Month: August 2023

Exploring the Versatile Applications of Nickel Alloy in Various Industries

Nickel alloys have many beneficial properties. They play a crucial role in multiple industries. As a member of the iron group, the material is ductile, hard, malleable, and easy to work with. It’s also a fairly good conductor of electricity and heat and can resist corrosion at high temperatures, making it a good choice for aerospace, electrical, and chemical processing applications.

Depending on the needs of a particular project, nickel alloys come in a variety of stock forms and shapes, including sheet, coil, & plate. At Continental Steel & Tube Company, we are a specialty supplier of all forms and grades of nickel. Whether you require nickel tube, pipe, sheet, bar, wire, plate, fittings, or more, we have the right solution for you.

Understanding the Grades of Nickel and Nickel Alloys

Nickel 200 and 201 are considered commercially pure nickel grades. This means that they contain at least 99% nickel, with the other 1% or less consisting of iron, copper, manganese, carbon, and other metals.

• Nickel 200. This is the most commonly used of the commercially pure nickel alloy grades. Many industries use Nickel 200 and 201 alloys because of its superior thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance against caustic alkalis, and mechanical properties. Other favorable properties of Nickel 200 include ideal magnetostrictive properties and minimal electrical resistivity.
• Nickel 201. Nickel 201 is similar to Nickel 200 but with a lower carbon content (0.02% max). This slight modification provides improved resistance to graphitization at elevated temperatures, making it suitable for applications where high-temperature and corrosion resistance are required.
• Nickel Alloys. In addition to these two types of pure nickel, there are various types of nickel alloys, including:

• Alloy 20
• 155
• 188
• 255
• Monel^® 400
• Inconel^® 600
• Inconel^® 601
• Inconel^® 617
• Inconel^® 625
• Inconel^® 718
• Incoloy^® 800H/HT
• Incoloy^® 825
• A286 / A-286
• Hastelloy^® C22 / C-22
• Hastelloy^® C276 / C-276
• Hastelloy^® X
• Inconel^® X-750
• Invar^® 36
• Invar^® 42
• Haynes^® 25 / L-605
• Monel ^® K-500
• Rene^® 41
• Waspaloy^®
• Alloy 6B
• Custom 455
• Hastelloy^® B3
• Kovar

Applications of Nickel Plates, Sheets, and Coils in Different Industries

Numerous applications and industries rely on nickel plates and other forms of nickel alloy.

Aerospace Industry
Aerospace companies often use nickel alloys in engine parts because of their high level of heat resistance and ability to hold up in extreme environments. Nickel sheets are frequently used to produce airframes, spacecraft components, and jet engines due to their resistance to heat and corrosion.

Chemical Industry
Chemical processing equipment is often constructed using nickel plates, coils, and sheets for their chemical-resistant properties. Specific applications in this industry include pipes, reactors, and other chemical plant equipment.

Automotive Industry
Nickel plates are commonly used to produce various vehicle components to enhance their appearance and corrosion resistance. Automotive manufacturers also utilize nickel sheets for electric vehicle battery production due to their high energy density.

Electrical Industry
Nickel sheets and plates are frequently used in battery components and electronic connectors because of their good electrical conductivity. The material’s magnetic properties also make it a suitable option for magnetic storage devices such as hard drives.

Medical Industry
Nickel’s corrosion-resistant and biocompatible properties make it useful in fabricating surgical implants and equipment. Nickel-titanium alloys are particularly popular in dental wires, stents, and other medical devices.

Choose Continental Steel for Your Nickel Plates, Sheets, Tubes, Bars, Coils, and More

If you require high-quality nickel plates, sheets, tubes, bars, or coils for your application, Continental Steel offers a wide range of nickel alloys and products to meet your needs. With ideal properties such as improved versatility, increased corrosion resistance, toughness, heat resistance, and more, nickel alloys offer the ideal solution for a diverse range of industries and applications.

Contact us or request a quote today for more information about our extensive selection of nickel alloy products.

Copper, Brass & Bronze in the Aerospace Industry

The aerospace industry depends on various aerospace-grade alloys to ensure aircraft parts and components meet the industry’s high standards. These components must withstand the demands of air travel, including heavy loads, high temperatures, abrasion, and corrosion. Due to their properties, copper, brass, and bronze are used extensively in the aerospace industry. They are ideal materials for manufacturing aircraft components with excellent wear and corrosion resistance, such as bearings, bushings, and wheel and brake parts.

Here, we will explore the copper, brass, and bronze alloys used in aerospace manufacturing, including the common components produced and the unique benefits these materials offer.

Aerospace Grade Alloys

Aerospace-grade alloys are used in many applications, including pylons, hydraulic pump parts, tail and wing actuators, brake and wheel parts, cargo door bushings, landing gear bushings, and bearings. Aerospace alloys address the unique challenges of aircraft applications, which must reliably handle abrasion, corrosion, and heavy loads. Aerospace-grade alloys include the following:

• AMS 4533 (C17200) Beryllium Copper
• AMS 4616 (C65620) Silicon Bronze
• AMS 4634 (C64200) Silicon Aluminum Bronze
• AMS 4640 ‘H’ (C63000) Nickel Aluminum Bronze
• AMS 4842 (C93700) High Leaded Tin Bronze ’80-10-10′
• AMS 4862 (C86300) Manganese Bronze
• AMS 4871 (C95400) Aluminum Bronze ‘9C’
• AMS 4881 ‘D’ Continuous Cast (C95520) Nickel Aluminum Bronze
• C67300 (SAE J463, J461) Manganese Bronze
• AMS 4589, AMS 4590, AMS 4596, AMS 4597, AMS 4880
• C26000, C63020, C72900, C95510, C95520, C11000

Uses of Copper, Brass & Bronze Alloys in the Aerospace Industry

The aerospace industry requires special materials to manufacture components that conform to the industry’s strict high-performance standards. Brass offers unique engineering qualities that fit the demands of aerospace applications. Its exceptional corrosion resistance makes it an excellent material for brake and wheel parts as well as bearings and bushings for cargo doors and landing gears.

Bronze is also a common aerospace material that can be heat-treated to increase its strength and mechanical properties. Also used for landing gear bushings, bronze is ideal for withstanding challenging conditions like high temperatures, abrasion, and heavy loads. Bronze with high silicon content is also suitable for aerospace applications due to its exceptional mechanical properties and self-lubrication.

The uses of bronze, brass, and copper aerospace alloys for the aerospace industry include the manufacture of:

• Flap and slap carriages
• Flight controls
• Flight instruments
• Ground equipment
• Hatch and door mechanisms
• Helicopter controls
• Hydraulic actuators
• Landing gear bearings and bushings
• Missile vane controls
• Static joints
• Steering joints
• Warhead delivery systems
• Wheel bearings

Why Continental Steel?

Aircraft alloys must safely and reliably carry fighter pilots, astronauts, commercial airline passengers, cargo, and more. Thus, aerospace materials must comply with aerospace specifications and offer high strength, corrosion resistance, and lightweight construction. Aerospace-grade copper, brass, and bronze alloys are common choices because they withstand the abrasion, load, and high temperatures common in aerospace applications. They make aerospace components such as bearings and bushings for landing gears, flight controls, and steering joints.

Continental Steel is a specialty metal supplier offering brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, steel, nickel, stainless steel, and titanium from four distribution centers throughout the U.S. We have been a leading supplier since 1985 and maintain AS9120B:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications. Continental Steel is a supplier trusted by leaders in the military and aerospace industries. Contact us or request a quote to learn more about our materials and capabilities.