Nickel 205
UNS N02205
Nickel 205 (UNS N02205) is a low-carbon, sulfur-free commercially pure nickel in the Nickel 200/201 family, formulated specifically for electron-tube and lead-wire applications.
Reference datasheet — Nickel 205 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 ANN condition
Nickel 205 tempers and conditions
Nickel 205 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition for deep drawing, stamping and lead-wire forming of electron-tube components. | 145 | 440 | 45 | 95 HB | — |
Hot rolled | Pick for larger-section bar and rod where the mill supplies as-hot-worked stock for subsequent machining. | 200 | 500 | 40 | 110 HB | 19 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Pick when straightness, close diameter tolerance and higher yield strength are needed in lead wire, side rods and pins. | 520 | 620 | 15 | 175 HB | 18.5 % IACS |
Hardened | Pick for stiff flat springs, grid side rods and stamped parts that must hold shape without further heat treatment. | 690 | 760 | 5 | 20 HRC | 18 % IACS |
What is Nickel 205?
Nickel 205 (UNS N02205) is a low-carbon, sulfur-free commercially pure nickel in the Nickel 200/201 family, formulated specifically for electron-tube and lead-wire applications. It is chosen for clean vacuum behaviour, good electrical and thermal conductivity and very high cold formability (formability score 92), and is used mainly as strip, foil, rod and drawn wire. Annealed strength is modest — 145 MPa yield, 440 MPa tensile, 45 % elongation, 95 HB (50 HRB) — with service to about 315 °C. Where the tube-grade trace control is not required, Nickel 200 is cheaper and more widely available. Nickel 205 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,435°C (2,615 °F). Nickel 205 has a yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 98% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
What is Nickel 205 used for?
- electron tube components
- lead wires
- cathodes
- electronic parts
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 92/100, better than 99% of nickel alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 19 % IACS, better than 98% of nickel alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 70 W/m·K (40.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 97% of nickel alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of nickel alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 32/100, better than 95% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 145 MPa (21 ksi), worse than 98% of nickel alloy grades
- Limited service temperature — 315°C (599 °F), worse than 98% of nickel alloy grades
Nickel 205 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Nickel 205-ANN; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
Nickel 205 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,435°C (2,615 °F).
Mechanical14
Nickel 205 has a yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 98% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
Nickel 205 is rated for continuous service to 315°C (599 °F). It conducts heat at 70 W/m·K (40.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 97% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 13.3 µm/m·K (7.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Nickel 205 conducts electricity at 19 % IACS, better than 98% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 77% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Nickel 205 takes about 165 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
Nickel 205's machinability is poor (32/100, better than 95% of nickel alloy grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability excellent (92/100).
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. Nickel 205 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Nickel 205
Is Nickel 205 easy to machine?
Gummy and work-hardening — use positive-rake sharp carbide, heavy feed, low-to-moderate speed (25–40 m/min), rigid setups and sulfur-free (chlorinated or synthetic) coolant to avoid contaminating vacuum parts.
Can Nickel 205 be welded?
Readily GTAW/resistance/laser welded and spot welded with Nickel 61 (ERNi-1) filler or autogenously; keep joints free of sulfur, lead and grease, and avoid oxidizing flames in gas welding.
Can Nickel 205 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in the annealed temper — deep draws, spins and multi-slide stamps well; anneal at 700–870 °C between severe draws and expect ~25–30 % higher press loads than for mild steel.
Nickel 205 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Skept very low for hydrogen firing | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Si | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Tideoxidizer / grain control | 0.01 – 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Mgdistinguishes 205 from Nickel 200 | 0.01 – 0.08 | 0.04 |
| Ninickel plus cobalt | ≥ 99 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Nickel 205?
Not anodizable; parts are typically hydrogen-fired bright, electroplated (Cu, Ag, Au) for brazing/conductivity, or carbon-blackened/oxidized for high thermal emissivity in tube anodes.
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 205 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N02205
How much does Nickel 205 cost?
Nickel 205 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.
Nickel 205 — frequently asked
What is Nickel 205 used for?
Nickel 205 is typically used for electron tube components, lead wires, cathodes and electronic parts. In short: sulfur-free tube-grade nickel; excellent deep-draw formability; vacuum-clean lead wire stock.
What is the yield strength of Nickel 205?
Nickel 205 has a typical yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) — weaker than 98% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Nickel 205 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, better than 95% of nickel alloy grades). Gummy and work-hardening — use positive-rake sharp carbide, heavy feed, low-to-moderate speed (25–40 m/min), rigid setups and sulfur-free (chlorinated or synthetic) coolant to avoid contaminating vacuum parts.
Can Nickel 205 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily GTAW/resistance/laser welded and spot welded with Nickel 61 (ERNi-1) filler or autogenously; keep joints free of sulfur, lead and grease, and avoid oxidizing flames in gas welding.
What surface finishes work on Nickel 205?
Not anodizable; parts are typically hydrogen-fired bright, electroplated (Cu, Ag, Au) for brazing/conductivity, or carbon-blackened/oxidized for high thermal emissivity in tube anodes.
Can Nickel 205 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in the annealed temper — deep draws, spins and multi-slide stamps well; anneal at 700–870 °C between severe draws and expect ~25–30 % higher press loads than for mild steel.
What is the maximum service temperature of Nickel 205?
Nickel 205 is rated for continuous use to about 315°C (599 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Nickel 205-ANN and Nickel 205-H?
ANN is the default condition — standard stocked condition for deep drawing, stamping and lead-wire forming of electron-tube components. H: pick for stiff flat springs, grid side rods and stamped parts that must hold shape without further heat treatment. Yield strength is 145 MPa in ANN versus 690 MPa in H.
How much does Nickel 205 cost?
Nickel 205 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
- Nickel 205 alloy data sheet — Special Metals Corporation (2020)
- ASTM B160 / B161 / B162 — Nickel Rod, Bar, Pipe, Tube and Plate, Sheet, Strip — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
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.