The following is a simplistic categorisation of the various nickel alloy types.
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Wrought Nickel
Pure nickel UNS N02200 is used in the chemical industry for its corrosion resistance - particularly to alkalis. It is also used for its properties in shielding against electromagnetic interference and in transducers.
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Nickel-Iron Alloys
These are used as soft magnetic materials, as glass-to-metal seals and as materials with defined thermal expansion properties.
Invar® (UNS K93600), with 36% nickel and the remainder iron, is unique in having an almost zero coefficient of thermal expansion around room temperature. This makes it valuable where high dimensional stability is required, such as in precision measuring instruments and thermostat rods. It is also used at cryogenic temperatures because of its very low thermal expansion rates.
Alloys containing 72-83% nickel have the best soft magnetic properties and are used in transformers, inductors, magnetic amplifiers, magnetic shields and memory storage devices. -
Nickel-Copper Alloys
These are highly resistant to corrosion by alkaline solutions, non-oxidizing salts and seawater. The best-known is Alloy 400.
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Nickel-Molybdenum Alloys
These are highly resistant to reducing acids in the absence of oxidizing ions, such as ferric and cupric or dissolved oxygen. The best-known is Alloy B-2.
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Nickel-Chromium Alloys
These are characterised by their high resistance to corrosion at both normal and high temperatures (resistance to scaling), good high-temperature strength and high electrical resistance. There are three main groups of alloys:
- Ni-Cr (and also Ni-Cr-Fe) alloys with high electrical resistance for heating elements, such as 70-30 (UNS N06008) and C-Grade (UNS N06004)
- Ni-Cr alloys (with Fe and other alloying elements) with good corrosion resistance. The best-known are Alloy 600 (UNS N06600) and Alloy 601 (UNS N06601)
- Ni-Cr alloys with high-temperature strength and creep resistance, mostly age-hardenable, such as Alloy X-750 (UNS N07750)
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Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloys
There are basically two groups of alloys:
- Ni – Cr – Fe alloys with excellent strength at high temperature and the ability to resist oxidation, carburisation and other types of high-temperature corrosion. The best-known is alloy 800 (UNS N08800) and its variants 800H (UNS N08810) and 800HT (UNS N08811). (Recently, these alloys were classified as stainless steels reflecting their high Fe content)
- Ni – Cr – Fe (with Mo and Cu) alloys with excellent corrosion resistance in specific applications. Probably the best-known is alloy 825 (UNS N08825), which offers exceptional resistance to sulphuric acid. Alloy G-3 (UNS N06985) offers exceptional corrosion resistance to commercial phosphoric acids as well as many complex solutions containing highly oxidizing acids.
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Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Alloys
These are highly corrosion-resistant, of which Alloy C-276 (N10276) is the best-known. They offer exceptional resistance to reducing acids such as hydrochloric and sulphuric. There are a number of variants based on this composition, which have modified the Cr and Mo levels and, in some cases, added Cu or W in order to extend the corrosion resistance to conditions that are more oxidising or more reducing. These include Alloy C-22 (N06022), Alloy 59 (N08059), Alloy C-2000 (UNS N06200), and Alloy 686 (N06686).
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Nickel-Chromium-Cobalt Alloys
The addition of cobalt and molybdenum imparts solid-solution strengthening and high levels of creep-rupture strength to alloy 617 (UNS N06617). The addition of cobalt to HR-160 (N12160) provides outstanding resistance to various forms of high-temperature corrosion attacks, such as sulphidation and chloride attack in both reducing and oxidizing atmospheres.
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Nickel-Titanium Alloys
55% nickel-titanium alloy (UNS N01555) (also known as Nitinol) has shape-memory properties. When formed at one temperature and then deformed at a lower one, it regains its original form when reheated. The transition temperatures can be adjusted through careful control of the composition. Medical devices and specialised connectors are two of specific the applications. The same alloy can also undergo considerable elastic deformation and still return to its original shape (super-elastic property). This property has been exploited for applications as diverse as spectacle frames and shock absorbers that provide earthquake resistance in historic stone buildings.
Nominal composition of various nickel alloys:
Alloy name
UNS
% Ni
% Cr
% Fe
% Mo
% Cu
% Co
% Other
200
N02200
99 min
Invar
K93600
36
64
400
N04400
65
32
B-2
N10665
68
2
28
70-30
N06008
70
30
C-Grade
N06006
60
16
bal
600
N06600
76
16
8
601
N06601
60
23
bal
Al - 1.3
X-750
N07750
70
15
7
Ti - 2.5
Al - 0.7
Nb - 1.0
825
N08825
42
21
25
3
2
G-3
N06985
bal
22
20
7
2
800
N08800
32
21
45
W - 3.5
C-276
N10276
bal
15
5
16
C-22
N06022
bal
21
4
13
59
N06059
bal
23
1.5 max
16
C-2000
N06200
bal
23
3 max
16
1.6
686
N06686
bal
21
2 max
16
W - 3.7
617
N06617
44.5 min
22
3 max
9
12
HR-160
N12160
bal
28
3.5 max
30
Si - 2.75
Nitinol
N01555
55
Ti - 45
Alloy Type
UNS
%Cr
%Ni
%Mo
%Cu
%Fe
304L
S30403
18
8
-
-
bal
Most common stainless steel used for potable water treatment and food contact.
316L
S31603
16
10
2.1
-
bal
Addition of Mo provides greater resistance to chlorides and acidic solutions. Used in coastal regions, in water treatment and in the chemical processing industry.
2205
S32205
22
5.7
3.1
-
bal
Even greater corrosion resistance than 316L. Can be used in place of 316L, but its greater strength can mean weight reduction. May be substituted for 316L if it fails in service.
2507
S32750
25
7
4
-
bal
Even greater corrosion resistance than 2205. Useful corrosion resistance to seawater.
254 SMO
S31254
20
18
6.1
-
bal
Corrosion resistance similar to 2507, also possessing useful corrosion resistance to seawater.
Alloy 20
N08020
20
33
2.1
3.2
bal
Cu bearing stainless steel with useful corrosion resistance to all concentrations of sulphuric acid.
310S
S31008
25
20
-
-
bal
High chromium stainless steel with excellent resistance to high-temperature oxidation.
800H
N08810
20
32
-
-
bal
Stainless steel with excellent high-temperature strength and useful resistance to high-temperature oxidation.
625
N06625
21
bal
9
-
3
Well-known nickel alloy with excellent high-temperature strength and outstanding aqueous corrosion resistance.
C-276
N10276
15
bal
16
-
5
One of the best-known nickel alloys with excellent corrosion resistance to reducing acids.
600
N06600
16
76
-
-
8
Useful resistance to high-temperature corrosion and caustic solutions.
Alloy 400
N04400
-
65
-
32
-
Most common uses are in marine and chemical processing.