Product Focus – Nickel 200/201

We take an in-depth look at Nickel 200 and Nickel 201, both of which give excellent corrosion resistance and a versatility that sees them applied in a wide range of fields.

Nickel 200 and Nickel 201 are commercially pure nickel grades, with a minimum 99% nickel included in their composition. The final 1% or less is made up of iron, silver, manganese, copper, carbon and sulphur in small, measured quantities.

Being low-alloy materials, they offer advantages over other materials in some industrial applications. According to the Nickel Institute, due to the value of nickel it is “effectively and extensively recycled” and nickel materials help to make “existing products and processes more energy efficient, durable and tough”. What this means is that it is used more sustainably than some other metals and metal alloys, and is responsibly managed throughout its lifecycle.

Both Nickel 200 and Nickel 201 are frequently used across a number of different industrial sectors. The high concentration of quality nickel means that these Grades are highly resistant to many reducing chemicals and caustic alkalies, and offer excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. The materials are also among the toughest metals available, and have good magnetic properties. Both Grades of the material are similar in many ways, with consistent specifications that make them an attractive choice across numerous applications.

The main difference between the two Grades is in the carbon content within the composition. Nickel 201 is a low-carbon version of Nickel 200 – it only contains 0.02% maximum of carbon, as opposed to 0.15% maximum. Because of this, they’re often utilised for slightly different purposes.

However, they are commonly combined to give the best of both worlds too, as Corrotherm Sales Manager Shan Sadanandan explains: “The Nickel 200 and Nickel 201 have their own strengths and they are often presented as a dual-certified Nickel 200/201. This enables a customer to utilise the strength of Nickel 200 with the stability of compositional controls of Nickel 201.”

Nickel 200

Nickel 200 has excellent mechanical properties, including good ductility and weldability. It also offers desirable magnetic and magnetostrictive properties, high thermal and electrical conductivities, low gas content and low vapour pressure. It is utilised in a number of different environments, where temperatures are under 315°C (600°F).

Its resistance to corrosive environments is not limited to reducing elements – although this is where it excels – as it performs well in certain oxidising conditions too.

Nickel 200 is often used in the electronics industry. This is a fast-moving industry where new components are being developed at a rapid pace. As such, there is a high-demand for a low-alloy nickel. Nickel 200 can be used for a variety of components, including anode plates, passive cathodes, plater bars, transistor enclosures and more. It’s also found in some optical systems, such as those used in telescopes, and infrared emitters in cameras and surveillance systems. It can also be used within heating elements and battery connections.

Given the material’s high corrosion resistance, it is also used in chemical shipping drums, where it can maintain its structure and integrity even when attacked by corrosive media. This is good for both the storage and transportation of volatile substances. Similarly, Nickel 200 is also used within food processing and synthetic fibre processing systems.

Nickel 200 has some applications within the aerospace industry too, and for defence applications. This includes components within missile systems.

Nickel 201

Nickel 201 has many similar properties to Nickel 200. It is better suited for applications where temperatures will exceed 315°C (600°F). The lower carbon content means it will not form graphite after extended exposure to high temperatures, unlike its companion Nickel 200.

It has a low-base hardness and lower work-hardening rate, which makes it good for spinning and cold forming. It offers good corrosion resistance, and is frequently used to handle caustic soda, as it forms an oxide film that protects it in this situation.

As such, one thing that Nickel 201 is known for is its use in the caustic alkali concentration (chloralkali) process, which spans many industries. This process produces chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), and the whole workflow is highly corrosive. With an unrivalled resistance to caustic alkalies, Nickel 200 is a popular material of choice to manufacture cathode elements. Nickel 200 can also be used in this process, but the lower-carbon Nickel 201 can be used in higher-temperature environments. We cover this application in more detail here. Specific applications with the chloralkali process include evaporators and within extraction components.

As with Nickel 200, thanks to Nickel 201’s resistance to distilled and natural waters, it is also used within the food-processing industry. Here it helps to maintain product purity, essential when handling food stuffs.

Nickel 201 is often used in pressure vessel service – containers designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure that’s vastly different to the ambient pressure. It is approved for this usage by ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII-Division I, up to 1250°F (approximately 677°C).

Working with Nickel 200/201

Both Nickel 200 and Nickel 201 are usually available in a wide range of product types, including pipes, tubes, sheets, strips, plates, round bars, flat bars and wire. They can be readily hot formed into almost any shape, increasing its versatility and usefulness.

They can also be worked by all conventional cold-forming methods, and can be machined and welding using normal commercial processes. Correct annealing and working processes help to retain the ductility and strength of these useful materials.

You can find out more about Nickel 200 and 201 on the website in our Grades section. Contact the Sales team to discuss your requirements.

Topics: Corrotherm News

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