Key difference – Nickel vs Stainless Steel
Nickel and stainless steel are two different types of metals and a difference between them can be noted based on their different properties and applications. Thekey differencebetween these two metals is,Nickel is a pure chemical elementin d-blockwith some unique properties whereasstainless steel is ametal alloycontaining iron,Chromium, and Nickel. The composition of those three elements vary in stainless steel; nickel contributes the least amount of quantity in composition. The pure Nickel oxidizes slowly at room temperature; therefore it is a relatively corrosion resistant element. Due to its corrosion resistance, it is used in the production of corrosion resistant metal alloys. One of those examples is stainless steel.
What is Nickel?
Nickel is a chemical element (symbolNiandatomic number28) in the periodic table and atransition metalin the d-block. Nickel is used in many areas for industrial applications; for example, in buildings, water supply systems, electronic equipment, chemical industry, transport industry and medical equipment. The main reason for this wide range of application is due to its various characteristic properties. In other words, Nickel has a unique combination of properties; it is aductilemetalwith ahigh boiling point (14530C), possessesmagnetic propertiesat room temperature, and can be used as acatalystfor some chemical reactions.
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a metal alloy which is made using a combination of several metals; iron, Chromium, and Nickel. The main property of stainless steel is itscorrosion and stain resistance; they aredurableand used in many fields such as buildings, transport, food and beverage handling, chemical plants, and medical equipment. Stainless steel is durable, and it needs a low maintenance cost; therefore it is used in a large range of applications in many fields.
一个镍之间的区别是什么d Stainless Steel?
Composition of Nickel and Stainless Steel
Nickel:Nickel is a pure chemical element; it is also a member of transition metal group. Nickel has five naturally occurring stableisotopes;58Ni,60Ni,61Ni,62Ni, and64Ni. The most abundant isotope is58Ni, and its natural occurrence is about 68.077%.
Stainless Steel:不锈钢铁(Fe)的组合,空空的omium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni). In general, stainless steel contains a large amount of iron and less amount of Nickel (8%-10%). Chromium is the second largest element in its composition. The use of Nickel in stainless steel is not cost effective. Therefore, manufacturers try to use the minimum amount of Nickel.
Properties of Nickel and Stainless Steel
Nickel:Nickel possesses unique properties; for example it is a ductile metal with magnetic properties. It oxidizes slowly at room temperature, in other words, it is a stable element at room temperature and resists corrosion. Nickel has a high boiling point, and it can be used as a catalyst in some industrial scale chemical production.
Stainless Steel:The most predominant property of stainless steel is its corrosion resistance and resistant to stain. In addition, it is a strong metal and durable for many years with a low maintenance cost. Stainless steel is an environment-friendly product because it can be fully recycled.
Applications of Nickel and Stainless Steel
Nickel:The majority of Nickel production is used to produce Nickel steels; as a fraction, it is about 46% of total production. In addition, it is used to produce non-ferrous alloys and super alloys and in electroplating. There are several unique applications of Nickel; to produce magnets, coins, guitar strings, rechargeable batteries and microphone capsules.
Stainless Steel:Stainless steel is used in producing cooking equipment, cutlery, household hardware, medical equipment and jewelry.
Image Courtesy: “Nickel chunk” by Materialscientist at English Wikipedia.(CC BY-SA 3.0)viaCommons “Stainless Steel Sheet Plate Strip Coil Circle” by Jatinsanghvi – Own work.(CC BY-SA 3.0)viaWikimedia Commons
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