The conversion of an intimate mixture of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) compounds into CrO2 under hydrothermal conditions has been developed into an industrial process in autoclaves at ca. 350 °C and 300 bar [5.18].
Pure CrO2 slowly disproportionates in the presence of water. The CrO2 crystal surface of commercial pigments is therefore topotactically converted to p-CrOOH, which serves as a protection layer [5.20]. In the absence of moisture, CrO2 is stable up to ca. 400 °C, above this temperature it decomposes to form Cr2O3 and oxygen.
5.1.3.3