Nickel plating and the use of nickel in alloys: with copper, aluminum, titanium, chromium

Nickel is a silver-gray, ductile, malleable metal. It belongs to transition metals, that is, it can exhibit both acidic and alkaline properties. Under normal conditions, nickel is covered with an oxide film and is therefore inactive. The difference from other similar elements is that its oxide film does not reduce shine. And today we will tell you about the use of nickel in industry, the use of its alloys in construction and other areas of life.

A little history

Many years before this miraculous discovery, miners from Saxony were familiar with ore that could be mistaken for copper ore. Attempts to extract copper from this material were futile. Feeling deceived, the ore began to be called “kupfernickel” (in Russian - “copper devil”).

Mineral expert Krondstedt became interested in this ore. After much work, a new metal was obtained, which was called nickel. Bergman took over the research baton. He further purified the metal and concluded that the element resembled iron.

Physical properties of nickel

Nickel is part of the tenth group of elements and is in the fourth period of the periodic table under atomic number 28. If you enter the symbol Ni in the table, this is nickel. It has a yellow tint with a silver base. Even in air, the metal does not become faded. Hard and quite viscous. It lends itself well to forging, making it possible to produce very thin products. Perfectly polished. Nickel can be attracted using a magnet. Even at a temperature of 340 degrees with a minus sign, the magnetic properties of nickel are visible. Nickel is a metal that is resistant to corrosion. It exhibits weak chemical activity. What can you say about the chemical properties of nickel?

Urgent Care

Any emergency assistance comes down to completely eliminating the poisoned person’s contact with either metallic nickel, or its vapors, or soluble compounds. In case of nickel carbonyl poisoning, you must additionally completely remove all clothing and mechanically remove it from the skin using soap and water. In case of carbonyl poisoning, they give oxygen, administer symptomatic drugs, glucocorticoid hormones, bronchodilators, or even transfer them to mechanical ventilation.

Recently, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate has been used for severe poisoning, and drugs such as disulfiram are used. In the case of contact dermatitis, conventional treatment methods are used involving the use of antiallergic drugs and local glucocorticoid hormones. The most important way to treat a nickel allergy is to first get rid of contact with metal objects.

Chemical properties

What is needed to determine the qualitative composition of nickel? Here we should list which atoms (namely their number) our metal consists of. The molar mass (also called atomic mass) is 58.6934 (g/mol). We have moved forward with measurements. The radius of the atom of our metal is 124 pm. When measuring the radius of the ion, the result showed (+2e) 69 pm, and the number 115 pm is the covalent radius. According to the scale of the famous crystallographer and great chemist Pauling, the electronegativity is 1.91, and the electronic potential is 0.25 V.

The effects of air and water on nickel are practically negligible. The same can be said about alkali. Why does this metal react this way? NiO is created on its surface. This is a coating in the form of a film that prevents oxidation. If nickel is heated to a very high temperature, then it begins to react with oxygen, and also reacts with halogens, and with all of them.

If nickel gets into nitric acid, the reaction will not take long to occur. It is also readily activated in solutions containing ammonia.

But not all acid affects nickel. Acids such as hydrochloric and sulfuric acid dissolve it very slowly but surely. And attempts to do the same with nickel in phosphoric acid were not successful at all.

Symptoms and signs of acute and chronic nickel poisoning

The simplest and relatively harmless type of poisoning is an allergy to nickel. Dermatologists know that this metal is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Even 2008 passed under the auspices of nickel, which was recognized as “allergen of the year” by the American Society for the Study of Contact Dermatitis, which indicates the importance of the problem. It is precisely due to the allergic properties of this metal that in the European Union countries the maximum permissible concentrations of nickel in those metal products that are in direct contact with human skin are legally limited. These are various bracelets, keychains, keys, door handles, rivets and zippers, eyeglass frames and other products. Dermatitis can be primary and secondary (systemic).

Nickel in nature

Scientists' speculations are that the core of our planet is an alloy that contains 90% iron and 10 times less nickel. There is the presence of cobalt - 0.6%. During the rotation process, nickel atoms were released into the earth's covering layer. They are the founders of sulfide copper-nickel ores, along with copper and sulfur. Some bolder nickel atoms did not stop there and made their way further. The atoms strove to the surface in company with chromium, magnesium, and iron. Next, the companions of our metal oxidized and became disconnected.

