This section provides an overview for nickel as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 nickel manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked nickel companies as of November, 2024: 1.Metal Associates Inc., 2.Ed Fagan Inc., 3.Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, Inc..
Table of Contents
Nickel is a metallic element with the element symbol (Ni) and an atomic weight of 58.71.
It is a silvery-white metal with a specific gravity of 8.9 (20°C), a melting point of 1,453°C, a boiling point of 2,730°C, and a coefficient of linear expansion of 13.3 x 10-6/°C. It has good corrosion resistance, excellent ductility, and is easily processed. It has good corrosion resistance, excellent ductility, and is easy to process.
Products containing nickel are all around us. For example, it is used for cookware, medical equipment, cell phones, buildings, and generators.
One of the most important of these is the rechargeable battery used in electronics, emergency power supplies, and electric vehicles. One such battery is the nickel-metal hydride battery. Nickel is used in the positive electrode of these nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Nickel-based cathode active materials are also used in lithium-ion batteries as well as nickel-metal hydride batteries. Although not all cathode active materials used in lithium-ion batteries contain nickel, lithium-ion batteries using nickel-based cathode active materials are the mainstream raw material because it is easy to increase energy density and output.
Nickel is particularly resistant to corrosion in freshwater, seawater, and alkaline solutions. While some people have the image that "metals rust easily when immersed in seawater," nickel can be safely used in seawater because of its strong corrosion resistance.
Nickel is also resistant to corrosion and oxidation. A metal that is strong but weak against corrosion will have durability problems, but the use of nickel can solve these problems. Another feature of nickel is that it can be alloyed with other metals to create a variety of materials.
Since nickel can be alloyed easily, it is crossed with all kinds of metals to create new alloys. It can be processed at relatively low cost, making it an excellent, cost-effective material. Nickel has a melting point of 1,453°C and a very high thermal tolerance. By taking advantage of this property when alloying, heat-resistant alloys can be created.
One of the best-known nickel alloys is nichrome. As the name suggests, this alloy is primarily composed of nickel and chromium, and is used as a heat-generating element due to its high electrical resistance.
Alloys containing nickel typically offer improved corrosion resistance, durability, and strength against temperature changes compared to the original metal-only material, and have a wide range of special magneto-electrical properties. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, nickel, and chromium and contains approximately 8-12% nickel.
Nickel-based alloys have an even higher nickel content. Nickel alloys are also used to make coins.
In addition to forming alloys with other metals, nickel is also industrially produced in inorganic compounds such as nickel oxides and salts with acid components such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.
Nickel oxide (II)
Chemical formula: NiO, dark yellowish green to gray powder. Insoluble in water, soluble in hydrochloric acid.
Applications: raw material for electronic components, battery electrode materials, catalysts, ceramic products, etc.
Nickel Sulfate
Chemical formula:NiSO4, green crystal or powder. Easily soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol.
Applications: Nickel plating, Nickel catalyst, black coloring agent for zinc and brass, pigment for ceramics, active material raw material for lithium-ion batteries.
Nickel Chloride
Chemical formula: NiCl2, green columnar crystals, monoclinic crystals, deliquescent. Easily soluble in water and alcohol.
Applications: Electroplating, reagent
Nickel Carbonate
Chemical formula: NiCO3, light green crystal or powder. Insoluble in water, soluble in acid.
Uses: catalyst, pigment for ceramics, raw material for Nickel salt, electroplating.
Nickel Nitrate
Chemical formula: Ni(NO3)2, green monoclinic crystals, deliquescent. Soluble in ethanol and ammonia water.
Applications: Raw material for catalysts, metal surface treatment agent, plating material, batteries.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Metal Associates Inc, established in 1983, and based in New Jersey, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Their product portfolio includes a diverse range of ferrous, non-ferrous metals, copper, aluminum, steel, brass, and bronze metals. They also offer specialty metals and hard-to-find metals such as nickel alloy, diamond tread plate, copper-nickel, nickel silver, beryllium copper, and high-speed steel. The products are used in various industries which include automobiles, machinery, and architecture.
Ed Fagan Inc. was established in 1965, is located in Franklin Lakes, NJ, and are supplier of specialty metals and special purpose alloys. The portfolio includes controlled expansion alloys, electronic grade nickels, refractory metals and alloys, soft magnetic alloys, and many more. Every day the company furnishes customers with special-purpose metals and alloys, competitive market pricing in conjunction with all the services the clients expect from a supply chain. The stocking program of the company provides customers the methods so that the materials can be shipped on demand, in the quantities needed.
Metalmen, established in 1986 and headquartered in Long Island City, New York, is a supplier of a wide range of metals, alloys, and various forms. The company has an extensive product catalog including Aluminum extrusions, NiChrome 80/20, stainless steel, Titanium, and pure metals like Zirconium. These materials find vital applications in key sectors such as aerospace engineering, electronics and electrical device manufacturing, nuclear power generation, as well as among researchers seeking non-standard specialty metals, and military defense contractors.
Umicore is a manufacturer of materials technology and recycling products established in 1989 and based in Brussels, Belgium. The company offers rechargeable battery materials such as cobalt for electric vehicle batteries, and a range of automotive catalysts for emissions control applications. It also offers specialized machines for battery recycling as well as precious metal refining. The company is IATF 16949 and ISO 45001-certified, and mainly serves clients in the sustainable energy, electric vehicle, and recycling sectors.
Isabellenhütte USA, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Swansea, MA, United States, is a manufacturer of precision alloys and power resistor products. The company's products use precision measurement technology, such as DC current, voltage and temperature sensors, resistance alloys, and various resistors, including surface-mounted assemblies, bus-bar-mounted assemblies, and hybrid-mounted assemblies. It serves industries that include automotive, chemical processing, and medical equipment manufacturing. Isabellenhütte USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Isabellenhütte Heusler GmbH KG, located in Dillenburg, Germany.
Ise Chemicals Corporation, established in 1927, is based in Tokyo, Japan, as a manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemicals. The company manufactures three product categories, namely iodine, metallic compounds, and natural gas. Its manufactured iodine products are inorganic iodine compounds and iodine disinfectants. Its metallic compounds include nickel chloride, cobalt hydroxide, tricobalt tetraoxide, and cobalt chloride. Its manufactured natural gas is methane, extracted from soluble gas dissolved in brine. The company is a subsidiary of AGC Inc. and acquired ISO 9002:1994 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications. Its manufactured products are catered to pharmaceutical, chemical, and metallurgy sectors across Japan and the USA.
Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, Inc. is a supplier of Rare Metal & Alloys used for various applications in various industries including electronics, medical, and aerospace based in Torrance, California. The company's range of rare metals and alloys includes Niobium, Tantalum, Alloy 52 as well as Heavy metal Tungsten Alloy and Refractory metals. Leading Edge Metals & Alloys also offers services including CNC Machining, Milling, Heat Treating, and Electromagnetic Shielding to customer specifications.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Metal Associates Inc. |
28.6%
|
2 | Ed Fagan Inc. |
14.3%
|
3 | Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, Inc. |
14.3%
|
4 | Hitachi Metals, Ltd. |
14.3%
|
5 | Metalmen |
8.2%
|
6 | Umicore |
6.1%
|
7 | ISE CHEMICALS CORPORATION |
6.1%
|
8 | Isotek Corporation |
4.1%
|
9 | The Trident Company |
4.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the nickel page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 60.0% |
Japan | 2 | 40.0% |