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Nickel-Chromium Foil/Sheet (Ni80-Cr20)
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Thickness | Size | Temper ⓘ |
|---|---|---|
| 0.005 mm to 6.65 mm | 10 x 10 mm to 1000 x 1000 mm | As rolled Annealed |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Nickel/Chromium Alloy Foil (Ni80/Cr20) is a Nichrome composition foil combining excellent oxidation resistance, stable electrical resistivity, mechanical integrity at elevated temperatures, and a melting point above 1400 °C in a flat foil format:
Stable Electrical Resistivity for Precision Resistive Applications
The Ni80/Cr20 alloy has a characteristically flat electrical resistivity–temperature curve and high absolute resistivity relative to pure metals, making it the reference alloy for resistance heating elements, precision shunts, and thermal sensors where stable, predictable resistive behavior across a wide temperature range is required.
Excellent Oxidation Resistance Through Cr₂O₃ Passive Scale
Chromium content forms a stable, adherent Cr₂O₃ scale that provides excellent oxidation resistance in air to above 1000 °C, qualifying Ni80/Cr20 foil for sustained service in aerospace engine components, industrial furnace elements, and high-temperature electrode applications where scale spallation would shorten service life.
Mechanical Integrity at Elevated Temperatures
The alloy maintains useful mechanical strength after prolonged exposure to high temperatures, resisting creep and stress relaxation at levels that would cause unacceptable deformation in lower-melting-point resistive alloys, supporting long-duration service in furnace elements, aerospace thermal management, and high-precision resistor applications.
High Melting Point
Melting point above 1400 °C enables service in extreme thermal environments without risk of localised melting at hot spots, supporting use as resistance heating element material, refractory electrode substrate, and high-temperature structural foil component in furnace and aerospace applications.
Superior Fatigue Life in Fine-Grained Foil for Spring Applications
Development of fine microstructures in processed Ni80/Cr20 foil enhances fatigue resistance, qualifying the alloy for oil-free hydrogen fuel cell air compressor spring foil applications where extended high-cycle fatigue life under demanding operating conditions is a design requirement.
Industrial Applications
Nickel/Chromium Alloy Foil (Ni80/Cr20) is used across resistance heating, aerospace, industrial furnaces, and clean energy systems wherever stable electrical resistivity, high-temperature oxidation resistance, and mechanical integrity at extreme temperatures determine material selection:
- ✦ Resistance Heating Elements, Precision Shunts and Thermal Sensors
- Used as resistance heating element material, precision shunt resistors, and thermal sensor elements, where the stable, well-characterized electrical resistivity of Ni80/Cr20 and its predictable thermophysical behavior across a wide temperature range provide the basis for precise resistance-based temperature measurement and controlled heating.
- ✦ Aerospace Engine Components and High-Temperature Thermal Management
- Applied in aerospace engine components and high-temperature thermal management foils, where the combination of oxidation resistance at temperatures above 1000 °C, maintained mechanical strength after prolonged high-temperature exposure, and high melting point qualify Ni80/Cr20 for sustained service in demanding aero-engine environments.
- ✦ Industrial Furnace Elements and High-Temperature Electrode Applications
- Used as industrial furnace heating element material and high-temperature electrode substrate, where the combination of oxidation resistance, mechanical stability at furnace operating temperatures, and resistance to scale spallation provides long service life in continuous high-temperature industrial service.
- ✦ Spring Foil Elements in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Air Compressor Systems
- Applied as spring foil elements in oil-free hydrogen fuel cell air compressor systems, where fine-grained Ni80/Cr20 foil microstructure enhances fatigue resistance under the high-cycle spring loading conditions of the air compressor mechanism, supporting the clean energy system performance targets of fuel cell vehicle air management.
- ✦ Thermophysical Property Characterization and High-Temperature Resistive Alloy Research
- Used in research into the thermophysical properties of Ni80/Cr20 for precise engineering design calculations, fatigue and microstructure studies for high-cycle foil spring applications, and high-temperature oxidation and mechanical performance characterization for advancing the alloy’s application in emerging clean energy and aerospace systems.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Elongation at break( % ) | 40 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 650-1100 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 108 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.00005 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum use temperature in air( C ) | 1150-1250 |
| Melting point( C ) | 1400 |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 13.4@23°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 14@20-100°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 8.4 |
Tolerances
| Thickness | <0.01mm | ±25% |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.01mm - 0.05mm | ±15% |
| Thickness | >0.05mm | ±10% |
| Linear dimension | <100mm | ±1mm |
| Linear dimension | >=100mm | +2 / -1% |