On the surface of the globe there are acidic and ultrabasic rocks. According to scientists, the nickel content in acidic rocks is much lower than in ultrabasic rocks. Therefore, the soil and vegetation there are quite well enriched with nickel. But the journey of the hero under discussion in the biosphere and water turned out to be not so noticeable.

Nickel ores

Industrial nickel ores are divided into two types.

Sulfide copper-nickel. Minerals: magnesium, pyrrhotite, cubanite, milerite, petlandite, sperrylite - this is what is contained in these ores. Thanks to the magma that formed them. Sulfide ores can also yield palladium, gold, and more.
Silicate nickel ores. They are loose, clay-like. Ores of this type are ferruginous, siliceous, and magnesian.

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Receiving [edit | edit code ]

The total reserves of nickel in ores at the beginning of 1998 are estimated at 135 million tons, including reliable reserves of 49 million tons. The main nickel ores - nickel (kupfernickel) NiAs, millerite NiS, pentlandite (FeNi)9S8 - also contain arsenic, iron and sulfur; igneous pyrrhotite also contains pentlandite inclusions. Other ores from which Ni is also mined contain impurities of Co, Cu, Fe and Mg. Nickel is sometimes the main product of the refining process, but more often it is obtained as a by-product in other metal processes. Of the reliable reserves, according to various sources, from 40 to 66% of nickel is in “oxidized nickel ores” (ONR), 33% in sulfide ores, 0.7% in others. As of 1997, the share of nickel produced by OHP processing was about 40% of global production. In industrial conditions, OHP is divided into two types: magnesium and ferruginous.

Refractory magnesium ores, as a rule, are subjected to electric smelting using ferronickel (5-50% Ni + Co, depending on the composition of the raw material and technological features).

The most ferrous - laterite ores are processed by hydrometallurgical methods using ammonia-carbonate leaching or sulfuric acid autoclave leaching. Depending on the composition of the raw materials and the technological schemes used, the final products of these technologies are: nickel oxide (76-90% Ni), sinter (89% Ni), sulfide concentrates of various compositions, as well as metal electrolytic nickel, nickel powders and cobalt.

Less ferrous nontronite ores are smelted into matte. At full-cycle enterprises, the further processing scheme includes conversion, matte firing, and electric smelting of nickel oxide to produce metallic nickel. Along the way, the recovered cobalt is released in the form of metal and/or salts. [12] Another source of nickel: in the coal ash of South Wales in England - up to 78 kg of nickel per ton. The increased nickel content in some coals, oils, and shale indicates the possibility of nickel concentration in fossil organic matter. The reasons for this phenomenon have not yet been clarified.

“Nickel for a long time could not be obtained in plastic form due to the fact that it always contains a small admixture of sulfur in the form of nickel sulfide, located in thin, brittle layers at the boundaries of the metal. Adding a small amount of magnesium to molten nickel converts the sulfur into the form of a compound with magnesium, which is released in the form of grains without affecting the ductility of the metal.” [13]

The bulk of nickel is obtained from garnierite and magnetic pyrite.

Silicate ore is reduced with coal dust in rotary tube kilns to iron-nickel pellets (5-8% Ni), which are then cleaned of sulfur, calcined and treated with an ammonia solution. After acidifying the solution, metal is obtained from it electrolytically.
Carbonyl method (Mond method). First, copper-nickel matte is obtained from sulfide ore, over which CO is passed under high pressure. Highly volatile tetracarbonylnickel [Ni(CO)4] is formed, the thermal decomposition of which produces a particularly pure metal.
Aluminothermal method for the recovery of nickel from oxide ore: 3NiO + 2Al = 3Ni +Al2O3

Where is nickel used?

Nickel is widely used in such a powerful industry as metallurgy. Namely, in the manufacture of a wide variety of alloys. The alloy mainly contains iron, nickel and cobalt. There are many alloys based on nickel. Our metal is combined into an alloy, for example, with titanium, chromium, molybdenum. Nickel is also used to protect products that corrode quickly. These products are nickel-plated, that is, they create a special nickel coating that prevents corrosion from doing its nasty work.

