What is Nickel Copper

Nickel-Copper (Ni-Cu) alloys exhibit simultaneously high strength and toughness, excellent corrosion resistance, and may show good wear resistance. The Ni-Cu system forms the basis for the Monel alloy family. Monel was discovered by Robert Crooks Stanley who was employed by the International Nickel Company (INCO) in 1901. The new alloy was named in honour of the company president, Ambrose Monell. Ni and Cu exhibit very similar atomic characteristics. They both have face centred cubic (fcc) crystal structure type, less than three percent difference in atomic radii, and exhibit similar electronegativity and valence state. The Ni-Cu system has complete solid solubility, which allows production of single phase alloys over the entire composition range. Although the Ni-Cu system exhibits complete solid solubility, the large differences in melting points between Ni (1455 °C) and Cu (1085 °C) can result in Cu segregation. Following equilibrium solidification at slow cooling rates, dendrites become enriched in Ni and interdendritic regions get enriched in Cu. However, with an increase in cooling rate during solidification the compositional gradient decreases and the microstructure morphology changes from dendritic to cellular. Higher undercoolings during solidification also lead to finer and more equiaxed grain sizes after annealing. Monel alloys can be easily fabricated by hot and cold metal forming processes and machining. Recrystallisation studies determined the optimum hot deformation temperatures to be 950–1150 °C, which are quite similar to other Ni-base alloys and steels. However, heat treatment schedule requires rigorous development: usually a two-step age-hardening heat treatment in the temperature range of 650–480 °C is used for Ni-Cu alloys. The higher temperature stage helps to quickly nucleate precipitates of alloying elements, and the lower temperature stage provides a superior distribution of higher number density of smaller-sized particles. If you are looking for high quality, high purity and cost-effective Nickel-Copper, or if you require the latest price of Nickel-Copper, please feel free to email contact mis-asia.

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