NiCr Nickel Chrome Alloy

Ni Cr Alloy is a high-performance material with nickel as the matrix and chromium as the core alloying element. Typical grades include Ni80Cr20 (ASTM B344), Ni60Cr15, and improved Ni Cr Fe alloy. Due to its ultra-high resistivity, high temperature oxidation resistance, creep resistance, and excellent mechanical stability, nickel chromium alloy is widely recognized as the core material for electric heating elements, high-temperature equipment, and precision resistors, and is widely used in industrial heating, new energy equipment, aerospace, and other fields. 

Advantages of Nickel Chrome Alloy

✅ Excellent high temperature resistance performance

Excellent oxidation resistance: Chromium element forms a dense Cr ₂ O3 oxide film at high temperatures (≤ 1200 ° C), effectively blocking oxygen diffusion, and increasing the oxidation resistance life by more than 5 times compared to ordinary alloys.

Excellent creep resistance: It maintains high strength and resistance to deformation even at sustained high temperatures of 800~1100 ° C, making it suitable for heating components in long-term service. 

✅  Accurate and controllable resistance characteristics

High resistivity: reaching 1.08-1.12 μ Ω· m (20 ° C), 70 times that of copper, ensuring efficient conversion of electrical energy to thermal energy.

Low resistance temperature coefficient: The resistance value fluctuates less with temperature (TCR ≤ 50 ppm/° C), ensuring the stability of the temperature control system.

✅  Long service life

Thermal fatigue resistance: After cyclic heating, there are no cracks or fractures, and the service life can reach three times that of ordinary resistance alloys under repeated start stop conditions.

Chemical resistance: Resistant to weak acids, weak bases, and sulfide environments, suitable for chemical heating scenarios. 

✅  Flexible processing adaptability

It can be processed into wire (diameter 0.026mm), strip (thickness 0.022mm), foil (thickness 0.001~0.1mm) and customized shaped parts.

Supports annealed state (soft state) or cold drawn state (hard state), suitable for various process requirements such as winding, welding, stamping, etc.

Specifications & Technical Parameters of Nickel Chromium Alloys

Parameter	Details
Common Grades	Ni80Cr20 (UNS N06003), Ni60Cr15 (UNS N06004), NiCr20AlSi (sulfur corrosion-resistant)
Composition (%)	Ni: 60–80 / Cr: 15–23 / Fe ≤1.0 / Mn ≤0.5 / Trace Elements (e.g., Al, Si)
Max Operating Temperature	1200°C (oxidizing atmosphere) / 1000°C (reducing atmosphere)
Resistivity (20°C)	1.08–1.12 µΩ·m
Tensile Strength	Annealed: ≥550 MPa｜Cold-Drawn: ≥1200 MPa
Elongation	Annealed: ≥25%｜Cold-Drawn: ≥2%
Surface Treatments	Bright Annealing, Oxide Coating, Pre-Oxidation (pre-formed protective film)
Certifications	ASTM B344, IEC 60172, GB/T 1234

Applications:

Industrial heating and heat treatment

Electric heating elements: industrial furnace resistance wire, polysilicon melting furnace heating rod, glass fiber drawing furnace body.

High temperature sensors: thermocouple protection sleeve, molten metal temperature measurement probe.

Household and commercial appliances

Small heaters: electric kettle, oven, coffee machine heating coils, rapid warming and not easy to burn.

Thermostats: thermostat springs, thermistor substrates for precise response to temperature changes.

Automotive and Aerospace

Automotive electronics: seat heating wires, diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration heaters.

Aerospace anti-icing systems: wing heating elements, resistant to extreme temperature and vibration environments.

New Energy & Electronics

Lithium battery thermal management: module heating pads, equalizing the temperature of the battery cell.

Precision Resistors: High precision shunt and current sampling resistors to ensure stable signal transmission.

Quality Control

Customized service: support composition fine-tuning (e.g. adding Al/Si to enhance the anti-sulfureting performance), customization of shaped specifications (microfilament, ultra-thin strip) and pre-oxidation treatment (shorten the pre-treatment time before customer’s installation).

Why choose our Ni-Cr alloy?

🔹 Rigorous selection of raw materials: electrolytic nickel (purity ≥99.9%) and low-carbon ferrochrome are used to ensure the homogeneity of the alloy.

🔹 Precision processing: Precision cold drawing equipment can control the tolerance of wire diameter at ±0.002mm to meet the needs of microelectronic field.

🔹 Quick response: regular wire diameter is shipped within 3 days, complex customized parts are delivered in 10~15 days, and technical support follows up the whole process.

• Aerospace | Thomas Mitchell (USA)

How an aerospace procurement manager sourced 99.97% pure tungsten rods with custom specs and received delivery in half the expected lead time… Read Full Case Study

• Automotive | Marco Rossi (Italy)

How a car modification expert used custom CNC-machined tungsten alloy weights to fine-tune a vintage sports car’s handling—just in time for a major auto show… Read Full Case Study

• Electronics | Dr. Elena Carter (Canada)

How a semiconductor engineer replaced aluminum with MoCu heat sinks, improving thermal performance by 20°C while meeting aerospace-grade standards…  Read Full Case Study

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

Q1: What is NiCr alloy and what are its main compositions?

A1: NiCr (Nickel-Chromium) alloys are high-resistance materials primarily composed of:

• Nickel (Ni): 60–80%

• Chromium (Cr): 15–23%

• Minor elements: Fe ≤ 1.0%, Mn ≤ 0.5%, and trace amounts of Al and Si

  These alloys are well-known for their thermal stability and oxidation resistance.

 

Q2: What grades of NiCr alloy are available from FOTMA?

A2: Commonly supplied grades include:

• Ni80Cr20 (UNS N06003)

• Ni60Cr15 (UNS N06004)

• NiCr20AlSi – a special variant designed for enhanced sulfur corrosion resistance

 

Q3: What are the typical applications of NiCr alloy?

A3: NiCr alloys are used in:

• Electric heating elements and resistance wires

• High-temperature furnaces

• Thermocouples and metallurgical equipment

• Chemical processing and oxidation-prone environments

  Their resistance to thermal fatigue and corrosion makes them ideal for long-term high-temperature service.

 

Q4: What is the maximum operating temperature for NiCr alloys?

A4:

• In oxidizing atmospheres: Up to 1200°C

• In reducing atmospheres: Up to 1000°C

  This thermal endurance allows for consistent performance in demanding industrial processes.

 

Q5: What is the electrical resistivity of NiCr alloys at room temperature?

A5: The resistivity at 20°C ranges from 1.08 to 1.12 µΩ·m, which is suitable for precision heating and stable resistance performance.