Uses and Properties of Nickel Powder in Industrial Applications
Nickel Flakes is a commodity product that is used in a variety of industrial applications. It is a fine grayish-white powder that is produced through a mechanical or chemical process from nickel metal. Some key properties and uses of Nickel Flakes are discussed below.
Chemical Composition and Properties
Nickel Flakes is composed purely of nickel metal. Nickel Powder has an atomic number of 28 and an atomic weight of approximately 58.7 grams per mole. It is a transition metal that is extremely resistant to corrosion from many chemicals and environments. Some important properties of Nickel Flakes include:
– High melting point of around 1453°C, providing heat resistance.
– Excellent ductility and strength even at sub-zero temperatures.
– Magnetic properties when in powder or particulate form.
– Resistance to corrosion from acids, alkalis and saltwater.
– Low thermal and electrical resistivity.
Common Uses in Metal Alloys
One of the largest uses of Nickel Powder is in the production of nickel-based alloys for industrial applications. Nickel improves the mechanical properties of other metals when alloyed with them. Some examples include:
– Stainless steel: Nickel strengthens steel and improves its corrosion resistance, making it “stainless”. Approximately 65% of nickel production goes into stainless steel.
– Nickel-based superalloys: High-nickel alloys like Inconel and Hastelloy have excellent heat and corrosion resistance for applications like gas turbines.
– Nickel-plating: Electroplating nickel onto metal substrates protects them from corrosion while improving aesthetic properties.
Use in Batteries and Fuel Cells
Nickel Flakes is used as an active material in a variety of battery and fuel cell technologies due to its ability to reversibly store and release charge through redox reactions. Some examples include:
– Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries: One of the most widely used rechargeable batteries, NiMH batteries use nickel oxyhydroxide as the positive electrode. Global nickel consumption for NiMH batteries is over 20,000 metric tons per year.
– Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries: An older rechargeable battery technology that is being replaced by lithium and NiMH types. NiCd batteries use nickel oxyhydroxide as the positive electrode.
– Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs): Nickel oxide and nickel are commonly used catalyst materials in the anode of SOFCs to facilitate the oxidation of hydrogen gas.
– Other emerging technologies: Nickel is being investigated for its potential use in high-energy zinc-nickel oxide batteries and other battery chemistries.
Use in Catalysis
Finely divided Nickel Powder possesses catalytic properties useful for industrial chemical synthesis and energy production. Some examples include:
– Hydrogenation reactions: Nickel is often used as a catalyst to add hydrogen to organic compounds in the oil, chemical and food industries.
– Reforming reactions: Platinum-promoted nickel catalysts are commonly used for steam reforming of natural gas to produce hydrogen fuel.
– Carbonylation reactions: Nickel complexes catalyze the addition of carbon monoxide molecules to organic compounds in processes like acetic acid production.
– Fuel cells: As mentioned above, nickel catalysts promote the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen fuel in solid oxide fuel cells.
Manufacturing of Nickel Flakes
Nickel Flakes can be produced through several different mechanical and chemical fabrication methods depending on the required powder properties:
– Carbonyl process: Exposing nickel pellets or turnings to carbon monoxide gas forms volatile nickel tetracarbonyl, which is then decomposed to deposit Nickel Flakes. Provides very fine, spherical powders.
– Electrolytic process: Electrically refining impure nickel anodes into high-purity cathodes, which can then be crushed or milled into powder. Allows for good control of powder size and morphology.
– Atomization: High velocity gas or liquid jets break molten nickel into fine droplets that solidify into powder particles. Produces irregular, porous powder shapes.
– Milling/grinding: Mechanical processing of bulk nickel pieces through grinding, polishing and classification yields irregularly shaped powders. Simple and affordable process.
Nickel Powder possesses exceptional properties such as corrosion resistance, strength and catalytic activity that make it extremely valuable for industrial metal alloys, batteries, fuel cells and chemical catalysis. Its manufacturing involves refining processes like carbonyl decomposition or electrolysis to produce high quality powders.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public Source, Desk Research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
