How is nickel used in industry?

Nickel is a metallic element that can be found in abundance within the earth’s crust and core, within meteorites, and naturally occurring in both soil and water sources.

Nickel has outstanding physical and chemical properties and is an essential component in hundreds of products. The most popular use is alloying, in which it is combined with chromium and other metals to produce steel.

Uses

Nickel forms an essential component of alloys used in aviation, shipbuilding, the chemical industry, the energy industry, and medicine. Nickel can effectively alloy with steel, aluminium, copper, lead, gold, silver and cobalt to make stainless steel and other alloys.

Nickel plating or electroless nickel coatings can be used to provide a strong or decorative engineering coating that is heat and corrosion-resistant and strong in both high and low temperatures. When combined with a layer of silicon carbide, this is known as composite plating and is widely used in the coating of coins.

Nickel metal hydride applications are essential in the composition of rechargeable battery systems, transport, electronics, and emergency power supply.

Nickel is also used as an essential catalyst in the production of fertilisers, pesticides, and fungicides.

Nickel composites

Nickel coating and nickel composites are key products in several industries. Nickel composites can be applied to any copper, aluminium or ferrous alloy, including stainless steel, and titanium. This makes for a strong, resistant and protective coating with permanent lubricity and non-stick properties.

For more information on nickel composite coatings, contact a specialist such as www.poeton.co.uk/advanced-treatments/apticote-460-nickel-composites/.

Nickel coatings can add value to your products in addition to increasing their lifespan and durability. With added value comes the benefit of reduced costs, making a nickel coating service a worthwhile and savvy investment.