Types, Forms, and Applications of Nickel Metal

Nickel Metal: Types, Applications and Benefits

Introduction

This article will take an in-depth look at nickel metal and its uses.

The article will cover topics such as:

Principle of Nickel Metal
Types and Forms of Nickel Metal
Application and Benefits of Nickel Metal
And Much More...

Chapter 1: Understanding the Fundamentals of Nickel Metal

This segment delves into the essence of nickel metal, detailing its production processes and diverse applications.

Defining Nickel Metal

Metals, renowned for their malleability, ductility, and superb thermal and electrical conductivity, are categorized into five groups, with nickel fitting into the transition metals category. Nickel is a naturally occurring metal with a shiny, silvery-white appearance and a subtle golden tinge. It has an atomic mass of 58.71, an atomic number of 28, and is symbolized by Ni. Nickel includes five stable isotopes, staying solid at standard room temperature, with a melting point of 1455°C and a boiling point of 2730°C. Known for its ferromagnetism, hardness, and resistance to corrosion and rust, nickel is ductile. This elemental metal occurs naturally, necessitating extraction through mining.

Nickel is extracted via extractive metallurgy, a technique that involves isolating and purifying the chosen metal from its ore for greater purity. Ores, natural rocks found deep within the Earth's crust, contain valuable minerals meant for profitable mining, refining, and selling. Typically, ores are metal-rich. Nickel's key ores fall into two categories: laterites and magmatic sulfides.

The Nickel Production Process

Nickel originates primarily from two ore deposit types: laterites, primarily containing nickel-dense limonite and garnierite, and magmatic sulfides with pentlandite as the principal ore mineral.

Nickel Extraction and Processing

Metal is retrieved from ore via extractive metallurgy, with pyrometallurgical extraction being the most commonly used, utilizing high temperatures for chemical reactions. Laterite ores are mostly obtained through open-pit mining, extracting ore from extensive, open pits, while sulfide ores, often coupled with copper, are mined underground. Equipment used for mining laterite ores includes heavy shovels, draglines, and front-end loaders.

Sulfide Ore Nickel Extraction

Post-mining, sulfide ores are crushed and ground, separating nickel from waste via selective flotation. This process mixes the ore with reagents and uses mechanical and pneumatic devices to create air bubbles, with the lighter sulfide particles attaching to the bubbles and rising to the surface.

Typically, the collected materials contain 6-12% nickel. Magnetic separators, leveraging the magnetic qualities of some nickel sulfides, may be used alongside or instead of flotation. Waste often undergoes secondary cleaning before disposal. For sulfide ores with nearly equal copper and nickel ratios, a second flotation step is necessary to produce a low-nickel copper concentrate and separate nickel concentrate.

Nickel concentrates are subjected to leaching with sulfuric acid or ammonia, or alternatively dried and processed by flash smelting techniques, with flash and electric smelting being most common. In these methods, preheated oxygen is introduced into a furnace with the ore, oxidizing iron and sulfide, resulting in a nickel content of 25-45%.

The developed nickel-iron sulfide is termed matte. In the final processing phase, oxygen is added to the molten mix, eliminating remaining iron and sulfide. This forms an oxide, reacting with silica flux to create slag, yielding nickel matte with approximately 70-75% nickel.

The entire refining process occurs within a rotating converter. Part of the energy required for smelting sulfide ores is supplied by oxygen reactions with iron and sulfur in the ore.

A Side-Blown Copper-Nickel Matte Converter

Nickel Extraction from Laterite Ores

Extracting nickel from laterite ores, free of sulfur but high in moisture as water and hydroxides, differs from sulfide ores as it requires more energy to achieve drying and smelting due to lower reaction temperatures. Large kiln furnaces dry the ore by removing moisture.

The produced nickel oxide is then reduced to nickel metal, typically in electric furnaces with 45 to 50 megavolt-amperes capacity, operating between 1360°C and 1610°C.

Nickel Refinement

Post-extraction and processing, nickel matte usually contains about 75% nickel, which through refining can reach up to 95%. Methods include ammonia pressure leaching, where hydrogen reduction recovers nickel from the solution and transforms sulfur into ammonium sulfate, usable as fertilizer.

