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Nickel is rarely used in its purest form. Most nickel is combined with other metals to form alloys. As a transition metal, it combines readily with other metals, especially iron, chromium and copper, to produce alloys with particular combinations of properties that cannot be achieved by pure metals:
- Alloys of iron, nickel and chromium can be formulated to combine strength and ductility with resistance to corrosion in various environments. The most widely known of these alloys is stainless steel, which is used in transportation, construction and in industrial applications in the chemical industry and in oil and gas engineering, where the environment can be very corrosive.
- Other alloys of nickel, chromium and other metals have been developed for very-high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance. These alloys are used in jet engines and in industrial gas turbines for electricity generation. They are also used in heater elements, resistance wires, heat exchangers in power plants, furnace components and industrial pumps and valves.
Other nickel-containing alloys are used for specialist applications requiring special properties like magnetic attraction and controlled expansion. Alloys of nickel are used in electronic applications, in the automotive industry and in other special applications.
Electroplating is another common application process for nickel. Nickel electroplating is the electrochemical deposition of nickel onto a substrate material to enhance its properties or surface finish. This process is used for decorative purposes in everyday applications from providing the bright metallic finish to our bathroom taps and shower heads to decorating the wheels on luxury vehicles. The versatility of the process also enable the manufacturing of functional products such as components for computers and electronic items and molds that are used to "stamp" CD disks.
Nickel is one of the most versatile metals. It is both hard and malleable, resists corrosion and maintains its mechanical and physical characteristics even when subjected to extreme temperatures. Its unique qualities have made it useful in millions of applications and products that enrich our lives today.
© Vale 2010
Last Updated: Thursday, May 27, 2010
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