NICKEL POWDER (Ni, Purity: >99.9%, APS: 60-70µm)

NICKEL POWDER

Nickel powder refers to finely divided particles of nickel, typically in the range of micrometers or nanometers. Nickel is a silvery-white, malleable, and ductile metal, and when reduced to a powder form, it exhibits enhanced surface area, reactivity, and versatility for various industrial, technological, and manufacturing applications. Nickel powder can be produced through several methods, including hydrogen reduction of nickel salts, electrolysis, chemical vapor deposition, and mechanical methods like atomization or grinding.

Applications

Metallurgy and Alloy Production:

Alloying Agent: Nickel powder is often used as a key component in alloy production, particularly in creating stainless steel, superalloys, and other high-strength, corrosion-resistant alloys. It is added to alloys to improve their properties, such as strength, toughness, and resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

Powder Metallurgy: Nickel powder is widely used in powder metallurgy, where it is compacted and sintered to create solid metal components without the need for traditional casting or machining processes. This is common in manufacturing parts for industries like automotive, aerospace, and electronics.

Nickel-Based Superalloys: Nickel powder is a crucial material in producing superalloys, which are used in high-performance applications like turbine blades, jet engines, and other high-temperature environments. These superalloys exhibit excellent strength and stability at elevated temperatures.

Electronics and Electrical Components:

Batteries: Nickel powder plays an important role in the production of rechargeable batteries, including nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries. The powder is used as an electrode material, contributing to the battery’s energy capacity, longevity, and rechargeability.

Electrodes and Conductors: Ni is used in the manufacture of electrodes for electrical applications. Its good electrical conductivity makes it ideal for use in components like capacitors, resistors, and connectors.

Electromagnetic Devices: Ni is used in magnetic materials for various electromagnetic applications, such as transformers, inductors, and magnetic shielding. Its ferromagnetic properties make it highly effective in these applications.

Fuel Cells: Ni is used in the production of fuel cells, particularly in the catalytic electrodes of alkaline fuel cells. Nickel’s catalytic properties help in the efficient conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy.