It’s a material used in so many aspects of our daily lives, but most of us have very little knowledge about nickel. So here are some quick facts.
1. Long history
Nickel has been used ever since ancient man walked the earth, as it was first found in meteorites. Artefacts dating from 5000 BC that contain nickel from metallic meteorites have been found in Egypt.
2. Goblin’s Copper
The element was formally recognised in 1751 by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, the Swedish mineralogist. He identified it from a cobalt mine where nickel arsenide gave it a reddish tinge. He named it ‘goblin’s copper’ because the (non-existent) copper was difficult to extract.
3. Versatile
Nickel is ductile, malleable and hard. It’s shiny and looks like silver in appearance with a gentle gold tinge that resists corrosion and can be highly polished.
It does oxidise but can conduct heat and electricity. It also has a high melting point, can be used in electroplating and forms ready alloys, whilst being a ready catalyst.
From electroless nickel coating to jewellery making, this is one seriously versatile compound. Find out more at: www.poeton.co.uk/standard-treatments/electroless-nickel-plating.
4. Ferromagnetic
Along with cobalt and iron, nickel is one of just three elements that are ferromagnetic when stored at room temperature. Nickel is less magnetic than these compounds.
5. Shape memory
It demonstrates shape memory when made into the alloy, Nitinol. When made into an alloy at a ratio of 1:1 nickel and titanium, it can be heated, made into a shape and then cooled. Once reshaped it will return to its original orientation.
6. Common
It’s the fifth most commonly found element on the earth but is found far less abundantly in the earth’s crust. Scientists believe that nickel may be 100 times more concentrated underneath the earth’s crust.
The biggest nickel deposit found so far is in Ontario, Canada. The Sudbury Basin spans a geography of 37 miles by 17 miles and some experts think that the site was caused by a striking meteorite.
7. Found in food
Nickel is found in fruits, nuts and vegetables!