Nickel is a very good catalyst. Therefore, it is actively used in the chemical industry. These are instruments, chemical utensils, devices for various applications. For chemicals, food, delivery of alkalis, storage of essential oils, tanks and reservoirs made of nickel materials are used. Nuclear technology, television, and a variety of devices, the list of which is very long, cannot be used without this metal.

If you look into such a field as instrument making, and then into the field of mechanical engineering, you will notice that anodes and cathodes are nickel sheets. And this is not the entire list of uses for such a simply wonderful metal. The importance of nickel in medicine should not be underestimated.

Nickel in medicine

Nickel is used very widely in medicine. First, let's take the tools needed to carry out the operation. The result of the operation depends not only on the doctor himself, but also on the quality of the instrument he uses. Instruments undergo numerous sterilizations, and if they are made of an alloy that does not include nickel, then corrosion will not take long to occur. And tools made from steel, which contains nickel, last much longer.

If we talk about implants, nickel alloys are used for their manufacture. Nickel-containing steel has a high degree of strength. Devices for fixing bones, prostheses, screws - everything is made of this steel. In dentistry, implants have also taken a strong position. Clasps and stainless steel braces are used by orthodontists.

Nickel in living organisms

If you look at the world from the bottom up, the picture emerges something like this. There is soil under our feet. The nickel content in it is higher than in vegetation. But if we consider this vegetation under the prism that interests us, then a large nickel content is found in legumes. And in cereal crops the percentage of nickel increases.

Let us briefly consider the average nickel content in plants, marine and terrestrial animals. And of course, in a person. The measurement is in weight percent. So, the mass of nickel in plants is 5*10 -5. Land animals 1*10 -6, sea animals 1.6*10 -4. And in humans the nickel content is 1-2*10 -6.

The role of nickel in the human body

I always want to be a healthy and beautiful person. Nickel is one of the important trace elements in the human body. Nickel usually accumulates in the lungs, kidneys and liver. Accumulations of nickel in humans are found in the hair, thyroid and pancreas. And that's not all. What does metal do in the body? Here we can safely say that he is a Swede, a reaper, and a trumpet player. Namely:

tries, not without success, to help provide cells with oxygen;
redox work in tissues also falls on the shoulders of nickel;
does not hesitate to participate in regulating the body’s hormonal levels;
safely oxidizes vitamin C;
one can note its involvement in fat metabolism;
Nickel has an excellent effect on hematopoiesis.

I would like to note the enormous importance of nickel in the cell. This microelement protects the cell membrane and nucleic acids, namely their structure.

Although the list of worthy works of nickel can be continued. From the above, we note that the body needs nickel. This trace element enters our body through food. Usually there is enough nickel in the body, because you need very little of it. Alarm bells of a lack of our metal are the appearance of dermatitis. This is the importance of nickel in the human body.

Nickel alloys

There are many different nickel alloys. Let us note the main three groups.

The first group includes alloys of nickel and copper. They are called nickel-copper alloys. Whatever the ratios in which these two elements are fused, the result is amazing and, most importantly, without surprises. Homogeneous alloy is guaranteed. If there is more copper than nickel in it, then the properties of copper are more pronounced, and if nickel predominates, the alloy exhibits the character of nickel.

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Nickel-copper alloys are popular in the production of coins and machine parts. The alloy Konstantin, which contains almost 60% copper and the rest nickel, is used to create equipment of higher precision.

Consider an alloy with nickel and chromium. Nichromes. Resistant to corrosion, acids, heat resistant. Such alloys are used for jet engines and nuclear reactors, but only if they contain up to 80% nickel.

Let's move on to the third group of alloys. These are alloys with iron. They are divided into 4 types.

Heat resistant – resistant to high temperatures. This alloy contains almost 50% nickel. Here the combination can be with molybdenum, titanium, aluminum.
Magnetic - increase magnetic permeability, often used in electrical engineering.
Anti-corrosion - this alloy cannot be avoided in the production of chemical equipment, as well as when working in an aggressive environment. The alloy contains molybdenum.
An alloy that retains its dimensions and elasticity. Thermocouple in the furnace. This is where such an alloy comes in. When heated, the dimensions are maintained and elasticity is not lost. How much nickel is needed for the alloy to have such properties? The alloy should contain approximately 40% metal.

Nickel is all around us

8K 8 min.

Valentin Bystrov, professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Russian Federation, who for more than 30 years headed the Department of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metals at the National Research Technological University MISIS, talks about the metal.

Silver-white nickel, which does not tarnish in air and is endowed with many properties beneficial to humans, has been the stepson in a family of metals similar in appearance since its birth. Silver and platinum received precious status and became favorites of kings, nobility and mints. Cheap and surprisingly light aluminum has acquired the honorable status of “winged metal”. Younger palladium is also classified as a precious metal. It is increasingly used in the jewelry industry, and in the auto industry it is used as a primary exhaust catalyst. But nickel was unfairly slandered long before its official birth in 1751. Then it was examined and added to the gallery of chemical elements by the Swedish mineralogist Kronstedt. He gave the metal the name of the evil spirit of the mountains of German mythology - Nicolaus, or "cunning loafer."

Franz Josef syndrome

However, a bad name is not a death sentence. In the 18th century, nickel remained such an exotic metal that it was worth its weight in gold. The anti-corrosion and anti-bacterial properties of nickel were noticed, and wealthy people began to order products made from it for household needs. In particular, for the monarchs who occupied the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, food was prepared exclusively in nickel-plated dishes, to the envy of many other royal courts in Europe. Only by the end of the century was it possible to establish sufficiently widespread production of nickel, and it ceased to be considered a luxury item. However, when Emperor Franz Joseph suddenly fell ill, and the court doctors could not establish why exactly, all the blame was placed on nickel. It was literally outlawed: a special decree officially prohibited the use of this metal for making dishes. And only twenty years later, after special research, the ban was lifted.

The evil plan of the court medical camarilla, who tried to justify their professional failure with the “machinations” of nickel, was most clearly refuted by the fate of Franz Joseph himself, who became the oldest reigning monarch of Europe. He occupied the throne of Austria-Hungary for 68 years and died in 1916, at the age of 86, having outlived all the would-be doctors who branded nickel. So, nickel has been completely rehabilitated as a kitchen benefactor. In our homes, a copper-nickel alloy, additionally dressed in a nickel-plated “shirt,” has completely replaced silverware. At the same time, nickel does not just shine brightly, praising the conscientiousness of the housewife. Nickel-plated cookware is highly resistant to corrosion and has excellent bactericidal properties, protecting vitamins and other beneficial substances.

The characteristics of popular German dishes are known. There is nothing to argue here. But you need to add: the formula for Zepter stainless steel is 18 parts chromium to 10 parts nickel.

Double standard

Nutritionists write treatises on the important role of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and other trace elements in foods. Nickel is practically ignored. Meanwhile, the biological role of nickel is extremely important: it is actively involved in the structural organization and functioning of the main cellular components - DNA, RNA and protein. In addition, it deals with hormonal regulation of the body.

In terms of its hematopoietic role, nickel is similar to cobalt: it is a powerful stimulator of the formation of red blood cells in the hematopoietic tissue of the bone marrow, the synthesis of hemoglobin, and increases the absorption of iron by the body. In combination with cobalt, iron, copper, it participates in other processes of hematopoiesis, and independently in the metabolism of fats and providing cells with oxygen. The so-called divalent nickel is involved in intracellular transport and communication. In addition, nickel serves as an important structural component of some enzymes.

Daily nickel intake should be 100–300 mcg. Nickel-rich foods include cocoa, chocolate, nuts, dried beans, peas, grains, seeds and eggs. There is also a lot of it in buckwheat, carrots and lettuce, onions and dill, in currants, cherries and mushrooms. But here it should be borne in mind that only 1 to 10% of nickel from food is successfully absorbed in the human gastrointestinal tract. Nickel is absorbed better with water – by 20–25%. However, a number of products greatly reduce nickel absorption: milk, coffee, tea, orange juice, and anything rich in ascorbic acid. Since they are the most frequent guests on the dinner table, we are clearly not in danger of an excess of nickel. Nature, however, is wise and has arranged it in such a way that during iron deficiency, pregnancy and breastfeeding, the human body begins to absorb nickel much better.

In medicine, nickel alloys are most widely used in the manufacture of implants. And in this area, where nickel has done so much good for man, they are now trying to defame him. Particularly heated controversy surrounds metal-ceramic dentures. Those who are attacking them - and these are mainly dental associations in a number of Western European countries - Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway - argue that nickel, which makes up the metal base of crowns, is dangerous to health and life. The head of the department of hospital orthopedic dentistry at the Moscow State Medical and Dental Institute, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Igor Lebedenko has already spoken about this in the press: “...We live in an age of unscrupulous information. I dedicated my PhD thesis, many scientific works and inventions in the field of materials science specifically to dental alloys... And I can say with full responsibility that metal-ceramic dentures, made without violating technology, from dental materials approved for use by the Ministry of Health of Russia are absolutely harmless to the body. The only “but” is individual intolerance. After all, there are allergies to gold items. The metals that make up dental alloys are normal components of our body. And therefore, unlike synthetic materials, they cannot cause an unpredictable reaction. The human body contains a lot of enzymes, and almost all of them contain metals, including chromium, cobalt and nickel. To say that they are dangerous is simply incorrect.

...At the moment when I was writing my PhD thesis on nickel-chromium alloys, a translated work was published that said that nickel causes cancer. This “discovery” was supposed to undo all my scientific work. Then I found the original source, it was called: “Does Nickel Cause Cancer?” That's right, with a question mark. It said that there is not a single documented case in which nickel alloys used for dentures caused degeneration in anyone. In 100% of cases where nickel alloys were used, I did not find any harmful reaction that would differ from the reaction to implantation of known alloys that do not contain nickel. Clinically, for people who do not have allergic reactions, nickel alloys are good and affordable. In the USA they were the basis for prosthetics for military personnel. This is a serious argument in their favor: in highly developed countries, the army and children are sacred, and they will certainly not use harmful components.”

And here are the results of testing dental implants, which was carried out by a dentist of the highest category, the head physician of the Moscow Innovative Dental Clinic R. Gizatullin and a dentist of the highest category, Honored Inventor of the Russian Federation L. Gurfinkel. We quote: “Nickel intermetallic compounds, including titanium nickelide, which is popular in dentistry, are corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant and scale-resistant. Materials based on them do not exhibit any carcinogenic effects.”

The summary from all of the above is simple: a good dental prosthesis at affordable prices - metal-ceramic, including those containing nickel alloys. And Western European dentists are now intensively introducing a whole range of new, more expensive materials. There is a fierce competition going on, in which all means are good. Including double standards. Professor Lebedenko, not without irony, Fr.

Thousands of professions

Nickel alloys, the number of which has already exceeded four thousand, surround us on all sides. Thus, many household heating devices have nichrome spirals. Platinite replaces expensive platinum when it is necessary to solder metal into glass, for example, in syringes and electric lamps. Elastic elinvar is an excellent material for springs, especially clock springs. Permalloy is increasingly used in telephony and radio engineering. Nitinol, which has a “memory” and therefore cannot be deformed, stubbornly returns to its previous form - it is loved by manufacturers of modern, especially durable eyeglass frames. Nickel alloys are used to make sewing needles, rivets for jeans and fashionable clothing. Various nickel compounds have found active use in cosmetics and household chemicals. And we generally use nickel-cadmium batteries and accumulators literally at every step.

Copper-nickel alloys are widely used by many countries in coinage, and modern Russian ones are no exception. It is curious that it was in this capacity that nickel served people long before its official discovery. The ancient Chinese as early as the 2nd century BC. began to smelt an alloy of nickel with copper and zinc - pakfong. With the light hand of the Chinese, it began to be in demand in other countries, including Bactria, a state located on the site of the modern post-Soviet Central Asian republics. It is the Bactrians, apparently, who have priority in the minting of coins from copper-nickel alloys, namely from Chinese pamphong. Now, of course, such coins are numismatic rarities. One of them, issued in 235 BC, is kept in the British Museum in London.

There are known cases of allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes with frequent contact with coins containing nickel. But there are not many of them, no comparison with peanut butter or pollen. But if there is not enough nickel in the skin, dermatitis is almost guaranteed. It is noteworthy that many countries of the European Union, which in every possible way call for limiting the nickel content in products that come into contact with human skin, calmly continue to mint 1 euro coins and other denominations from copper-nickel alloys.

Let us also recall that in the United States the 5-cent coin is commonly called a “nickel.” Copper-nickel alloy nickels depicting one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, have been produced since 1938 in multi-million copies. But the number of dimes (ten-cent coins) and quarters (25-cent coins) runs into the billions every year. Both of these coins have also been made from a copper-nickel alloy since 1965.

You can't fool us

Please note: nickel, as a rule, is slandered by unscrupulous “specialists”. But our people cannot be deceived; they liked this metal, slandered by the Saxons, Austrian Aibolites and some greedy dentists. According to folk tradition, after 12 years of family life, a married couple celebrates a special anniversary - a nickel wedding. Since it is a metal resistant to external influences, it confirms that the love of the spouses has stood the test, that no adversity could destroy their unity. At the same time, the nickel wedding serves as a reminder to them that the relationship should continue to be maintained in brilliant shape. The best gifts for a nickel wedding are pots, coffee pots, samovars made of stainless chromium-nickel steel, cutlery made of nickel and silver alloys, cupronickel.

Nickel in everyday life

If you look around, you can understand that nickel alloys surround people everywhere. Let's start with the furniture. The alloy protects the furniture base from damage and harmful influences. Let's pay attention to the fittings. Be it for a window or a piece of furniture. It can be used for a long time and looks very nice. Let's continue our excursion to the bathroom. There is no way without nickel here. Shower heads, faucets, mixers - all nickel plated. Thanks to this, you can forget what corrosion is. And there is no shame in looking at the product because it looks cute and supports the decor. Nickel-plated parts are found in decorative structures.

Nickel cannot be called a minor metal. Various minerals and ores boast the presence of nickel. I am glad that such an element is present on our planet and even in the human body. Here he plays an important role in hematopoietic processes and even in DNA. Extensively used in technology. Nickel gained its dominance due to its chemical resistance in protecting coatings.

Nickel is a metal that has a great future. After all, in some areas it is indispensable.

Use of material in construction

World nickel production in 1887 was only 600 tons. The metal was used to make coins. But already from the 80s, the nickel industry began to actively develop. The impetus was the high corrosion resistance of the metal, and, most importantly, its alloys.

Nickel plating as a way to “ennoble” a product also began to be used from the end of the 19th century and was only replaced by chrome plating in the 30s of the 20th century. In construction, nickel-plated parts are still used in the construction of a wide variety of decorative structures.
For the same reasons, nickel-plated parts are used in furniture production. The metal layer not only gives the product shine and beautiful color, but also protects the frame from any external influences.
Decorative qualities determine another area of application - fittings for furniture, windows, doors, household appliances, and so on. Handles, hinges, and metal trims look great and last a very long time.
Nickel-plated taps, faucets, shower heads and other bathroom accessories never go out of style, as the nickel layer provides the products with an excellent appearance and exceptional resistance to corrosion of any kind. Of course, this option is inferior to bronze in terms of decorativeness, because the base here is steel, and it is not malleable. But the silver color and unfading shine are also attractive.
Alloys with nickel are used much more widely, especially various stainless and structural steels. It is unrealistic to imagine modern construction without the participation of rolled metal.

Nickel is a metal characterized by high corrosion resistance and is capable of imparting this property to its alloys. This quality is most often the reason for using metal.

This video will tell you about chemical nickel plating:

Nickel Applications

The oxide film protects the metal, giving it high corrosion resistance. Moreover, its effect is so strong that not only nickel itself turns out to be inactive, but also any other objects coated with the thinnest layer of nickel. It is this quality that determines one of the most common methods of application.

This video will tell you about the use of nickel in everyday life:

Nickel plating

Nickel plating is the production of a nickel coating by galvanic method on the surface of other metals - iron alloys, as a rule, in order to protect the latter from corrosion. In 2015, 7% of the mined metal was used for nickel plating. Such “processing” is encountered everywhere: dishes, cutlery, metal pipes used in the manufacture of furniture or for decorative purposes. In addition to protecting the base alloy, the metal also imparts a beautiful silver shine that does not fade over time.

Nickel is used to protect cast iron, iron, magnesium and even zinc and aluminum, which themselves are considered quite resistant to corrosion. However, nickel has another special property - exceptional resistance to alkalis. Nickel plating of metal products is actively used in the chemical industry - for the production of tanks for storing and transporting chemically aggressive substances, for example, as well as for the production of parts intended to work in the most dangerous conditions: for example, to protect duralumin aircraft blades from corrosion.

Other areas

The metal is used in the production of batteries - nickel-cadmium, iron-nickel, nickel-zinc, nickel-hydrogen. Nickel electrodes are stable in the electrolyte, have a long service life and are affordable. Thus, a zinc-silver battery demonstrates higher performance, but is much more expensive.
The metal is used in the chemical industry to produce a variety of reagents.
In medicine, nickel is used in the manufacture of prosthetics and brace systems, since the metal is completely inert and safe. The same property allows the substance to be used in the manufacture of equipment for the food industry.
However, a much larger share of nickel is spent on producing various alloys. Iron alloys account for 67% of the mined substance, and non-iron alloys account for 17%.

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This is due to the fact that nickel gives the alloys almost the same anti-corrosion resistance that it itself possesses. As a result, most of the metal is used to produce a wide variety of stainless steels. The same iron alloys that are not alloyed with nickel are galvanized or nickel-plated for protection. It is simply unrealistic to list the areas of application of stainless and structural steels: there is no area of the national economy where these products are not used.

Of no less interest are other nickel alloy compositions, for example, an alloy of nickel with iron, copper, tin, aluminum, titanium, chromium and other metals.

Treatment

When using nickel, choose the method of applying the protective layer. For this purpose there is chemical and electrolytic technology.

Electrolytic

The coating is applied in a bath containing the workpiece, electrode and electrolyte. The current is supplied from a transformer or laboratory source. The coating is uniform, the presence of defects is minimized, and there are no pores. Application is carried out as follows:

Take a container that will easily fit the part.
Place the electrode and secure the workpiece to the bracket so that they do not touch the walls.
Add electrolyte.
Find a power source with up to 6V and 1.2A current.
Attach a negative charge to the part and a positive charge to the anode.
Turn on the power source. Remember that depending on the time the current is applied, different thicknesses of the coating are formed.
Turn off the current as soon as the desired effect is achieved.
Sand the product if necessary.

Chemical

Thanks to this method, the nickel layer is more durable. It is easier to implement at home since no experience or special skills are required. Chemical processing has its drawbacks: it is not used for parts with complex shapes or rough surfaces, and it is also unevenly distributed in hard-to-reach areas.

Layering process:

Mix the reagents with water in a deep container. It is important that it is not damaged by the components used.
Heat the solution, and after boiling, add NaPO2H2.
Take a metal container coated with enamel and make a dielectric holder. The structure is formed so that the part does not touch the walls.
Add electrolyte and then lower the part onto the holder.
Bring the mixture to a boil and then leave it in the solution for 2-3 hours. The time is adjusted depending on the desired effect.
Remove the part and wash with slaked lime.

In addition to the methods described, there is black nickel plating. It is used for decorative or technical purposes. It does not have high protective properties, but gives a deep black color due to the large amount of zinc.

Alloys based on it

Nickel alloys are extremely diverse, and their properties are so important for various sectors of the national economy that almost all compositions form separate groups.

With copper

Nickel-copper alloys - a rare feature inherent in such a solid solution is the mutual complete solubility of the metals in each other. When alloyed in any proportion, a single-phase homogeneous alloy is obtained that changes its properties naturally and predictably. The corrosion properties of such alloys are determined only by the proportions of the substances: with a copper share of more than 50%, the properties are closer to the qualities of copper itself; with a nickel share of more than 50%, the alloy exhibits the qualities inherent in nickel.

