Vale Nickel Powder
Table of Contents
vale nickel powder is a versatile material with uses across various industries. Vale, a leading global producer of nickel, manufactures high-quality nickel powder tailored to meet the specific requirements of different applications.
Overview of Vale Nickel Powder
Vale nickel powder is known for its:
- High purity
- Uniform particle size distribution
- Consistent chemistry
- Good flowability
- Optimized packing density
Key properties that make vale nickel powder suitable for multitude of applications:
Property | Characteristics |
---|---|
Composition | High-purity nickel (99%+) |
Particle shape | Spherical, porous structure |
Size range | From submicron to 100 microns |
Apparent density | Up to 65% of theoretical density |
Flowability | Free-flowing, especially lubricated grades |
Thermal stability | Stable microstructure up to 900°C |
These properties allow for excellent performance in applications like metal additive manufacturing, alloy production, brazing, diamond tools, electronics, and batteries.
![Vale Nickel Powder 1 vale nickel powder](https://met3dp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CoCrMo-Powder.jpg)
Types of Vale Nickel Powder
Vale produces various types of nickel metal powders customized for different production processes and end-use requirements:
Carbonyl Nickel Powder
- Produced via carbonyl process allowing tight control of powder characteristics
- Available in different particle size distributions:
- Grade 123: 3-7 microns
- Grade 287: extra-fine <1 micron
- High purity (99.8% nickel), spherical morphology, large specific surface area
Electrolytic Nickel Powder
- Manufactured through electrolytic process
- Cost-effective option
- Lower carbon content compared to carbonyl powder
- Range of particle sizes up to 100 microns
- Irregular particle morphology
Annealed Nickel Powder
- Carbonyl nickel subjected to annealing treatment
- Improved flowability
- Relaxed microstructure
- Better packing density
- Used in demanding applications like additive manufacturing
Composition of Vale Nickel Powder
The typical composition of vale carbonyl nickel powder is:
Element | Composition (% weight) |
---|---|
Nickel (Ni) | ≥ 99.8 |
Carbon (C) | 0.25 – 0.60 |
Oxygen (O) | 0.20 – 0.50 |
Sulfur (S) | 0.001 – 0.006 |
Custom alloy grades with addition of elements like iron, copper, molybdenum also offered.
Key Properties of Vale Nickel Powder
Vale nickel powder demonstrates a unique combination of properties that make it suitable for wide range of applications:
Particle Size Distribution
- Consistent particle sizes optimized for specific application needs
- Custom blends of powder sizes provided
- Range from sub-micron grades to 100 micron powders
Grade | Particle Size (microns) |
---|---|
Carbonyl 123 | 3 – 7 |
Carbonyl 255 | 10 – 25 |
Carbonyl 287 | < 1 |
Electrolytic 45 | 45 nominal |
Morphology
- Spherical particle shape allows excellent flowability
- Porous structure enables better alloying and sintering
Apparent Density
- Density up to 65% of nickel’s theoretical density 8.9 g/cc
- Custom blends optimized for powder bed density requirements
Grade | Apparent Density (g/cc) |
---|---|
Carbonyl 287 | 1.0 – 4.0 |
Electrolytic 45 | 2.2 – 3.2 |
Flow Characteristics
- Most grades free-flowing as-produced
- Lubricants applied for enhanced flowability
- Hall flow rates of > 15 s/50 g demonstrated
Thermal Stability
- Stable metallurgical structure up to 900°C
- Low carbon content minimizes carbon absorption during sintering
Applications of Vale Nickel Powder
Thanks to its versatile powder characteristics, vale nickel powder finds numerous applications across variety of industries:
Additive Manufacturing
- Ideal spherical morphology, optimized size distribution
- Provides excellent flow and packing density for powder bed printing
- Used in binder jetting, directed energy deposition, metal extrusion types of 3D printing
Metal Injection Molding (MIM)
- Combination of powder properties optimal for MIM process
- High sintered density up to 94% demonstrated
- Excellent combination of strength and ductility after MIM
Diamond Tools
- Used as binder material in diamond tooling segments
- Provides thermal stability, corrosion resistance
- Maximizes cutting performance and tool life
Alloy & Chemical Production
- Widely used as feedstock for alloy, stainless steel, catalyst production
- Spherical porous particles enable excellent blendability with other elements
- Outperforms atomized & electrolytic nickel powder
Brazing & Joining
- Facilitates strong joints across range of materials
- Suitable for flux-free vacuum brazing processes
- Provides corrosion resistance, high-temperature strength
Electronics & Capacitors
- Ultra-fine grades used in conductive/resistive pastes, circuits
- Micron sizes applied in self-healing capacitors
- Enables miniaturization of electronic components
Batteries
- Pure porous structure optimal for battery compounds
- Increased surface area allows improved energy density
- Enhances battery life, power output, and efficiency
Nickel Powder Specifications
Vale nickel powder is manufactured to exceed the compositional and size requirements defined by international specifications:
Standard | Grade | Particle Size (microns) |
---|---|---|
ASTM B842 | Carbonyl 255 | 10-25 |
ISO 4491 | Carbonyl 45 | 25-45 |
JIS H5103 | Carbonyl 287 | <1 |
Custom powder blends Tailored to application requirements in terms of:
- Particle shape
- Size distribution
- Apparent density
- Flow characteristics
- Surface treatment
Global Suppliers of Vale Nickel Powder
As one of the largest nickel producers globally, Vale has an extensive international supply chain for its nickel powder products:
North & South America
Vale Canada, Vale Nouvelle-Calédonie
Europe
Vale Norway, Vale Finland
Asia
Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM), China Nickel & Cobalt
Pricing varies based on:
- Quantity and purchase agreements
- Energy and commodity market dynamics
- Geographic location
- Import/export taxes and duties
Contact Vale or its authorized distributors for latest price rates in your region.