Other refinement processes incorporate matte roasting to produce high-grade nickel oxides, treated with a pressure leach. The subsequent solution undergoes further refinement via electrorefining and carbonyl refining. Electrorefining uses an electrolytic cell to achieve high-purity nickel, with diaphragm compartments preventing impurity transfer from anode to cathode. Carbonyl refining passes matte through carbon monoxide, resulting in nickel and iron carbonyls.

Nickel Shaping Processes

Refined nickel transforms into various shapes, such as bars, rods, plates, sheets, and tubing. Several methods detailed below facilitate these transformations:

Nickel Extrusion

This less common method for shaping nickel involves melting it at high temperatures and forming it by pushing molten nickel through a die, creating sheets, bars, rods, and tubing.

Cold Drawing

This method is more frequently used than extrusion for shaping nickel, pulling the nickel tube or wire through progressively smaller dies without applying heat, reducing its diameter, and commonly used for manufacturing nickel tubes and wires.

Electroless Nickel Plating

Employing a chemical reducing agent in an aqueous solution, this method catalytically reduces nickel ions, depositing them consistently in size and shape without electricity, and is widely used for shaping nickel.

Key Considerations for Purchasing Nickel

When sourcing nickel, buyers and manufacturers must weigh numerous factors to ensure it fits their needs. Critical aspects include environmental exposure like rain and heat, the stress it will endure, intended uses, and dimensional requirements. Additionally, selecting the right supplier is crucial. Both parties should engage in detailed discussions with multiple suppliers to secure optimal pricing, lead times, secondary services, delivery protocols, and comprehensive customer support.

Chapter 2: What are the different types and forms of nickel metal?

Nickel’s unique combination of physical and chemical properties, such as corrosion resistance, high strength, and excellent temperature stability, make it an essential material for manufacturing a wide range of nickel alloys. These specialty alloys are formed by combining nickel with other elements—including chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, and molybdenum—to optimize performance for industrial, engineering, and electrochemical applications. One of the most common and widely used nickel alloys is stainless steel, which primarily consists of iron, 18 percent chromium, and 8 percent nickel. Beyond stainless steel, nickel-based alloys and pure nickel products are integral to critical industries such as aerospace, marine, energy, oil and gas, chemical processing, electronics, automotive, and medical devices.

Nickel alloys and forms can be categorized into the following main types:

Nickel-titanium alloys
Nickel-chromium-cobalt alloys
Nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys
Nickel-chromium-iron alloys
Nickel-chromium alloys
Nickel-molybdenum alloys
Nickel-copper alloys
Nickel-iron alloys
Wrought nickel

Some representative alloys and physical forms of nickel are described below. Each nickel type discussed falls under a broader category of nickel alloys listed above. Understanding these forms will help users, buyers, and engineers select the optimal material for their specific manufacturing, fabrication, and project requirements.

Brushed Nickel

Brushed nickel is a finished nickel product created with a wire brush or similar abrasive surface, imparting a distinctive textured pattern while preserving a lustrous shine. As a nickel finish, it is valued for its resistance to corrosion and its ability to hide fingerprints and water spots, making it a go-to choice for interior fixtures. While brushed nickel remains durable in damp environments, it can develop a milky white tarnish over time due to oxidation and exposure to cleaning agents.

Fortunately, any tarnishing or discoloration can be easily removed with mild cleaners or a solution of water and white vinegar, restoring the original metallic appearance.

Brushed nickel is commonly used in producing:

Door knobs and handles
House numbers and nameplates
Kitchen faucets and sink fixtures
Bathroom fittings
Cabinet hardware
Lighting fixtures and electrical switch plates

Casting Alloys

Nickel casting alloys are created by melting combinations of nickel with other metals and pouring them into precision molds. This method enables the production of intricate shapes and components that exhibit excellent resistance to high temperatures, corrosion, and wear—essential qualities for many industrial and engineering applications. Nickel-based casting alloys, such as Inconel and Hastelloy, are especially prominent in aerospace turbine blades, energy-sector equipment, and harsh chemical environments where mechanical integrity at elevated temperatures is critical.

When selecting casting alloys, factors like thermal conductivity, oxidation resistance, and mechanical strength should be considered to ensure optimal performance.

