant carbide observed using XPS in together with peaks attributed to Cr(III)-oxides, (Cr₂O₃).

The Cr-C powder was the by far least soluble powder investigated, probably due to strong covalent bonds within the matrix. Partial dissolution of the chromium(III) oxides observed on the surface of the Cr-C powder may be associated with the slight increase in chromium release after long exposure periods.

A higher chromium release was observed from Cr-N compared with Cr-C and may be related to differences in solubility of CrN and Cr₂N where preferential dissolution of one together with partial dissolution of Cr₂O₃ at lower pH resulted in a by comparison increased chromium release.

Acknowledgment

The Chromium Metals Consortium is acknowledged for commissioning the study of bioaccessibility of chromium released from chromium carbide, chromium nitride, and chromium metal in synthetic biological media. Dr. Grant Darrie, ICDA, and Jean-Francois Chamaly, Delachaux, are highly appreciated for valuable discussions. The research reported in this article was jointly funded by Delachaux S.A. (Delachaux) and London & Scandinavian Metallurgical Co. Ltd. (LSM). Delachaux and LSMretain data compensation rights under all regulatory and statutory programs, including, but not limited to REACH. Possession of a copy of this article, in whole or in part, does not constitute “legitimate possession” of the study and does not create any rights to use the study or the data presented herein for any chemical registration (such as, but not limited to, the REACH registration program) or any other commercial purpose.

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Copyright © 2012 Tao Jiang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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