Nickel enables stainless steel to become such a versatile alloy

Stainless steel has been used for more than one hundred years. Stainless steel contains a variety of iron-based alloys, but unlike traditional steel, it is corrosion-resistant and will not rust when exposed to water alone. The alloying element that makes steel stainless is chromium; however, it is the addition of nickel that makes stainless steel a versatile alloy.

In addition to its inherent corrosion resistance, nickel-containing stainless steel is easy to form and weld. It maintain ductility at extremely low temperatures, but can be used in high-temperature applications.

Besides, unlike traditional steel and nickel-free stainless steel, nickel stainless steel is non-magnetic. This means that it can be made into a very wide range of products, covering applications in the chemical industry, the health sector, and household use. In fact, nickel is so important that nickel-containing grades account for 75% of stainless steel production. The most famous of these are Grade 304 (containing 8% nickel) and Grade 316 (containing 11%).