Cupro Nickel

Cupro nickel, or cupronickel, is a widely used copper-nickel alloy that also contains small amounts of iron and manganese. With copper making up 60 to 90 percent of the composition and nickel as the secondary element, cupro nickel stands out for its silver-like appearance and remarkable resistance to seawater corrosion, biofouling, and stress cracking. These properties make it a preferred choice in marine engineering, desalination plants, and shipbuilding industries. The alloy also offers good thermal conductivity, high ductility, and robust tensile strength, ensuring reliability under tough service conditions.

Cupronickel’s typical applications include:

Piping and heat exchangers
Condensers for marine hardware
Propellers and propeller shafts in ships and boats
Military equipment and naval systems
Steam turbine condensers
Oil coolers and auxiliary cooling systems
Desalination and offshore process plant equipment

Hastelloy

Hastelloy refers to a group of high-performance, corrosion-resistant nickel-based alloys renowned for their ability to withstand aggressive acids, chlorides, and other harsh chemicals in industrial environments. These alloys provide exceptional resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress-corrosion cracking and are frequently specified for chemical processing, pollution control, and chemical storage tank manufacturing. Each specific Hastelloy composition is engineered to address unique corrosive challenges and thermal conditions.

The following are types of Hastelloy nickel-based alloys:

Hastelloy C-4 contains 14.5-17.5% chromium, 0-2% cobalt, 14-17% molybdenum, 0-3% iron, 0-1% manganese, and the remaining balance is nickel content. This alloy is mainly used in environments with inorganic acids such as sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, ideal for reactors and acid storage.
Hastelloy C-22 contains 20-22.5% chromium, 0-2.5% cobalt, 12.5-14.5% molybdenum, 0-3% iron, 0-0.5% manganese, 2.5-3.5% tungsten, and the remaining balance is nickel content. Highly resistant to both oxidizing and reducing acids, it’s suitable for chemical production equipment and flue gas treatment systems.
Hastelloy C-2000 contains 23% chromium, 2% cobalt, 3% iron, 16% molybdenum, and the remaining balance is nickel content. This alloy is designed for environments that contain aggressive oxidants, such as those found in pharmaceuticals and food processing industries.

Inconel Alloy

Inconel is a family of nickel-chromium-based superalloys recognized for their unmatched corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and exceptional performance under extreme temperatures and mechanical stresses. These properties make Inconel one of the top choices for components exposed to intensely challenging environments—such as turbine engines, petrochemical plants, and nuclear reactors—where conventional alloys fail. Inconel alloys are renowned for their ability to maintain strength, resist scaling, and prevent stress-corrosion cracking even at temperatures exceeding 700°C. However, these alloys can be challenging to machine due to their strength, sometimes requiring specialized tooling or processes.

Several types of Inconel alloys are available, including:

Inconel 617 contains nickel, cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum. This blend yields enhanced strength and oxidation resistance. Applications: ducting, transition liners, petrochemical processing, heat-treating equipment, and gas turbines.
Inconel 601 contains nickel, iron, and chromium. Properties include high corrosion resistance, strength, weldability, and temperature resistance. Used in combustion chambers, thermal reactors, insulation systems, and refractory cans in high-heat manufacturing.
Inconel 625 contains 58% nickel, 20-23% chromium, 5% iron, 8-10% molybdenum, 3.15-4.15% niobium, 1% cobalt, and trace elements. Primary uses: steam liner bellows, sheathing for undersea communication cables, deep-sea exploration, and some submarine components.
Inconel 600 contains 72% nickel, 14-17% chromium, 6-10% iron, 1% manganese and trace elements. Suitable for chemical and food processing, heat treating, phenol condensers, and environments exposed to chlorine and chlorine water.
Inconel 718 contains 50-55% nickel, 19% chromium, 17% iron, 3% molybdenum, 5% niobium, and assorted elements. Applications include power generation, gas turbines, chemical production, combustion cans, and high-performance ducting.

Invar Alloy

Invar is a nickel-iron alloy celebrated for its exceptionally low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Composed of 36% nickel and 64% iron, Invar demonstrates minimal dimensional changes when subjected to temperature fluctuations, making it highly desirable for applications where precision is critical. The alloy’s stable performance has cemented its role in scientific instruments, aerospace tooling, and other fields where tight tolerances are required.

