Nickel rods, bars, and wire are wrought products manufactured from commercially pure nickel and high-purity nickel grades. They are widely used where excellent corrosion resistance, stable electrical and thermal properties, high ductility, and reliable performance at extreme temperatures are required.
The most common grades are Nickel 200 and Nickel 201, manufactured to ASTM, AMS, DIN, and ISO standards.
Definition & Common Grades
| Grade | UNS | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel 200 | N02200 | ASTM B160 / B162 |
| Nickel 201 | N02201 | ASTM B160 / B162 |
| High-Purity Nickel | — | ASTM B39 / AMS 5553 |
| Electrolytic Nickel | — | ASTM B39 |
Nickel 201 is preferred for service above 315 °C due to its very low carbon content, which prevents graphite precipitation.
Chemical Composition – Nickel 200
| Element | wt% |
|---|---|
| Nickel (Ni) | ≥ 99.0 |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.15 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.40 |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤ 0.25 |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 0.35 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.35 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.01 |
Nickel 201: Carbon ≤ 0.02% for high-temperature stability.
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 380 – 550 MPa |
| Yield Strength (0.2%) | 100 – 160 MPa |
| Elongation | 30 – 45% |
| Hardness | 70 – 90 HRB |
| Fatigue Strength | Moderate |
| Impact Toughness | Excellent |
Cold-worked wire and bars can exceed 700 MPa tensile strength.
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 8.90 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1455 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | ~90 W/m·K |
| Electrical Conductivity | ~22% IACS |
| Elastic Modulus | ~200 GPa |
| Thermal Expansion | ~13.3 µm/m·K |
| Magnetic Behavior | Ferromagnetic |
Metallurgical Behavior
Nickel has a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure, providing excellent ductility and toughness across a wide temperature range.
Strengthening is achieved primarily by cold working. Nickel is not precipitation hardenable and shows excellent grain stability.
Available Forms & Sizes
Rods & Bars
Round, square, hex
Diameter: 3 mm – 300 mm
Finish: hot-rolled, cold-drawn, ground
Wire
Diameter: 0.025 mm – 12 mm
Annealed, half-hard, hard
Supplied in coils, spools, or straight lengths
Applications
Electrical & Electronics
Lead wires, battery tabs, heating elements, EMI shielding
Chemical Processing
Heat exchangers, alkali handling, reactor internals
Aerospace & Cryogenics
Sensors, fasteners, cryogenic hardware
Energy & Power
Electrolyzers, fuel cells, nuclear instrumentation
Advantages
✔ Excellent corrosion resistance
✔ High ductility and toughness
✔ Reliable at cryogenic and high temperatures
✔ Clean, weldable metal
✔ Long service life
✔ Highly recyclable
Limitations
❌ Higher cost than carbon steel
❌ Lower strength than nickel alloys
❌ Susceptible to strong oxidizing acids
❌ Magnetic nature may limit electronics use
Why Choose Nickel Rods, Bars & Wire?
Nickel rods, bars, and wire are chosen when corrosion resistance, electrical or thermal stability, weldability, and long-term performance at extreme temperatures are more critical than maximum mechanical strength.