We are a trusted, reputable global distributor of nickel alloys, supplying high-quality products.

All our nickel alloys provide high performance and excellent corrosion resistance.

We serve a range of industries, including aerospace and aeronautics, medical and healthcare, nuclear, power generation, defence, construction, and chemical processing.

We are committed to responsible business practices and have a first-class reputation.

Contact us today for all your nickel alloy needs. 

Our team is experienced and knowledgeable, providing excellent customer service.

Knowledge and Expertise in Nickel Alloy Distribution 

Due to the various forms, unique properties, and challenging applications of the full range of nickel alloys –  including high-performance superalloys –  it’s essential to buy from a knowledgeable distributor or supplier like Special Metal Alloys UK. 

We have extensive experience in specialist industries and a deep understanding of standards, metallurgical qualities, grades, and functions.

This ensures we can offer bespoke solutions for each project and select the most suitable nickel alloy for its intended purpose.

The Special Metal Alloys team has the comprehensive training and experience to advise and supply our customers across the full spectrum of industries.

Based in the UK, with an extensive network of supply partners, we have distinguished ourselves in global markets for over thirty years and earned a reputation for the highest standards and customer service.

 We deal professionally and efficiently with all our customers’ commercial, technical, and financial enquiries and offer short lead times and highly competitive prices.

We also provide state-of-the-art laser-cutting services for profiles and tubular products.

You can contact us online by email at sales@specialmetalalloys.co.uk, or by calling us at +44 (0)7305 752346  or +44 (0)161 278 2386

What are Nickel Alloys?

Nickel alloys are a unique blend of nickel with a range of other metals, such as chromium, molybdenum, aluminium, iron, tungsten, titanium, cobalt, boron, manganese, copper, and other elements, using innovative manufacturing processes to enhance the base metal with the superior qualities and advantages of these alloyed metals.

The distinguishing alloying process and combination of the range of metals depend on which exclusive qualities are required for specific applications.

What are the main types of nickel-based alloys?

Each of these main types of nickel-based alloys has further subdivisions, with other metals or minerals added to meet the exacting standards of diverse applications.

Nickel-iron alloys

They are best known for their unique magnetic, thermal, and electrical properties and near-zero thermal expansion. They are used as magnetic screens, recording heads, glass-to-metal seals, devices requiring controlled thermal expansion, precision instruments, and temperature-sensitive equipment.

Examples include Invar, Alloy 42, Kovar, and Alloy 45.

Nickel-copper

They have exceptional corrosion resistance, especially in seawater and are primarily used in marine, industrial, and cryogenic applications, and for antimicrobial surfaces. 

Examples include Cupronickel, Monel and in some applications brass.

Nickel-molybdenum alloys

They have superior strength and stability, with exceptional corrosion resistance, predominantly in environments with sulfuric and phosphoric acids and in high-temperature applications.

They are highly suitable for chemical and petrochemical processing, pollution control, gas turbine engines, and aerospace components.

Examples include Alloy C-276, Alloy C-4, Alloy 22, and Alloy 625.

Nickel-chromium alloys

They can be used in applications requiring high electrical resistivity, and outstanding resistance to oxidation at high temperatures.

They are commonly found in devices with electrical, thermal and corrosion-resistant wires, thermocouples, heating elements, springs, and dental devices. Nickel-chromium-boron alloys are often used in bearings, ballast, casting, and radiation shielding applications.

Examples include Nichrome, NiCr 80:20, NiCr 70:30, NiCr 60:15, NiCr 40:20, Alloy 800, Alloy 825, Monel 400, Nimonic alloys, and Hastelloy alloys.

Nickel-titanium alloys

They are sought after for their superelasticity and shape memory, which are particularly useful in the medical industry for stents, guide wires, orthodontics and endodontics applications, and a variety of biocompatible devices. They are also used in actuators, spacecraft components, and electrical and electronics devices.

Examples include Monel (Ni-Cu), Inconel (Ni-Cr-Fe), Hastelloy (Ni-Mo-Cr), Nichrome (Ni-Cr), and Nitinol (Ni-Ti).

Which industries need nickel alloys?

Nickel-based alloys are typically used in harsh environments, unforgiving environments where extraordinary resistance to oxidising, saline, aqueous, acidic, and alkaline corrosion; extreme temperatures; strength; resilience to wear and high-flow velocity liquids, hygiene, and biocompatibility are required.

These characteristics make them ideally suited for applications in industrial and chemical processes, environmental technology, and the storage and transportation of corrosive liquids and gases.

Nickel alloys are cornerstone materials in the aerospace industry, for jet and rocket engine components, structural parts, fuel and hydraulic tubing, exhaust systems, and propulsion systems.

The chemical processing, marine, and energy industries extensively use nickel alloys in heat exchangers, radiation tubes, valves, pumps, subsea structures, nuclear and offshore power plants, gas and oil exploration equipment, sheathing, condensers, oil coolers, and antimicrobial touch surfaces.

In the automotive and construction industries these alloys are used in structural components, turbochargers, exhaust valves, exhaust systems, hydraulic and fuel tubing, piping systems, tanks, and storage vessels.

In the electronics, food processing, and medical industries they find application in various components of manufacturing equipment; high-performance instrumentation; circuit breaker and safety equipment; surgical, biological, and medical equipment and devices; enclosures and magnetic shields; circuits and connectors; temperature control; storage, processing, and fermentation tanks and tubing; and optical devices such as lasers, telescopes, and microscopes.

The defence and aeronautical industries use nickel alloys for applications ranging from aircraft, missile, and submarine structures and propulsion parts to fuel and hydraulic tubing and piping, high-performance instrumentation, exhausts, heat exchangers, and air ducts.

Benefits of nickel alloys

Depending on the specific nickel alloy composition, they are highly versatile and offer unmatched corrosion resistance and temperature resistance, superior mechanical properties, durability, strength, shape memory, a low thermal expansion coefficient, ductility, permeability, electrical and thermal conductivity, and flexibility.

Get in touch

Contact us online, or give us a quick call at +44 [0]161 278 2386 to find out more.ut more.