Primary applications for Invar nickel alloys include:

Precision measuring instruments
Clocks and scientific timing devices
Seismic creep gauges and geophysical tools
Television shadow-mask frames and CRT displays
Valves in engines exposed to thermal cycling
Large aerostructure molds for composite fabrication

Kovar Alloy

Kovar is a specialized alloy composed of iron, nickel, cobalt, and small quantities of manganese, silicon, and carbon. It features a precisely matched coefficient of thermal expansion to certain types of borosilicate glass, making it the leading solution for hermetic glass-to-metal seals. Kovar’s superior sealing properties, combined with excellent dimensional stability, make it indispensable in the electronics, aerospace, and scientific instrumentation industries.

Common applications include:

Glass-to-metal seals in scientific equipment
Conductors and stem assemblies in vacuum tubes
X-ray tubes, microwave tubes, and lamp leads
Headers for integrated circuits and laser devices

Monel Alloy

Monel is a distinguished family of nickel-copper alloys, typically containing 52 to 67% nickel and the remainder mostly copper plus trace levels of manganese, iron, carbon, and silicon. With superb corrosion resistance—especially in marine and chemical environments—Monel alloys are also prized for their strength, ductility, and ability to resist various acids and alkalis. Monel metals maintain integrity in both fresh and saltwater, as well as in harsh chemical process pipelines, making them a preferred choice for valves, fasteners, and pump components in offshore oil and chemical processing industries.

Common uses of monel include:

Seawater valves, strainer baskets, trolling wire, fixtures, and marine fasteners
Gasoline tanks, offshore oil rigs, petroleum distillation and processing equipment
Musical instruments (trumpets, French horns, tubas, and bass guitar strings)
Kitchen sinks, doorknobs, designer and architectural screens
Boiler tubes, chemical tanks, industrial sheet and plate for equipment and fabrication

The most common Monel alloys include:

Monel 400 contains 63% nickel, 28-34% copper, 2.5% iron, 2% manganese, and traces of sulfur, carbon, and silicon. It is the most versatile Monel grade, offering broad corrosion resistance and mechanical properties.
Monel 404 contains 52-57% nickel, 2% iron, 45% copper, and small amounts of aluminum, manganese, silicon, carbon, and sulfur. Mainly used for electronics and wire cladding due to its low permeability and electrical conductivity.
Monel 405 shares its composition with Monel 400 and excels in automatic screw machines. It is extensively used in the chemical, marine, and oil industries for its corrosion resistance, as well as in brine heaters, pickling bat heating coils, steam generator tubing, and hydrofluoric acid processing.
Monel K-500 contains 64% nickel, 30% copper, 1% iron, 2.8% aluminum, and traces of carbon, titanium, and manganese. This alloy combines the resistance of Monel 400 with added strength, making it ideal for marine hardware, pump shafts, and high-stress mechanical components.

Nichrome Alloy

Nichrome is a nickel-chromium alloy widely recognized for its superior resistance to both high electrical loads and extreme temperatures. Exhibiting a silvery-gray appearance, nichrome forms a stable, adherent layer of chromium oxide when heated, providing remarkable oxidation resistance. Its unique properties make nichrome the industry standard for resistance wires, electrical heating elements, and temperature control devices in household and industrial appliances—including toasters, hair dryers, space heaters, and kilns.

Additional uses include bridgewires in the explosives and pyrotechnics industries, electric matches, model rocket igniters, advanced ceramics manufacturing, flame testing, and motorcycle mufflers where heat and corrosion resistance are required.

Nickel 200

Nickel 200 refers to commercially pure wrought nickel with a purity of approximately 99.6%, containing only trace amounts of iron, manganese, silicon, copper, carbon, and sulfur. This high-purity material is highly ductile, offers excellent mechanical strength, and demonstrates outstanding resistance to caustic alkalis, acids, and neutral salts, as well as excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Nickel 200 is the preferred choice for harsh chemical environments and high-performance applications demanding purity, integrity, and corrosion resistance.

Applications include:

Synthetic fiber production equipment
Food processing and storage equipment
Drums for the safe transportation of chemicals
Rocket and aerospace motors
Chemical and process piping
Handling of caustics, acids, and alkali materials
Aerospace and missile hardware and electrical contacts

Nickel Bars and Rods

Nickel rods and bars are solid, straight forms of nickel available in various shapes, including round, square, hexagonal, and triangular profiles. These products, manufactured from pure nickel or nickel-alloyed materials, provide high strength, thermal stability, and resistance to corrosive environments. Nickel bars and rods are commonly utilized in power generation plants for steam turbines, in aerospace applications for gas turbine components, in marine engineering, and for chemical processing hardware.

