Nickel alloys physical properties

Nickel occurs in the first transition row in Group 10 (VIIIB) of the Periodic Table. Some physical properties are given in Table 1 (1 4). Nickel is a high melting point element having a ductile crystal stmcture. Its chemical properties allow it to be combined with other elements to form many alloys. 

Chapter 5. Physical Properties Under Elastic-Plastic Compression Table 5.1. Compressibilities of nickel-iron alloys (after Graham et al. [67G01]). 

An alloy of nickel was known in China over 2000 years ago, and Saxon miners were familiar with the reddish-coloured ore, NiAs, which superficially resembles CU2O. These miners attributed their inability to extract copper from this source to the work of the devil and named the ore Kupfemickel (Old Nick s copper). In 1751 A. F. Cronstedt isolated an impure metal from some Swedish ores and, identifying it with the metallic component of Kupfemickel, named the new metal nickel . In 1804 J. B. Richter produced a much purer sample and so was able to determine its physical properties more accurately. 

Steel is essentially iron with a small amount of carbon. Additional elements are present in small quantities. Contaminants such as sulfur and phosphorus are tolerated at varying levels, depending on the use to which the steel is to be put. Since they are present in the raw material from which the steel is made it is not economic to remove them. Alloying elements such as manganese, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum and vanadium are present at specified levels to improve physical properties such as toughness or corrosion resistance. 

The basic corrosion behaviour of stainless steels is dependent upon the type and quantity of alloying. Chromium is the universally present element but nickel, molybdenum, copper, nitrogen, vanadium, tungsten, titanium and niobium are also used for a variety of reasons. However, all elements can affect metallurgy, and thus mechanical and physical properties, so sometimes desirable corrosion resisting aspects may involve acceptance of less than ideal mechanical properties and vice versa. 

Nickel-iron alloys have a number of important applications that are derived from such special physical properties as their unique magnetic characteristics in the regions of 35, 50 and 80% nickel and from their abnormally low thermal expansion in the region of 36-50% nickel. Although not specifically used as corrosion-resistant materials, their high resistance to attack from many common environments is of benefit in their specialised applications. 

In addition to nickel alloys, nickel also forms an important alloying element in stainless steels and in cast irons, in both of which it confers additional corrosion resistance and improved mechanical and engineering properties, and in Fe-Ni alloys for obtaining controlled physical and magnetic properties (see Chapter 3). With non-ferrous metals nickel also forms important types of alloys, especially with copper, i.e. cupro-nickels and nickel silvers these are dealt with in Section 4.2. 

Table 4.22 Physical properties of corrosion-resistant nickel alloys...

Lanthanum is the fourth most abundant of the rare-earths found on the Earth. Its abundance is 18 ppm of the Earth s crust, making it the 29th most abundant element on Earth. Its abundance is about equal to the abundance of zinc, lead, and nickel, so it is not really rare. Because the chemical and physical properties of the elements of the lanthanide series are so similar, they are quite difficult to separate. Therefore, some of them are often used together as an alloy or in compounds. 

Small metal particles can also be obtained by vacuum evaporation in low pressure inert gases (16). Magnetic particles of metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, and alloys of these metals can be prepared by this method. Though the amounts of particles obtainable by this method are limited, the particles are clean as compared with particles precipitated from solutions. They are mainly used for studies of physical properties of fine particles. 

Nickel-copper alloys The physical properties ate foi annealed material. Both the tensile strength and hardness can vary with form and heat treatment condition. 

Nickel-iron alloys have specific physical properties, such as magnetic response or low thermal expansion, giving them niche applications (e.g., for glass to metal seals and linkages that require little or no thermal expansion). 

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