Nickel and nickel alloy plates
Nickel and nickel alloy plates are made from pure nickel or nickel-based alloys through a rolling process. Their excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature strength, and good plasticity make them indispensable in the chemical, aerospace, and energy sectors. Pure nickel plate (purity ≥99.5%) offers excellent alkali resistance and electrical conductivity, making it suitable for corrosion-resistant components in chemical equipment. Nickel alloy plates, by adding elements such as chromium, iron, molybdenum, and copper, form alloys such as Inconel, Monel, and Hastelloy, each demonstrating outstanding high-temperature strength, corrosion resistance, and oxidation resistance. For example, Inconel 600 alloy plate maintains high strength at 1000°C, while Hastelloy C-276 alloy plate exhibits excellent corrosion resistance to strong acids (including hydrochloric and sulfuric acids), meeting the requirements of extreme environments.
The production process for nickel and nickel alloy plates is complex, requiring optimized processing parameters tailored to the specific alloy characteristics. The process primarily involves smelting, ingot casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, and annealing. First, pure nickel plates are electrolytically melted into ingots, while nickel alloys are melted using vacuum induction melting or arc melting. The alloy composition and gas content (oxygen ≤ 0.01%) are strictly controlled. The ingots undergo homogenization annealing (600-700°C for pure nickel, 900-1100°C for alloys) before being hot-rolled. The heating temperature varies depending on the alloy type (800-900°C for pure nickel, 1100-1200°C for high-temperature alloys). Multiple rolling passes reduce the thickness to 5-20 mm. During rolling, the reduction and cooling rate must be controlled to prevent cracking. During the cold rolling phase, the hot-rolled plates are further reduced to 0.5-5 mm to enhance dimensional accuracy and surface finish. Multiple annealing passes are performed (500-600°C for pure nickel, 900-1050°C for alloys) to eliminate work hardening. After straightening and cutting, the finished plates undergo surface treatment (such as pickling and polishing), and finally undergo mechanical property testing (tensile strength, elongation) and non-destructive testing (ultrasonic testing) to ensure quality.
In the chemical and metallurgical sectors, nickel and nickel alloy plates are core materials for manufacturing corrosion-resistant equipment. Ammonia synthesis towers in fertilizer production are lined with pure nickel plates. Their excellent resistance to ammonia corrosion ensures long-term operation under high-pressure (30 MPa) and high-temperature (450°C) conditions. Electrolytic cells in hydrometallurgy utilize Monel 400 alloy plates, which are resistant to corrosion from sulfuric acid and copper sulfate solutions. A copper smelter has extended the service life of its electrolytic cells to over 10 years by using 20 mm thick Monel 400 plates. Furthermore, chlorine drying towers in hydrochloric acid production utilize Hastelloy C-276 alloy plates, which withstand the intense corrosion of wet chlorine gas and ensure continuous and stable operation.
The demand for nickel and nickel alloy plates is particularly critical in the aerospace and energy sectors. Inconel 718 alloy plates are used in the combustion chambers and turbine blade rings of aircraft engines. Its high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance above 650°C meet the engine’s rigorous operating conditions. One aircraft engine, using this alloy plate, has achieved an 8% increase in thrust-to-weight ratio. Nuclear reactor heat exchanger tube bundles are machined from pure nickel plates, whose excellent radiation resistance and thermal conductivity ensure efficient heat exchange and equipment safety. In the new energy sector, hydrogen fuel cells’ bipolar plates utilize thin nickel alloy plates (0.1-0.3mm thick). Formed through precision stamping, they offer both excellent electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance in the acidic environment within the fuel cell.
With the development of high-end equipment manufacturing, nickel and nickel alloy plates are experiencing continuous breakthroughs in performance and application. Manufacturers are developing directional solidification technology to enhance the creep resistance of high-temperature alloy plates to meet the higher temperature requirements of aircraft engines. They are also developing ultra-wide nickel alloy plates (widths > 2m) to meet the manufacturing requirements of large-scale chemical equipment. In the environmental protection sector, the flue gas treatment systems of waste incineration power generation equipment utilize corrosion-resistant nickel alloy plates to resist chloride corrosion in the flue gas and reduce equipment maintenance costs. In the future, with the rapid development of industries such as aerospace and new energy, nickel and nickel alloy plates will develop towards higher purity, higher performance, and thinner gauges, providing key material support for the upgrading of high-end manufacturing.
