Nickel Alloy NiCr60/15-CD (Cold drawn)
Supply condition
UNS N06004 · JIS NCHW2 · GB Cr15Ni60
Full-hard as-drawn wire for tight-tolerance winding, cutting wire and springy elements; anneals out on first firing.
Values for the CD condition
Other NiCr60/15 tempers and conditions
NiCr60/15 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at NiCr60/15.
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 |
CDThis page 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 |
What is NiCr60/15-CD?
NiCr60/15-CD is NiCr60/15 supplied in the CD condition — full-hard as-drawn wire for tight-tolerance winding, cutting wire and springy elements; anneals out on first firing. NiCr60/15-CD has a yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 89% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi). NiCr60/15-CD 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). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,150°C (2,102 °F), better than 95% of nickel alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of nickel alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades
- High strength — 850 MPa (123 ksi), better than 89% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 4%, worse than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 89% of nickel alloy grades
- Low fracture toughness — 70 MPa·√m (63.7 ksi·√in), worse than 85% of nickel alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 84% of nickel alloy grades
NiCr60/15-CD properties
Typical room-temperature values for NiCr60/15-CD; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are NiCr60/15 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
NiCr60/15-CD 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-CD has a yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 89% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
NiCr60/15-CD 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-CD conducts electricity at 1.5 % IACS, better than 67% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 89% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of NiCr60/15-CD 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-CD's machinability is poor (30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with NiCr60/15-CD
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.
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.
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 | — |
NiCr60/15-CD — frequently asked
What is NiCr60/15-CD used for?
NiCr60/15-CD 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-CD?
NiCr60/15-CD has a typical yield strength of 850 MPa (123 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,050 MPa (152 ksi) — stronger than 89% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is NiCr60/15-CD easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, better than 90% 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-CD be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). 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-CD?
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-CD 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-CD?
NiCr60/15-CD 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.