Various types of nickel bars include nickel hex bar, pure nickel alloy round bar, ASTM B160 nickel alloy rod, and nickel alloy square bar. They are available in multiple standards and can be tailored for specific end-use engineering and fabrication projects.

Nickel Plates

Nickel plates are flat, thick sections of rolled nickel or nickel alloys, engineered to deliver strength, durability, and corrosion resistance in demanding structural environments. These plates are critical in the construction of buildings, bridges, industrial machinery, and for components that require significant load-bearing capability paired with superior resistance to chemical attack and environmental degradation.

Nickel Sheet

Nickel sheet is a thin, flat material created from pure nickel or nickel alloy, produced through processes such as rolling, annealing, or precision cutting. With a uniform thickness that can be customized for project-specific requirements, nickel sheets deliver outstanding weldability, malleability, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity. Their superior resistance to oxidation and corrosion makes nickel sheet ideal for parts used in harsh environments or where precise fabrication is needed.

Nickel sheets are used in power generation, marine engineering, electronics manufacturing, battery technology, and the aerospace industry, where their durability and performance are critical to reliability and safety.

Nickel Tubing

Nickel tubing refers to seamless or welded nickel pipes and tubes, which can be manufactured in cylindrical or rectangular shapes. Nickel tubing is key for transporting aggressive fluids and gases, serving as vital components in chemical plants, petrochemical refineries, desalination systems, and high-temperature heat exchanger networks. Nickel’s outstanding formability, workability, and resistance to pitting, corrosion, and chemical attack ensures maximum longevity even in harsh service environments.

Typical nickel tube applications also include instrumentation, hydraulic lines, pumped gas systems, laboratory equipment, medical devices, and electronics manufacturing, demonstrating the alloy's versatility and performance across industries.

Permalloy Nickel Alloy

Permalloy is a magnetic nickel-iron alloy, typically containing 80% nickel and 20% iron. Known for its extremely high magnetic permeability and low coercivity, permalloy is especially suitable for magnetic shielding, transformers, and inductive core material in sensitive electronic and electromechanical applications. The alloy’s ability to efficiently redirect and block external magnetic fields enhances the precision of medical imaging, sensors, and high-fidelity audio equipment.

With excellent electrical resistivity and stable performance under varying operating frequencies, permalloy plays a crucial role in reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and enhancing signal clarity, making it indispensable for modern electronics and electrotechnical devices.

Leading Manufacturers and Suppliers

Chapter 3: What are the application and benefits of Nickel Metal?

This chapter will explore the various applications and advantages of nickel metal.

Applications of Nickel Metal

As previously mentioned, nickel is a versatile metal with numerous applications. These uses are summarized in the list below:

The main important application of nickel is as an alloying metal. It can combine with metals such as iron, copper, chromium to name just a few in order to form alloys that are high temperature resistant, corrosion resistant, have a low coefficient of thermal expansion, excellent ductility, great tensile strength, are malleable, and have good electrical conductivity. All these properties prove useful in the construction and production of various equipment and products used in industry and households.
It‘s useful for making stainless steel.
Nickel alloys are used in the aviation, marine, chemical, and energy industries.
Products such as color TV sets, communication sets, surgical instruments, combustion chambers, turbine engine disks are all made from nickel and nickel alloys.
Nickel is used in electroplating. This is done to prevent or slow down the corrosion of other metals as well as for decorative reasons.
It‘s also used in the making of rechargeable battery systems that are essential in power tools, transport, and emergency power supply.
Nickel also acts as a catalyst in several important chemical reactions such as the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, reforming of hydrocarbons, and production of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides.
Because of its corrosion resistance, nickel was at times utilized as a replacement for decorative silver. Nickel was also at times utilized in some nations after 1859 as a cost effective coin metal, but it was replaced in the 20th century in later years, by cost effective stainless steel.
Nickel naturally has a magnetic field presence meaning that it is a magnetostrictive material.
Nickel is utilized as a binding agent in the hard metal industry or cemented tungsten carbide. It is utilized in 6% to 12% ratios by weight. Nickel causes the tungsten carbide to be magnetic and enhances resistance to corrosion to the cemented components, though the hardness is lower than for those featuring a cobalt binder.
About 27% of all nickel manufactured is intended for engineering, 10% for construction and building, 14% for cylindrical products, 20% for metallic goods, 14% for transportations, 11% for electronic products, and 5% for other uses.

