TD-Nickel
UNS N02120 · also TD Nickel
Early dispersion-strengthened MMC combining pure nickel with fine ThO2 particles to retain strength at very high temperature; historically used in jet-engine and rocket hardware before ODS superalloys superseded it.
Reference datasheet — TD-Nickel is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
TD-Nickel grades and fills
TD-Nickel is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-temperature recrystallized (coarse elongated grain) condition | Pick when maximum creep-rupture life above 1100 °C matters more than room-temperature strength; the coarse elongated grain structure minimises grain-boundary sliding. | 270 | 400 | 22 | |
Ni-20Cr-2ThO₂ chromium-bearing version | Choose when bare-surface oxidation resistance is required above 1000 °C without a coating; higher strength but lower thermal conductivity than TD-Ni. | 560 | 700 | 14 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways TD-Nickel is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
BAR | Extruded / swaged bar and rod | Supply form |
SR-SHEETDefault | Worked and stress-relieved sheet | Supply form |
What is TD-Nickel?
Early dispersion-strengthened MMC combining pure nickel with fine ThO2 particles to retain strength at very high temperature; historically used in jet-engine and rocket hardware before ODS superalloys superseded it. TD-Nickel has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of composite grades. TD-Nickel has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 74% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is TD-Nickel used for?
- Jet-engine hot-section parts (legacy)
- High-temperature furnace hardware
- Rocket combustion and nozzle components (legacy)
- Test fixtures for creep and oxidation rigs
- Heat-shield and radiant panel structures
- Thermal-processing tooling
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,200°C (2,192 °F), better than 94% of composite grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 100/100, better than 93% of composite grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 10%, better than 92% of composite grades
- Conducts heat well — 65 W/m·K (37.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of composite grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 55/100, better than 83% of composite grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), worse than 98% of composite grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 87% of composite grades
TD-Nickel properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical1
TD-Nickel has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of composite grades.
Mechanical8
TD-Nickel has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 74% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
TD-Nickel is rated for continuous service to 1,200°C (2,192 °F). It conducts heat at 65 W/m·K (37.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 13.3 µm/m·K (7.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
TD-Nickel has an electrical resistivity of 9.5×10⁻⁸ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 87% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of TD-Nickel takes about 230 MJ of energy and emits 17 kg of CO₂ — more than 52% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
TD-Nickel's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 65% of composite grades).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. TD-Nickel is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with TD-Nickel
Is TD-Nickel easy to machine?
Machines like tough pure nickel but the ThO₂ abrades tooling — use rigid setups, carbide/ceramic tools, low speed and heavy feed; capture swarf as radioactive-controlled waste.
Can TD-Nickel be welded?
Fusion welding destroys the dispersion and the high-temperature strength at the joint; use solid-state joining (diffusion bonding, brazing, resistance spot) or mechanical fasteners.
Can TD-Nickel be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (blend/mill, extrude or roll to high strain); sheet is cold formable to moderate radii but strongly anisotropic and prone to splitting across the working direction.
TD-Nickel chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| ThO2fine dispersoid, ~2 vol%, particle size 20–50 nm | 1.8 – 2.2 | 2 |
| C | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Feresidual from powder processing | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Oexcluding oxygen bound in ThO₂ | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Nicommercially pure nickel matrix | balance |
What surface finishes work on TD-Nickel?
Normally left bare for lab use or coated with aluminide/Cr-rich diffusion coatings for oxidising service; can be electropolished, but plating is uncommon.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to TD-Nickel in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N02120
- Trade names
- TD Nickel
How much does TD-Nickel cost?
TD-Nickel is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
TD-Nickel — frequently asked
What is TD-Nickel used for?
TD-Nickel is typically used for jet-engine hot-section parts (legacy), high-temperature furnace hardware, rocket combustion and nozzle components (legacy), test fixtures for creep and oxidation rigs, heat-shield and radiant panel structures and thermal-processing tooling. In short: first-generation ODS nickel; legacy 1100 °C sheet material; superseded by MA754.
What is the yield strength of TD-Nickel?
TD-Nickel has a typical yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 74% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is TD-Nickel easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 65% of composite grades). Machines like tough pure nickel but the ThO₂ abrades tooling — use rigid setups, carbide/ceramic tools, low speed and heavy feed; capture swarf as radioactive-controlled waste.
Can TD-Nickel be welded?
Fusion welding destroys the dispersion and the high-temperature strength at the joint; use solid-state joining (diffusion bonding, brazing, resistance spot) or mechanical fasteners.
What surface finishes work on TD-Nickel?
Normally left bare for lab use or coated with aluminide/Cr-rich diffusion coatings for oxidising service; can be electropolished, but plating is uncommon.
Can TD-Nickel be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (blend/mill, extrude or roll to high strain); sheet is cold formable to moderate radii but strongly anisotropic and prone to splitting across the working direction.
What is the maximum service temperature of TD-Nickel?
TD-Nickel is rated for continuous use to about 1,200°C (2,192 °F), and briefly to 1,370°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does TD-Nickel cost?
TD-Nickel is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 21 — Composites (metal-matrix / dispersion-strengthened section) — ASM International (2001)
- NASA technical reports on TD-Ni and TD-NiCr sheet for high-temperature structures — NASA Lewis/Langley (1972)
- DuPont TD-Nickel / TD-NiCr product literature (historical) — E. I. du Pont de Nemours (1968)
- UNS N02120 designation listing — SAE/ASTM Unified Numbering System (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.