Nichrome Alloy
Nichrome (NiCr, NiCrFe) is any of various alloys of nickel, chromium, and often iron. The most common usage is as resistance wire, as heating elements in things like toasters and space heaters, although they are also used in some dental restorations (fillings) and in a few other applications.
Features
- High and stable resistivity
- Corrosion resistance
- Excellent anti-oxidization in high temperature
- Sufficient high temperature strength
- Good processability and weldability
- Working temperature are is almost around 950~1250℃
Applications
- Heating elements in the high temperature furnaces.
- Nichrome wire can be used in the explosives and fireworks industry as a bridgewire in electric ignition systems, such as electric matches and model rocket igniters.
- Industrial and hobby hot-wire foam cutters use nichrome wire.
- Nichrome wire is commonly used in ceramic as an internal support structure to help some elements of clay sculptures hold their shape while they are still soft. Nichrome wire is used for its ability to withstand the high temperatures that occur when clay work is fired in a kiln.
- Other areas of usage include motorcycle mufflers, in certain areas in the microbiological lab apparatus, as the heating element of plastic extruders by the RepRap 3D printing community, in the solar panel deployment mechanism of spacecraft LightSail-A, and as the heating coils of electronic cigarettes.
Specifications
Performance Material | Nichrome 80 | Nichrome 70 | Nichrome 60 | Nichrome 40 | Nichrome 30 | Nichrome 20 | |
Chemical Composition, % | Ni | Rest | Rest | 55.0-61.0 | 34.0-37.0 | 30.0-34.0 | 18-21 |
Cr | 20.0-23.0 | 28.0-31.0 | 15.0-18.0 | 18.0-21.0 | 18.0-21.0 | 24-27 | |
Fe | ≤1.0 | ≤1.0 | Rest | Rest | Rest | Rest | |
Max Working Temperature, ℃ | 1200 | 1250 | 1150 | 1100 | 1100 | 1050 | |
Melting Point, ℃ | 1400 | 1380 | 1390 | 1390 | 1390 | 1300 | |
Density, g/cm3 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | |
Resistivity, μΩ·m, 20℃ | 1.09±0.05 | 1.18±0.05 | 1.12±0.05 | 1.04±0.05 | 1.04±0.05 | 1.00±0.05 | |
Elongation, % | ≥20 | ≥20 | ≥20 | ≥20 | ≥20 | ≥30 | |
Specific Heat, J/g•℃ | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.54 | |
Thermal Conductivity, W/(m•K) | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | |
Coefficient of Lines Expansion, α×10-6/℃ (20-1000℃) | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | |
Micrographic Structure | Austenite | Austenite | Austenite | Austenite | Austenite | Austenite | |
Magnetic Properties | Non-Magnetic | Non-Magnetic | Slight Magnetic | Non-Magnetic | Non-Magnetic | Non-Magnetic |