Development of the effort to find room-temperature ductile chromium is reviewed. Preparation and some mechanical properties of ductile chromium are described, as are techniques of making brittle chromium ductile by removal of surface layers. Reasons for the ductility, or lack of it, are advanced on the basis of experiments showing the effect of certain impurities, mechanical working, and heat treatment. No clear explanation for the surface phenomenon was obtained. Possible future uses of ductile chromium arc discussed.