Applications of Nickel

Posted in The World Of Metal on 20th December 2011

William Rowland are a leading supplier of Nickel.

Nickel is useful in many applications due to its numerous desirable properties including corrosion resistance, durability and availability.

Nickel is relatively important and a widely used constituent in alloy steels. It is best known to be a solid solution strengthener and is used in 300 different grades of stainless steels. It also provides the basics to create many extensive super alloys that are resistant to heat, oxidation and corrosion. Wrought steels, including stainless steel are responsible for the harden-ability agent. Nickel's presence in alloy steels also promotes toughness at lower temperatures.

Nickel was first isolated in the middle of the 18th century. Prior to the discovery of nickel in the 18th century, it was incorrectly assumed to be an unmeltable copper ore.

Elementally, pure nickel can withstand extreme temperatures, resulting in the use of nickel within the steel industry. When minimal quantities of nickel are added to steel, it results in significant increases in corrosion resistance; hence the largest consumer of nickel at present being the stainless steel industry.

In the electroplating sector nickel is used, like chromium, to provide decorative finishes to items and also to provide corrosion and wear resistance to parts not actually made of nickel itself. The items to be plated are placed in an electrolyte solution, the part being plated becomes the cathode and the nickel the anode, which is then slowly dissolved as the ions travel from one to the other gradually layering the part with a coating of nickel. Chemicals such as nickel chloride and sulphide are vital to the electroplating process by acting as intermediates.

The battery industry relies upon the chemicals of nickel cadmium and nickel hydride to extend the batteries working life by enabling them to be re-charged. A great step forward in the use of power tools that suddenly were available as cordless, take anywhere items evolved as a result of this re-chargeable technology.

William Rowland Ltd are nickel and nickel powder suppliers and we can supply metals in various forms across the globe, if you would like to find out how we can meet your requirements, please contact us using the Quick Enquiry Form on the right-hand side of this website.

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