When it comes to sourcing nickel alloys and special metal alloys, finding a reliable supplier is crucial. A nickel alloy supplier plays a vital role in providing high-quality materials that are essential for various industries such as aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, and more.
At Special Metal Alloys, we understand the importance of delivering materials that possess exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, heat resistance and other desirable properties.
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In addition to offering a diverse selection of nickel alloys and special metal alloys, a reliable supplier should also provide excellent customer service. This includes prompt responses to inquiries, technical support and on-time delivery to ensure smooth operations for their clients.
Whether you need nickel-based superalloys for high-temperature applications or corrosion-resistant alloys for chemical processing environments, partnering with a trusted nickel alloy supplier can provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have access to top-quality materials for your specific needs.
The team at Special Metal Alloys boasts extensive experience in the worldwide markets for specialist Nickel Alloys and Stainless Steels. We are well-versed in the intricacies of these industries, allowing us to provide expert advice and assistance to clients.
Call +44 161 278 2386 or email sales@specialmetalalloys.co.uk to discuss your requirements.
Nickel is a crystalline metal that is commonly found in the earth’s crust, particularly in areas with high sulphide and laterite-type ore deposits.
The major producers of nickel are Canada, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and Russia.
Nickel pairs well with other metals to enhance their properties and create incredibly versatile alloys.
Nickel alloys are manufactured from various carefully balanced combinations and ratios of metals that have nickel as one of their primary elements.
Nickel is primarily alloyed with chromium, copper, iron, aluminium, cobalt, titanium, carbon and molybdenum in varying percentages to enhance the particular qualities required for specific applications, usually in extreme working environments.
From the earliest historical records, it appears that a nickel alloy called “white copper” was first used in China in 200 BC.
Modern nickel alloys date back to the work of German scientist Axel Cronstedt in 1751 who combined nickel with copper and zinc, known today as German Silver. His work was further developed by James Riley in 1913 and later by Dr. W.H. Hatfield to create stainless steel by combining nickel, iron, and chromium.
Metallurgical research has led to a wide variety of very advanced nickel alloys, serving the needs of a large variety of industries and applications.
Carefully selected metals are melted together and purified in an arc furnace in exact ratios, according to the metallic properties desired.
The nickel alloy is formed into a wide range of shapes and products for various applications using either cold or hot working techniques.
The various nickel alloy metals are incredibly versatile and have extraordinary properties such as corrosion resistance and high strength and can be used under extreme temperatures, often making them the only viable option in critical applications.
Compared to austenitic and many other alloys, nickel alloys have specific properties required in various applications and outperform almost all other metals in terms of strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to high temperatures, corrosion, and electrical conductivity in extreme environments.
Nickel alloys in various forms are indispensable for nuclear and aerospace components, chemical processing, production and transportation equipment in the oil and petroleum industries, surgical implants, medical equipment, marine equipment, automotive parts, valves and pumps, turbine engines, transformers, inductors, magnetic shields, data storage devices, engineering, and in the construction industry.
Typical industrial applications can include tubes, tanks, pipes, mixing devices, pumps, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, furnaces, propellers, offshore pipelines, valves, transformers, memory storage devices, hermetic seals in X-ray tubes, and temperature switches.
In addition to their industrial use, nickel alloys have a wide range of domestic and consumer applications. This will include towel rails, ornamentation, plumbing and sewerage, coins, jewellery, kitchenware, electronic devices and even guitar strings.
Nickel alloys have exceptional resistance to corrosion and oxidation, making them ideal for use in harsh environments where other materials would quickly degrade, ranging from domestic use to nuclear, gas, oil, and petroleum applications.
Nickel alloys have enormous compressive, yield, and tensile strength in relation to their weight. This makes them highly durable and tough enough to bear vast amounts of weight and stress and to withstand tension and pressure.
Nickel alloys retain their strength and shape under extreme temperatures, ranging from cryogenic temperatures to environments as high as 980 °C.
Nickel alloys are highly ductile, meaning they can be stretched and drawn to a very high degree and withstand very high impact without deforming or breaking.
Especially those alloys with very high levels of nickel have excellent soft magnetic properties, which means they can be easily magnetised and demagnetised.
Although it requires special skill to weld nickel alloys, they can be welded using manual metal arc, MIG (metal inert gas) or TIG (tungsten inert gas) processes.
In very high-temperature applications, nickel alloys limit the heat transfer to other components.
Nickel alloys with both higher and lower electrical conductivity are manufactured according to the applications for which they are required. Generally, they have lower conductivity than pure copper, but linked to their strength and corrosion resistance, can serve satisfactorily as specialised electrical conductors.
Nickel alloys maintain their dimensional stability over a vast range of temperatures and typically have low thermal expansion coefficients.
This makes them ideal for precision applications that must maintain dimensional stability over a range of temperatures and pressures.
Used in environments where alkaline chemical resistance and electromagnetic shielding are required.
Used in marine environments where resistance to saltwater is required.
Used where high acidic chemical resistance is needed, such as in high-quality pumps, valves, gaskets, pressure vessels, heat exchangers and piping products.
Used where high resistance to scaling, electrical resistance, and high melting points are required, such as in nuclear reactors, heaters, ovens, and toasters.
Typical applications for these alloys include industrial furnace components, gas turbines, and catalyst grid supports to produce nitric acid and fossil fuel.
Used where high stress-rupture, endurance under permanent loads, and high acid resistance are needed, such as in prestressed or reinforced structures, petrochemical furnaces, and sheathing for heating elements.
Offering the best acid-corrosion resistance, nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys are used in pollution control stack liners, ducts, and scrubbers, as well as in chemical processing components such as heat exchangers, evaporators, or reaction vessels.
Used where excellent corrosion resistance, good mechanical strength and shape memory are required, such as medical devices, surgical applications, specialised connectors, spectacle frames, and shock absorbers that provide earthquake resistance in historic stone buildings.
By adding metals like titanium and cobalt, super alloys are created with exceptional mechanical strength, strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to thermal creep deformation, surface stability, resistance to corrosion and oxidation, and the ability to operate at temperatures very close to their melting points.
Special Metals Alloys are leading specialist suppliers of high-performance nickel alloy products to a wide variety of industries. Apart from large central stock, we have fast turnaround agreements with several reputable producing mills and mill agencies.
This is a highly specialised area with which Special Metal Alloys can serve clients with expert technical advice and support.
Get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can call us on +44 161 278 2386 or email sales@specialmetalalloys.co.uk.
29 Riding Fold Lane,
Worsley,
Manchester,
United Kingdom,
M28 2UR