An Overview on Nickel Copper Alloy, Its Properties and Applications

Copper is one of the noblest metals and Nickel lies adjacent in the periodic table. The combination of these two outstanding metals brings even more exceptional properties.

Copper-Nickel alloy is an alloy of copper blended with Nickel and other elements. Both copper and Nickel are completely miscible and thus possess great properties. These properties are completely different from what these metals can offer individually.

We will give a complete overview of this exceptionally good copper alloy. There is so much more to this alloy in terms of its properties and applications. So, let’s go through about Copper-Nickel alloy.

Copper Nickel alloy: an introduction

Copper-Nickel alloy is a remarkable Copper alloy that is of medium to low resistance alloy. Copper-Nickel alloy is produced through conventional metallurgical methods. One of the most celebrated properties of Copper-Nickel alloy is its exceptionally good corrosion resistance. The color of Copper Nickel alloy is not affected by its copper content and is silver in color. 

The optimum operating temperatures of Nickel copper alloy go up to 400 degrees I.e., 750-degree Fahrenheit. Due to the low-temperature coefficient of electrical resistance of Nickel copper alloy, it has been a consistent performer.

Copper-Nickel alloy is also known for its good ductility and excellent corrosion resistance. Apart from ductility and being corrosion resistant, Nickel copper alloys can be easily soldered and welded. 

Applications of Nickel Copper alloy

• Copper-Nickel alloy is used in seawater condenser systems and desalination plants. Its 90-10 and 70-30 compositions are used in pipework that is applicable in chemical plants, offshore oil and gas productions.
• The 90-10 composition of Copper-Nickel alloy is used as an automotive application. As it does not require any surface protection is used in brakes and suspension systems. Due to its extra safe surface, it is also used in cooling systems and commercial vehicles. 
• The Copper-Nickel alloy wires can be cut into long wires with sizes ranging from 0.13 mm to 2 mm in diameter. When cut in such diameters the alloy attains strict tolerance and alpha values. They are then used in gas detection and thermometry tolerances.
• The Cu-30Ni-Cr alloy is used in forgings, cast seawater pumps, and valve components. 
• The Cu-Ni-Al alloy is one of the highest strength versions of all the Copper-Nickel alloys. They are used in shafts, bearing bushes, bolts, valve trims, gears, etc. 
• Copper along with 25% Nickel is used in the manufacture of coins and other valuable applications.
• 45% Copper-Nickel alloy is used to make thermocouples due to high and uniform EMF.

Copper Nickel alloy wire in heaters

Copper-Nickel alloy is majorly found in our electrical resistance heaters. The heating cable of Nickel-Copper alloy is less prone to failure by avoiding overheating and thus preferred over other Copper wire. Due to its low-temperature coefficient of resistance, it remains unaffected to heat for a longer duration.

The heating capability of Copper-Nickel alloy is continuous 20-30 meters to the temperature range of 500-1000 degrees. 

As Copper-Nickel alloy cables are excellent at malleability and are used to heat the subterranean intervals of earth. They work at full efficiency at high voltages at around 400-1000 Volts. 

Nickel-Copper alloy-based heater coils are also known to last longer as the resistance in the hot segments is maintained similar to the rest of the coil. Due to the elimination of the hot spots, the chances of premature failure are almost negligible in Copper-Nickel alloys.

Copper-Nickel alloy has many other applications too like in cooling circuits, condenser tubes, assemblies, etc. It's not just an electrical marvel but an alloy that is also used in intensive care units. Its non-corrosive properties make it an excellent alloy to prevent strong anti-microbial contamination.

You can get the best quality Copper-Nickel alloy cables at Rajasthan Electrics. We have more than a decade-long experience in the field of cables and wires. Hence, there will be a drawback in the quality of our product. 

To contact us do visit this link- website http://www.rajasthanelectric.com/contact-us.html