Nickel Alloy NiCr60/15
UNS N06004 · JIS NCHW2 · GB Cr15Ni60
NiCr60/15 (N06004, Cr15Ni60, NCHW2, ASTM B344) is an iron-bearing nickel-chromium electrical resistance alloy, nominally 60% Ni and 15% Cr with the balance iron, supplied as wire, ribbon and strip.
Reference datasheet — NiCr60/15 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
NiCr60/15 tempers and conditions
NiCr60/15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled + annealed bar/rod | Heavy sections for electrode bars, machined element supports and furnace hardware. | 330 | 650 | 35 | 160 HB | 1.6 % IACS |
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition for coiling heating elements: maximum ductility, stable resistance. | 390 | 690 | 32 | 170 HB | 1.6 % IACS |
Half hard | Chosen when the coil must hold its shape during assembly yet still take moderate bending. | 620 | 850 | 15 | 220 HB | 1.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Full-hard as-drawn wire for tight-tolerance winding, cutting wire and springy elements; anneals out on first firing. | 850 | 1,050 | 4 | 28 HRC | 1.5 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways NiCr60/15 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
STRIP-ANN | Bright annealed strip / ribbon | Supply form |
PREOX | Pre-oxidized | Surface finish |
What is NiCr60/15?
NiCr60/15 (N06004, Cr15Ni60, NCHW2, ASTM B344) is an iron-bearing nickel-chromium electrical resistance alloy, nominally 60% Ni and 15% Cr with the balance iron, supplied as wire, ribbon and strip. It costs less than the 80/20 nichrome grade and draws and coils easily, with about 390 MPa yield, 690 MPa tensile, 32% elongation and 170 HB annealed. Element temperature reaches 1150 °C, but the iron-containing chromia scale is less protective than 80/20 in humid or rapidly cycling service. Use NiCr80/20 for long-life or high watt-density elements. NiCr60/15 has a density of 8.24 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,390°C (2,534 °F). NiCr60/15 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 51% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is NiCr60/15 used for?
- appliance heating elements
- immersion heaters
- industrial resistors
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,150°C (2,102 °F), better than 95% of nickel alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 91% of nickel alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 62/100, worse than 87% of nickel alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 84% of nickel alloy grades
NiCr60/15 properties
Typical room-temperature values for NiCr60/15-ANN; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
NiCr60/15 has a density of 8.24 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,390°C (2,534 °F).
Mechanical16
NiCr60/15 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 51% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
NiCr60/15 is rated for continuous service to 1,150°C (2,102 °F). It conducts heat at 13 W/m·K (7.51 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 14 µm/m·K (7.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
NiCr60/15 conducts electricity at 1.6 % IACS, better than 67% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 87% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of NiCr60/15 takes about 120 MJ of energy and emits 9 kg of CO₂ — less than 90% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
NiCr60/15's machinability is poor (25/100, better than 76% of nickel alloy grades); weldability good (65/100); formability very good (80/100).
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. NiCr60/15 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with NiCr60/15
Is NiCr60/15 easy to machine?
Work-hardens rapidly — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy positive feed, low speed (~20–30 m/min) and flood coolant; avoid dwelling.
Can NiCr60/15 be welded?
Readily spot/resistance welded and TIG welded to itself with matching NiCr filler; keep heat input low, clean off oxide first, and avoid sulphur-bearing greases before welding.
Can NiCr60/15 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent drawability and coilability in the annealed state; heavily cold-worked wire should be stress-relieved or given a first controlled burn-in to avoid coil distortion.
NiCr60/15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NiASTM B344 alloy 60: 57–62 | 55 – 61 | 60 |
| Cr | 15 – 18 | 16 |
| C | ≤ 0.1 | 0.06 |
| Siraises resistivity and scale adhesion | 0.75 – 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Al | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | |
| RErare-earth micro-addition in some GB grades | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Febalance, nominally ~22–25% | balance |
What surface finishes work on NiCr60/15?
Not anodisable; normal practice is a pre-oxidation cycle in air (~1000 °C) to form the protective chromia film — avoid plating or oils that leave sulphur/halide residues.
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 NiCr60/15 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N06004
- GB (China)
- Cr15Ni60
- JIS
- NCHW2
- Also called
- Nichrome V
- Similar grades
- B344
How much does NiCr60/15 cost?
NiCr60/15 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.
NiCr60/15 — frequently asked
What is NiCr60/15 used for?
NiCr60/15 is typically used for appliance heating elements, immersion heaters and industrial resistors. In short: lower-cost nichrome grade; medium-duty heating elements; good drawability and coilability.
What is the yield strength of NiCr60/15?
NiCr60/15 has a typical yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 51% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is NiCr60/15 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, better than 76% of nickel alloy grades). Work-hardens rapidly — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, heavy positive feed, low speed (~20–30 m/min) and flood coolant; avoid dwelling.
Can NiCr60/15 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (65/100). Readily spot/resistance welded and TIG welded to itself with matching NiCr filler; keep heat input low, clean off oxide first, and avoid sulphur-bearing greases before welding.
What surface finishes work on NiCr60/15?
Not anodisable; normal practice is a pre-oxidation cycle in air (~1000 °C) to form the protective chromia film — avoid plating or oils that leave sulphur/halide residues.
Can NiCr60/15 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent drawability and coilability in the annealed state; heavily cold-worked wire should be stress-relieved or given a first controlled burn-in to avoid coil distortion.
What is the maximum service temperature of NiCr60/15?
NiCr60/15 is rated for continuous use to about 1,150°C (2,102 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between NiCr60/15-ANN and NiCr60/15-CD?
ANN is the default condition — standard stocked condition for coiling heating elements: maximum ductility, stable resistance. CD: full-hard as-drawn wire for tight-tolerance winding, cutting wire and springy elements; anneals out on first firing. Yield strength is 390 MPa in ANN versus 850 MPa in CD.
How much does NiCr60/15 cost?
NiCr60/15 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
- ASTM B344 Standard Specification for Drawn or Rolled Nickel-Chromium and Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloys for Electrical Heating Elements — ASTM International (2018)
- Nikrothal 60 resistance heating alloy datasheet — Kanthal (Sandvik) (2021)
- 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)
- Cr15Ni60 (1688 / SMM ) (2026)
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.