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Nickel

Last updated: April 10, 2019

What Does Nickel Mean?

Nickel is a naturally occurring metallic chemical element with the symbol Ni and atomic number 28. Physically, nickel is a silvery-white lustrous metal belonging to the category of transition metals.

Nickel is renowned for its high strength, ductility, temperature resistance and exceptional corrosion resistance. For these reasons, nickel is widely used as a base element for the development of numerous specialized alloys.

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Corrosionpedia Explains Nickel

Nickel’s corrosion resistance is primarily due to the formation of a thin layer of nickel oxide that acts as a barrier to prevent the occurrence of further corrosion. Nickel also provides reasonable galvanic cathodic protection in the event that mechanical damage to the plating or coating penetrates all the way down to the substrate.

The benefits of nickel make it an ideal addition to metal alloys such as nickel-copper, nickel-chromium and nickel-iron. It is estimated that approximately 9% of the total nickel consumed is used for corrosion-resistant applications.

Nickel and its alloys are used in a broad range of high performance applications, including:

  • Aircraft jet engines
  • Nuclear power systems
  • Turbines in steam power plants
  • Various components in the oil and gas and petrochemical industry
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Synonyms

Nickle

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