Nickel, a lustrous, silvery-white metal with a hint of gold, has been shaping economies and technologies for centuries. Its journey from ancient Chinese coins to modern industrial applications reflects its versatility and enduring value. This article delves into the history, properties, and multifaceted uses of nickel, highlighting its significance in various industries and its potential for future growth, particularly in the burgeoning Chinese market.
The use of nickel dates back to 235 BC when China began minting coins composed of 78% copper and roughly 20% nickel. In contrast, Europe encountered a similar mineral in 1094, known as "red nickel" or "copper devil," due to its reddish hue and the difficulty of extracting pure nickel from it.
Nickel's primary ores include red nickel ore, millerite, and pentlandite, which often contain elements like arsenic, iron, and sulfur. Pyrrhotite rocks also harbor pentlandite. Mining for nickel typically yields other elements such as cobalt, copper, iron, and magnesium as by-products. The refining process focuses on nickel, but it is also recovered during the production of other metals. Leading nickel mining nations include Russia, Canada, Australia, Cuba, New Caledonia, and Indonesia.
Nickel boasts several key characteristics:
The production of pure nickel is a complex, multi-stage process. Sulfide ores are first processed to extract nickel concentrate. The subsequent steps include sintering, melting to produce matte, converter blowing to obtain high matte, grinding and flotation to separate nickel and copper, and various methods to refine high matte into metallic nickel. The overall recovery rate from ore to pure metal nickel does not typically exceed 70-75%.
Nickel is a foundational material for manufacturing nickel alloys and is also an important alloying element in other alloys. It is used in specialized parts, instruments, machinery, rocket technology, atomic reactors, alkaline storage batteries, porous filters, catalysts, and components for anti-corrosive electroplating. Recognized as a strategic material, the effective development and utilization of nickel resources are priorities for many countries.
Nickel's corrosion resistance makes it a valuable addition to alloys, enhancing their durability. The production of stainless steel and other alloys represents the largest field of nickel application. Nickel-containing alloys serve various purposes:
Nickel consumption ranks fifth among non-ferrous metals, trailing only copper, aluminum, lead, and zinc. China, in particular, is poised for significant growth in nickel and stainless steel consumption, indicating vast potential for the nickel industry's development.
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In conclusion, nickel's historical significance and modern industrial applications underscore its critical role in technological advancement and economic growth. As industries evolve and new technologies emerge, the demand for nickel and its alloys is likely to continue, particularly in markets with high growth potential like China.
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Steel Industry Most of tungsten applied in the production of special steels. The widely used high-speed steel was containing 9-24% of tungsten, 3.8-4.6% of chromium, 1-5% of vanadium, 4-7% of cobalt, 0.7-1.5% of carbon.
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