METAL NICKEL AND FERRONICKEL

Metal nickel?is a silver-white metal with good ductility and corrosion resistance. The metal nickel produced by Zhenxin Metallurgical Materials Co., Ltd. is also widely used in industry. Ferronickel is an iron-nickel alloy with a nickel content of 20%-60%. Ferronickel is mainly used in the production of stainless steel and special steel. Ferronickel can provide certain nickel elements to steel to improve the properties of the steel.

THE ROLE OF METAL NICKEL IN STEEL

Because metal nickel has excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature stability, it is often added to stainless steel as an additive to improve its corrosion resistance. In addition, nickel can also improve the strength and hardness of steel and enhance its wear resistance.

Nickel metal has a slight graphitizing effect in cast iron, stabilizing pearlite and reducing ferrite content. Nickel in cast iron therefore contributes to a uniform and integrated structure and good properties.Adding a small amount of nickel to cast iron will lead to the formation of fine pearlite, and when the nickel content is high, martensite and austenite will be formed.Fine and stable pearlite gives cast iron good processability and hardness. Therefore, nickel-added iron castings can be used to manufacture castings in the automotive industry.

NICKEL METAL PRODUCE PROCESS

There are two main types of metal nickel produced by Zhenxin Metallurgy, the first is the fire method and the second is the wet method. According to the different main nickel-containing minerals in the world, namely nickel-containing copper sulfide and copper oxide, the smelting and processing methods are also different. The nickel metal produced around the world mainly includes metallic nickel, ferronickel and other nickel products.

• Nickel-containing sulfide ores are currently mainly processed by fire methods. Generally, the concentrate is roasted first, then smelted in an electric furnace, copper-nickel-sulfur blowing is performed, and finally nickel frame electrolysis is performed to obtain metallic nickel.
• Oxidized ore is also called nickel-bearing laterite ore. There are generally three processing methods for this. The first is the traditional PKEF process, the second is the Japanese Dajiangshan rotary kiln direct reduction method, and the third is the blast furnace smelting process.

THE PRODUCTION PLACE OF NICKEL METAL IN CHINA

China’s nickel metal is all in Jinchang City, Lanzhou Province, Gansu Province, China. Jinchang City is located in the eastern section of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province and on the southern edge of the Alxa Platform. It is known as the metal Nickel Capital of China because of its rich nickel reserves. Its nickel ore reserves are rich and huge, ranking second only to Canada, ranking second in the world and frist in China.

Jinchang’s nickel production and refining scale ranks second in the world. Nickel mining and smelting here began in the late 1950s, and after decades of development a complete nickel industry chain has been formed.

THE ROLE OF NICKEL METAL IN STEEL AND ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCING FACTORS

• Improve the strength and corrosion resistance of steel.Nickel can increase the strength of steel and enhance its corrosion resistance in corrosive environments such as acids and alkalis.
• Improve low temperature toughness. Nickel can reduce the critical cooling rate of steel, improve the hardenability of steel, and keep the austenite structure of steel at low temperatures.
• Refining grains. Metallic nickel can refine ferrite grains and improve the plasticity and toughness of steel.
• Improve fatigue performance. Steel containing metallic nickel improves fatigue properties and reduces susceptibility to notches