Chromiumnickel

Chromiumnickel refers to alloy systems in which chromium and nickel are the principal alloying elements. In common usage, the term is associated with stainless steels, which gain their corrosion resistance from chromium and their ductility and formability from nickel. Commercially, chromium-nickel stainless steels typically contain about 10 to 25 percent chromium and 6 to 20 percent nickel, with additional elements such as molybdenum, vanadium, or nitrogen used to adjust strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

Key properties of chromiumnickel alloys include high corrosion resistance in a variety of environments, good formability and weldability, and stable mechanical properties over a wide temperature range. Austenitic grades, in particular, are non-magnetic in the annealed state and exhibit excellent toughness. The presence of nickel stabilizes the austenitic structure, contributing to ductility and impact resistance, while chromium forms a protective chromium oxide layer that resists oxidation and staining.

Common uses span chemical processing equipment, food and beverage handling, architectural and kitchen applications, medical devices, and aerospace components. The most familiar chromium-nickel stainless steels are the 300-series, such as 304 and 316, which offer a balance of corrosion resistance and ease of fabrication. Some chromium-nickel alloys are tailored with additional elements to improve high-temperature strength or pitting resistance (for example, by adding molybdenum in 316).

Manufacture involves melting and alloying iron with chromium and nickel, typically using electric arc furnaces and refining processes. Nickel sensitivity can be an environmental or health consideration in certain applications, though finished stainless products are generally safe for consumer use. See also stainless steel, nickel, and chromium.