FabDigit

Nickel Alloy Ni Shot

ASTM B39

Ni Shot is granulated commercially pure nickel to ASTM B39, used as a melt-shop addition for precise nickel alloying in steel, cast iron and nickel alloys.

High cost $$$$

Reference datasheet — Ni Shot 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.

Ni Shot tempers and conditions

Ni Shot is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.

Compare all 2 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
99.96 % min Ni+Co high-purity class
High-purity class for superalloy, battery-precursor and electronic melting where tramp Cu/Fe/S must be minimal.1104004890 HB25 % IACS
99.90 % min Ni+Co purity class
Standard commercial purity class (GB/T 6516 Ni9990 / ASTM B39) for general steel, iron and plating use.1204204595 HB24.5 % IACS

Supply forms, finishes and certifications

Ways Ni Shot is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.

OptionWhat it isType
BRIQUETTE
Pressed/sintered nickel powder briquetteSupply form
GRANULE
Granule / FinesSupply form
PELLET
Carbonyl nickel pelletsSupply form
SHOTDefault
Granulated/atomised nickel shot, 2–25 mmSupply form
CUT-CATH
Cut CathodeSupply option
ROUNDS
Electrolytic nickel rounds/rondellesSupply option

What is Ni Shot?

Ni Shot is granulated commercially pure nickel to ASTM B39, used as a melt-shop addition for precise nickel alloying in steel, cast iron and nickel alloys. It is supplied as shot, pellet, rounds, granule, briquette and cut cathode at Ni9990 and Ni9996 purity, with 8.9 g/cm3 density and a 1453 C melting point. The high surface-to-mass ratio gives fast dissolution and typical recovery of 97-100 %, and corrosion resistance is good (score 70), so storage losses are small. Ferronickel is cheaper per nickel unit where carbon and iron pickup are acceptable. Ni Shot has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,453°C (2,647 °F). Ni Shot has a yield strength of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 99% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).

What is Ni Shot used for?

  • steel and cast iron alloy addition
  • foundry melt charge
  • superalloy remelt feedstock

Advantages

  • High electrical conductivity — 24.5 % IACS, better than 100% of nickel alloy grades
  • Conducts heat well — 88 W/m·K (50.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of nickel alloy grades

Limitations

  • Low strength — 120 MPa (17.4 ksi), worse than 99% of nickel alloy grades

Ni Shot properties

Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.

Physical3

Ni Shot has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,453°C (2,647 °F).

Density8.9 g/cm³0.32 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)1,453°C2,647 °F
Liquidus Temperature1,455°C2,651 °F

Mechanical9

Ni Shot has a yield strength of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 99% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus207 GPa30 Msi
Shear Modulus76 GPa11 Msi
Bulk Modulus180 GPa26.1 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.31
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)420 MPa60.9 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)120 MPa17.4 ksi
Elongation at Break45%
Hardness, Brinell95 HB
Hardness, Rockwell B50 HRB

Thermal5

It conducts heat at 88 W/m·K (50.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 13.3 µm/m·K (7.39 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity88 W/m·K50.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity456 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)13.3 µm/m·K7.4 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion298 J/g128 BTU/lb
Min Service Temperature-200°C-328 °F

Electrical3

Ni Shot conducts electricity at 24.5 % IACS, better than 100% of nickel alloy grades.

Electrical Conductivity24.5 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity7×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.76 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responseferromagnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 77% of nickel alloy grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.15 V
Corrosion ResistanceVery good70/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryExcellent in caustic (NaOH/KOH) at all concentrations, good in neutral and reducing non-oxidising media, dry halogens and organic acids; attacked by oxidising acids (HNO3), ammonia/ammonium and aerated oxidising salt solutions; shot in storage will slowly tarnish/oxidise in humid air.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of Ni Shot takes about 165 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)165 MJ/kg70,937 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)13 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water160 L/kg19.2 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content5%

Common Calculations5

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated47 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated23.3 MN·m/kg
Modulus of Resiliencecalculated35 kJ/m³
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated21.7 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated13

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. Ni Shot is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.

2005001,0006.577.588.59Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleNi Shot

Working with Ni Shot

Is Ni Shot easy to machine?

Not a machining stock — shot is a charge material; if wrought pure nickel is machined it is gummy and needs sharp positive-rake tools, slow speeds and flood coolant.

Can Ni Shot be welded?

Not welded as supplied; the nickel it delivers is fully weldable in the finished alloy, and low S/C in the shot protects weld hot-cracking resistance.

Can Ni Shot be formed, bent or molded?

Charge dry, preheated shot into the melt after slag control; recovery in steel/iron heats is typically 97–100 % with fast dissolution due to the high surface-to-mass ratio.

Ni Shot 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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
CoCounted with Ni in most specifications; ≤0.02 for high-purity classes≤ 0.150.05
Cu≤ 0.050.01
Fe≤ 0.050.01
C≤ 0.020.01
SKept very low to avoid hot-shortness in the receiving melt≤ 0.010
Si≤ 0.020.01
Mn≤ 0.010
Pb≤ 05×10⁻⁴
Zn≤ 05×10⁻⁴
NiNi + Co combined, per ASTM B39 / GB/T 6516 (Ni9990 ≥99.90, Ni9996 ≥99.96)≥ 99.8 (balance)

What surface finishes work on Ni Shot?

Store sealed and dry to avoid surface oxidation and moisture pick-up; no coating or passivation applied to the shot itself.

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).

Equivalent designations

Standards and trade names that resolve to Nickel Alloy Ni Shot in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.

ASTM
B39

How much does Ni Shot cost?

Ni Shot 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.

Ni Shot — frequently asked

What is Ni Shot used for?

Ni Shot is typically used for steel and cast iron alloy addition, foundry melt charge and superalloy remelt feedstock. In short: fast-dissolving nickel addition; 97-100 % melt recovery; low carbon and sulphur.

What is the yield strength of Ni Shot?

Ni Shot has a typical yield strength of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) — weaker than 99% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.

Is Ni Shot easy to machine?

Not a machining stock — shot is a charge material; if wrought pure nickel is machined it is gummy and needs sharp positive-rake tools, slow speeds and flood coolant.

Can Ni Shot be welded?

Not welded as supplied; the nickel it delivers is fully weldable in the finished alloy, and low S/C in the shot protects weld hot-cracking resistance.

What surface finishes work on Ni Shot?

Store sealed and dry to avoid surface oxidation and moisture pick-up; no coating or passivation applied to the shot itself.

Can Ni Shot be formed, bent or molded?

Charge dry, preheated shot into the melt after slag control; recovery in steel/iron heats is typically 97–100 % with fast dissolution due to the high surface-to-mass ratio.

How much does Ni Shot cost?

Ni Shot 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

  1. ASTM B39 — Standard Specification for Nickel — ASTM International (2018)
  2. GB/T 6516 — SAC / (2010)
  3. ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
  4. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — physical constants of nickel — CRC Press (2020)
  5. Nickel pellets / rounds / cut cathode product data (Vale, Norilsk, Jinchuan) — Producers (2023)
  6. Nickel Institute LCA data for Class 1 nickel — Nickel Institute (2021)

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.