Nickel Alloy NiMg Master Alloy vs Nitinol
Nickel Alloy · grade comparison
Nickel Alloy NiMg Master Alloy and Nitinol are both nickel alloy grades. Nitinol is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 950 MPa (138 ksi) against 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) for NiMg Master Alloy, about 7.3 times as much. Nitinol is the more ductile: elongation 30% versus 0.3% for NiMg Master Alloy, and NiMg Master Alloy is harder (280 HV vs 250 HV). NiMg Master Alloy is lighter (6 g/cm³ vs 6.45 g/cm³ for Nitinol) and NiMg Master Alloy is stiffer (140 GPa vs 75 GPa). On the shop floor, Nitinol welds better (fair vs not recommended) and Nitinol sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than NiMg Master Alloy (high, $$$$).
NiMg Master AlloyChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.
NitinolChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
NiMg Master Alloy vs Nitinol: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all nickel alloy grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all nickel alloy grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Vickers
Shear Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Rockwell C
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Castability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Embodied Water
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every nickel alloy grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | NiMg Master Alloy | Nitinol |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | — | Yes |
| Sheet metal | — | Yes |
| Default condition | — | O |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | — | 1.5 mm |
| Best machined surface | — | Ra 1.6 µm |
| Electropolishing | — | Yes |
| HVOF Coating | — | Yes |
They share 3 finishes: Gold Plating, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
NiMg Master Alloy vs Nitinol — frequently asked
Is Nitinol stronger than NiMg Master Alloy?
Yes. Nitinol has a typical tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) against 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) for NiMg Master Alloy — about 7.3 times as much.
Which is cheaper, NiMg Master Alloy or Nitinol?
Nitinol is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while NiMg Master Alloy is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, NiMg Master Alloy or Nitinol?
Nitinol, by a small margin. Both rate not recommended for machinability — 12/100 against 5/100 for NiMg Master Alloy; for welding the order is Nitinol first (fair, 35/100) then NiMg Master Alloy (not recommended, 0/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in NiMg Master Alloy and Nitinol side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.