Nickel Alloy ENi-1
UNS W82141 · also Ni-Rod 55/99
ENi-1 (UNS W82141, commonly sold as Ni-Rod 55/99) is a commercially pure nickel covered electrode used mainly for welding and repairing cast iron.
Reference datasheet — ENi-1 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.
Values for the AW condition
ENi-1 tempers and conditions
ENi-1 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stress relieved | Choose a 540-620 °C post-weld stress relief when repaired cast iron or heavy-wall steel needs lower residual stress and stable machining dimensions; strength falls slightly as ductility rises. | 220 | 420 | 34 | 90 HB | 9 % IACS |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Use as the standard as-welded deposit to AWS A5.11 for joining commercially pure nickel, dissimilar steel-to-nickel joints and cold repair welding of cast iron. | 250 | 440 | 30 | 100 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ENi-1 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CI-REPAIR | As Welded on cast iron | Surface finish |
What is ENi-1?
ENi-1 (UNS W82141, commonly sold as Ni-Rod 55/99) is a commercially pure nickel covered electrode used mainly for welding and repairing cast iron. The deposit is soft and crack-resistant — about 250 MPa yield, 440 MPa tensile, 30% elongation and 100 HB (55 HRB) — so repair welds stay machinable after welding. It is also used for dissimilar-metal buffer layers and for cladding on steel. Service is limited to about 400 °C and the low-strength deposit is not a structural filler, so a NiFe electrode is the usual alternative for thicker or higher-strength iron sections. ENi-1 has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,435°C (2,615 °F). ENi-1 has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 87% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is ENi-1 used for?
- cast iron repair welding
- dissimilar metal buffer layers
- cladding on steel
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 42/100, better than 99% of nickel alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of nickel alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 8.5 % IACS, better than 95% of nickel alloy grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 83% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 94% of nickel alloy grades
- Low strength — 250 MPa (36.3 ksi), worse than 87% of nickel alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 84% of nickel alloy grades
ENi-1 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ENi-1-AW; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
ENi-1 has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,435°C (2,615 °F).
Mechanical16
ENi-1 has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 87% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
ENi-1 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 13.3 µm/m·K (7.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ENi-1 conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, better than 95% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 71% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of ENi-1 takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — less than 87% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
ENi-1's machinability is fair (42/100, better than 99% of nickel alloy grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability good (60/100).
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 nickel alloy family
Yield strength against density for every nickel alloy grade FabDigit runs. ENi-1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ENi-1
Is ENi-1 easy to machine?
The deposit is soft and gummy; use sharp positive-rake carbide tooling with low speed, heavy feed and generous coolant to avoid friction hardening and built-up edge.
Can ENi-1 be welded?
Run DCEP (some brands are AC-capable) with a short arc, short beads, low interpass temperature (below 100 °C on cast iron) and immediate peening to relieve stress. Remove all grease, moulding sand residue and sulphur/phosphorus contamination first, and bake electrodes at 120–200 °C to prevent hydrogen porosity.
Can ENi-1 be formed, bent or molded?
Not applicable — this grade is a covered-electrode consumable. The deposit is ductile enough to be peened or planished for stress relief.
ENi-1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tideoxidizer / nitrogen fixer | 1 – 4 | 2.5 |
| Si | ≤ 1.25 | 0.6 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.75 | 0.4 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.75 | 0.4 |
| Al | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| C | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Other, eachtotal of other elements | ≤ 0.5 | |
| NiNi + Co, balance | ≥ 92 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on ENi-1?
The weld can be ground and polished. It cannot be anodized, but nickel or chrome plating and painting are possible; the nickel surface is naturally corrosion resistant in alkaline media and needs no extra passivation.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on nickel alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Nickel Alloy ENi-1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- W82141
- Trade names
- Ni-Rod 55/99
How much does ENi-1 cost?
ENi-1 is a high-cost nickel alloy ($$$$), 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.
ENi-1 — frequently asked
What is ENi-1 used for?
ENi-1 is typically used for cast iron repair welding, dissimilar metal buffer layers and cladding on steel. In short: machinable cast-iron repair deposit; pure nickel covered electrode; low dilution buffer layers.
What is the yield strength of ENi-1?
ENi-1 has a typical yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 87% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is ENi-1 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, better than 99% of nickel alloy grades). The deposit is soft and gummy; use sharp positive-rake carbide tooling with low speed, heavy feed and generous coolant to avoid friction hardening and built-up edge.
Can ENi-1 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Run DCEP (some brands are AC-capable) with a short arc, short beads, low interpass temperature (below 100 °C on cast iron) and immediate peening to relieve stress. Remove all grease, moulding sand residue and sulphur/phosphorus contamination first, and bake electrodes at 120–200 °C to prevent hydrogen porosity.
What surface finishes work on ENi-1?
The weld can be ground and polished. It cannot be anodized, but nickel or chrome plating and painting are possible; the nickel surface is naturally corrosion resistant in alkaline media and needs no extra passivation.
Can ENi-1 be formed, bent or molded?
Not applicable — this grade is a covered-electrode consumable. The deposit is ductile enough to be peened or planished for stress relief.
What is the maximum service temperature of ENi-1?
ENi-1 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between ENi-1-AW and ENi-1-SR?
AW is the default condition — use as the standard as-welded deposit to AWS A5.11 for joining commercially pure nickel, dissimilar steel-to-nickel joints and cold repair welding of cast iron. SR: choose a 540-620 °C post-weld stress relief when repaired cast iron or heavy-wall steel needs lower residual stress and stable machining dimensions; strength falls slightly as ductility rises. Yield strength is 250 MPa in AW versus 220 MPa in SR.
How much does ENi-1 cost?
ENi-1 is a high-cost nickel alloy ($$$$), 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
- AWS A5.11/A5.11M — Nickel and Nickel-Alloy Welding Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding — AWS (2018)
- AWS A5.15 — Welding Electrodes and Rods for Cast Iron — AWS (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Nickel and Nickel Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (Welding of Cast Irons / Nickel Alloys) — ASM International (1993)
- Nickel-base SMAW electrode data (Ni-Rod / Nickel 99 type covered electrodes) — Special Metals Welding Products / ESAB (2022)
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.