Nickel (Ni) is a naturally occurring metallic chemical element that has a silvery-white color, high toughness, is ferromagnetic and has excellent resistance to corrosion and rust. Additional beneficial properties of nickel include malleability, ductility and high heat resistance.
Since nickel is a naturally occurring element, it must be mined from deep within the earth instead of synthetically created in a lab. Called nickel ore, there are two main types or ore deposits: laterites, which are mainly composed of nickeliferous limonite and garnierite, and magmatic sulfide deposts, which are primarily composed of the ore mineral pentlandite. Nickel ore deposits are dominated by Russia, producing 40% of the world's supply, Canada, producing 30% and other countries with smaller production percentages include France, Cuba, Australia, New Caledonia and Indonesia. Nickel ore is extracted from deposits through the process of extractive metallurgy, in which the raw metal material is extracted from the ore and purified into a refined form. The most common way the raw material is extracted is though pyrometallurgical extraction, but recent developments have made hydrometallurgy another viable process. Using conventional roasting and reduction processes, the refined form of nickel is able to yield a purity of greater than 75%. However, this level of purity can be increased through further processing. The Mond process, in which nickel oxides (nickel combined with oxygen) are converted into purified nickel, is able to achieve a purity of 99%. The nickel produced during this process is known as carbonyl nickel because carbon monoxide is utilized in the process.
After nickel has been refined, there is a variety of fabrication processes that can be used to shape the nickel into various shapes and parts for further use. One shaping process that is used for nickel, although it is not especially common, is extrusion. In nickel extrusion, nickel is heated to a molten state and then shaped by forcing the pliable nickel through a die. Nickel extrusion can produce nickel sheets, bars, rods and tubing. A more common process of shaping nickel is cold drawing. In cold drawing, no heat is added to the process, but a nickel tube or wire is drawn through a series of smaller and smaller dies, in order to reduce its diameter. The most common process that nickel is used in is a chemical reduction process referred to as electroless nickel plating. In electroless nickel plating, a catalytic reduction process of nickel ions occurs in an aqueous solution that contains a chemical reducing agent. As a result, nickel metal is deposited without requiring electrical energy. The main cause of the deposition of nickel ions as well as their reduction is the chemical reducing agent within the solution. In addition, the nickel ion deposits are very uniform in thickness in terms of both shape and size because the driving potential of the chemical reducing agent is constant at all points of the surface of the component, as long as the agitation is enough to ensure a uniform concentration of nickel ions and the reducing agent.
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Nickel Images Provided by Metalmen
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| Material | Tensile Strength at Break (MPa) | Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Modulus of Elasticity (ksi) |
| Pure Nickel | 45.0 - 317 | 59 | 30000 |
| All Nickel Alloys | 45.0 - 2070 | 59.0 - 4830 | 4060 - 34100 |
| Nitinol - High-Temperature Phase | 754 - 960 | 560 | 10900 |
| Nitinol - Low-Temperature Phase | 754 - 960 | 100 | 4060 |
| Inconel | 621 - 1550 | 195 - 1390 | 25700 - 32100 |
| Kovar | 517 | 345 | 20000 |
| Monel | 385 - 1100 | 134 - 790 | ~24500 |
| Nickel 200 | 379 | 103 | 10900 - 28000 |
*These figures are guidelines based on industry research; they should not be presumed accurate under all circumstances and are not a substitute for certified measurements. The information is not to be interpreted as absolute material properties nor does it constitute a representation or warranty for which we assume legal liability. User shall determine suitability of the material for the intended use and assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith.
- A combination
of two or more metallic elements that are usually dissolved into each
other or fused together.
- Deformation of a metal at a low enough temperature
to prevent re-crystallization during cooling.
- A metal's
ability to conduct electricity. Nickel is a good conductor, and therefore
is used in wires.
- The capability of a metal, such as nickel, to allow
deformation or shaping before finally fracturing.
- A
process in which nickel coating is applied to a surface in a controlled
chemical reduction. Electrons
used are not supplied electrically, but by a chemical reducing agent.
- A process
by which metal ions are attracted to a solid metal electrode. As
the ions bind to the surface of the metal,
they become a thin coating, which forms a protective layer to prevent
corrosion.
- The process of purifying and recycling metal
that was extracted from ore.
- It is the most familiar form of magnetism. Permanent
magnets are ferromagnetic, and so are the metals that are attracted to
them, such as nickel.
- Any binary compound of hydrogen and another element.
- The characteristic of some metals, meaning they have
the ability to be shaped or formed by applying pressure.
- A type of metal which does not contain iron.
- The reaction in which oxygen is added and causes the
removal of electrons from the reactant.
- An alloy with a base element of nickel, nickel-iron or cobalt,
which has corrosion resistance, ability to withstand high temperatures,
mechanical strength and good surface stability.