Nickel-copper alloys are resistant to both acids and alkalis. They are used in the production of parts and tanks for equipment operating in phosphoric, sulfuric, perchloric acid environments, as well as machine parts experiencing high load-bearing loads.

The most well-known compositions of this kind include Monels: 70% nickel, 28% copper and 1.5–2% iron.

Coins are made from copper-nickel alloys.
Constantan is an alloy of 40% nickel and 59% copper, used in the manufacture of high-precision equipment, as it is wear-resistant and can withstand high loads.

The use of nickel in modern technology is presented in this video:

Nickel is a metal that is necessary for the human body for normal hematopoiesis; it is a component of red blood cells. Also, the microelement participates in oxidative and reduction processes, thereby helping to provide the body’s cells with oxygen. What foods contain nickel? Scientists have proven that the human body better absorbs nickel in foods, and its biological role is very important:

regulation of fat and carbohydrate metabolism;
ensures the normal state of the cell membrane;
corrects the effect of adrenaline;
biosynthesis of hormones;
part of ribonucleic acid;
participates in the metabolic process of cobalamin and ascorbic acid;
influences enzymatic processes and much more.

Nickel in the human body

Nickel was discovered as an element in the mid-18th century by chemist Axel Kronstedt (Sweden), and since then its research has begun. Mostly metal accumulates in the following parts of the human body: thyroid gland, bones, adrenal glands, muscles, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, brain and liver.

Metal is excreted from the body through sweat, feces and bile. The total mass of nickel contained in a person at a time varies from 5 to 14 grams. The metal is absorbed into the blood through the hydrochloric acid of the stomach.

Daily metal requirement and deficiency symptoms

The daily norm of the element has not yet been established; it is believed that it depends on age, height, gender and health status. Sufficient values range from 100 to 300 mcg. If there is a deficiency, the following symptoms are observed:

decrease in blood quality indicators for hemoglobin, cholesterol and other substances;
heaviness in the limbs, lethargy, decreased physical activity;
increase in blood sugar levels;
changes in the structure of the liver, even pathological;
hypopigmentation.

Care and cleaning of products

If you use nickel-plated utensils and utensils made of stainless steel (chromium-nickel alloys) correctly, you won’t have to clean the items particularly.

Wash products with hot water with the addition of regular detergents and a soft sponge. To clean dirt at home, use a solution of water with vinegar and citric acid. After washing, wipe dry, otherwise traces of water drops and stains will remain.

Excludes:

aggressive detergent compositions (especially those containing chlorine);
abrasive powders;
metal scourers.

Mustard powder and baking soda are suitable for removing contaminants. Experts recommend cleaning nickel-plated cookware with a paste of water and regular chalk.

If there are greasy stains inside the pans, prepare a solution of water and ammonia (10-12 drops of ammonia per liter of water), carefully wipe the surfaces with a sponge soaked in the composition. Then rinse and wipe dry.

Nickel-rich foods

There are many food products rich in nickel, but among them there are undisputed leaders. These are cashew nuts, cocoa powder, soybeans, lentils and beans, spinach, green peas. Among fruits and berries, the following are distinguished by their elemental content: cherries, apricots and black currants. Sufficient amounts of nickel are found in meat and fish products.

But you should understand that nickel will be absorbed worse if you drink food with orange juice, tea, coffee or milk. Information about which products contain nickel is presented in the table. Don't forget to include them in your diet.

Prevention

In modern industries, where there is proper control and labor protection, any toxic effect of nickel and its compounds can be neutralized using isolating respirators, filtering hose gas masks and special clothing. Workers must use special pastes and ointments, the skin of their hands must be treated with special compounds, but the most important thing that can be done is to eliminate manual labor, especially loading and unloading parts from electrolysis baths, and to use mechanization in production as widely as possible.

A very important means of preventing chronic intoxication is to conduct periodic medical examinations, as well as the use of special skin test samples with nickel compounds. As a screening diagnosis, radiography of the nasal sinuses and annual consultations with an oncologist at work must be carried out.