Benefits of Nickel Metal

Nickel is fully recyclable and plays a crucial role in building construction and in equipment used in power and communications industries, among others. Its durability, corrosion resistance, and hygienic properties make it valuable in the medical field. Pure nickel is rarely used on its own; it is usually alloyed with other metals to enhance ductility and strength at high temperatures.

Nickel's resistance to high temperatures reduces corrosion, allowing it to be used for extended periods without replacement. This makes it suitable for applications such as jet engines, offshore installations, and power generation facilities, where it endures extreme temperature conditions. Additionally, nickel is a key element in the stainless steel industry.

Drawbacks of Nickel Metal

Despite the many beneficial applications and favorable properties of nickel and its alloys, there are several drawbacks associated with these materials, which are outlined below:

Touching nickel can result in contact dermatitis among individuals with sensitive skin types.
Nickel occurs naturally and can only be obtained through mining, the negative consequences of mining include alteration of soil profiles, deforestation, contamination of local streams, increase in noise level and dust, and deforestation. Migratory routes of animals can be affected by the infrastructure built to support mining activities. Mining can reduce the living standards of people suited near the area where the mining activities occur.
Laterite nickel ores require a vast amount of energy for the drying of moisture and removal of chemically bound water from the ores as a result these two major operations are very expensive to carry out.
Since nickel is a metal it‘s difficult to fabricate as metal fabrication tools are expensive in comparison to plastic fabrication tools. In addition the processes that are carried out after the fabrication process, examples are finishing and painting, are expensive and time consuming. Furthermore metals are not ideal for creating complex designs.
Nickel alloys such as Inconel are difficult to shape.

Maintenance When Using Nickel Metal

Nickel finishes, which are often electroplated onto metals like copper or brass, may tarnish over time due to exposure to chemicals, oils, cleaning products, acidic foods, and other substances. Harsh weather conditions can also contribute to tarnishing. To maintain nickel-plated items, use a mild soap and a soft cloth for cleaning. A water and vinegar solution can help remove dirt and oils, while bleach-based cleaners and abrasives should be avoided. Although nickel products are corrosion-resistant and do not rust, they require proper care to keep their appearance.

Conclusion

Nickel is a naturally occurring metallic element which belongs to the metal category known as transition metals. It has two types of ores namely: laterites and magmatic sulfide ores. An ore is a naturally occurring rock which contains one or more minerals that can be extracted, refined and then sold at a profit. The nickel is mined and extracted from the ores using two different methods. Open cut mining, a surface mining method, is used to mine the laterite ore. Laterite ores contain large amounts of water as moisture and hydroxides as a result a large amount of energy has to be used in the drying process and removal of the chemically bound water. Sulfide ores are extracted using underground mining techniques. The ore is crushed and selective floating is used to get some of the nickel from the ore and remove the waste. Magnetic separators are sometimes used as well. Both extraction and refinement of the two ores result in nickel matte, a substance which is a nickel-iron sulfide. Further refinement of the nickel matte can result in nickel with a purity of up to 95%.

Secondary manufacturing processes include casting, molding, separating, and forming. Nickel can be machined into a variety of shapes through processes such as nickel extrusion, cold drawing and Electroless nickel plating. The latter being the most common way to shape nickel. Nickel can be shaped into bars and rods, sheets, plates, tubes and many other shapes. The main use of nickel is in the making of nickel alloys.

Nickel alloys can be classified into the following categories namely: nickel-titanium alloys, nickel-chromium-cobalt alloys, nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys, nickel-chromium-iron alloys, nickel-chromium alloys, nickel-molybdenum alloys, nickel-copper alloys, nickel-iron alloys, and wrought nickel. Nickel alloys all have different characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of applications.

Nickel is 100% recyclable and has many uses in the power, communications, marine, oil, and medical industries however it has its drawbacks. The most apparent drawback comes from the fact that mining is the only method that can be used to obtain the nickel ore of which mining is harmful to the environment. Furthermore, extracting nickel from laterite ore is expensive as a large amount of energy is required for the drying and smelting process. However nickel and nickel alloys remain an integral part of human civilization as products made from these substances are durable and can last for decades.