Comparative Analysis of Nickel Powder Grades
Parameter | Carbonyl | Electrolytic | Gas Atomized |
---|---|---|---|
Composition | High purity (99%+ Ni) | Medium purity (~99% Ni) | High purity (99%+ Ni) |
Particle shape | Perfectly spherical | Irregular, spiky | Rounded, irregular |
Size range | 0.5 – 45 μm | Up to 150 μm | 20 – 150 μm |
Flowability | Excellent | Moderate | Fair |
Apparent density | Up to 65% theoretical | Up to 75% theoretical | Up to 98% theoretical |
Surface oxides | Low | High | Low |
Cost | High | Low | Medium |
Advantages of Carbonyl Nickel Powder
- Consistent spherical morphology allows exceptional packing and flow characteristics
- Narrow distribution of small particles sizes enables high-resolution printing
- Purity exceeding 99% nickel ensures performance reproducibility and avoids contamination
- Stable microstructure up to 900°C facilitates processing into alloys and composites
- Cost-effective compared to gas atomized nickel powder
Limitations
- More expensive than electrolytic powder grades
- Lower apparent density not suitable for all MIM applications
- Ultra-fine grades prone to oxidation if not handled properly
![Vale Nickel Powder 11 vale nickel powder](https://met3dp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/D2.jpg)
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between carbonyl and electrolytic nickel powder?
A: Carbonly nickel powder manufactured via carbonyl process has high purity(99%+ Ni), spherical morphology and narrow size distribution.Electrolytic nickel powder produced through electrolysis has slightly lower purity, irregular shapes and wider range of relatively larger particles sizes.
Q: Does vale nickel powder require any post-processing before use?
A: Most standard grades of vale nickel powder are ready to use as-received. Some applications may require additional steps like annealing, lubricant-treatment, blending with other powders which can be customized as per application requirements.
Q: What is the chemical composition of vale’s nickel metal powder?
A: The typical composition is minimum 99.8% Ni along with trace amounts of elements like C(0.2 – 0.6%), O(0.20 – 0.50%), S(0.001 – 0.006%). The high Ni-content ensures high performance across range of applications.
Q: What particle size range of vale nickel powder is suitable for metal 3D printing?
A: For binder-jetting and bed fusion 3D printing, the recommended powder size range is 15-45 microns. Ultra-fine grades under 10 microns can also be used for high-resolution printing applications.
Q: Does vale nickel powder meet regulatory standards for medical applications?
A: Yes, vale ensures compliance to chemical composition and production quality requirements as per ASTM standards for medical, dental and biocompatibility applications. Documentation can be provided as per ISO 13485 norms.
Q: What is the typical lead time for procuring vale nickel metal powders?
A: Vale ships majority grades ex-stock with 1-2 weeks delivery lead time for standard orders. Higher quantity purchases may require 8-12 weeks depending on market dynamics. Contact Vale sales team for current lead time estimate.
Q: What is the shelf life of unopened packages of vale nickel powder?
A: Sealed packages have a shelf life of up to 2 years from date of production. Ensure powder is stored as per guidelines to prevent oxidation and contamination during storage.
Q: Does vale offer technical support in using their nickel powder products?
A: Yes, Vale has an extensive global technical support network to assist customers in selecting optimal grades and processing parameters tailored to their specific application requirements.
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