Nickel Alloy NiCr60/16
UNS N06004 · JIS NCHW2 · GB Cr15Ni60
NiCr60/16 is a Ni-Cr-Fe electrical resistance alloy (N06004, Cr15Ni60, NCHW2) in which iron replaces part of the nickel of the 80/20 chemistry, lowering cost while keeping usable resistivity and oxidation resistance.
Reference datasheet — NiCr60/16 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
NiCr60/16 tempers and conditions
NiCr60/16 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 plate/bar | Heavier sections for element terminals, furnace fixtures and machined resistance components. | 300 | 650 | 40 | 170 HB | 1.6 % IACS |
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition for coiling heating elements and forming — maximum ductility, stable resistance. | 350 | 690 | 35 | 180 HB | — |
Half hard | Choose when the wire or strip must hold shape during automated coil winding or stamping without full spring stiffness. | 620 | 850 | 15 | 21 HRC | 1.5 % IACS |
Hard drawn / spring temper wire | For resistors, precision springs and fine wire needing high tensile strength and straightness; anneals out above ~600 °C in service. | 850 | 1,050 | 3 | 30 HRC | 1.5 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways NiCr60/16 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CR-STRIP | Cold rolled strip / foil | Supply form |
PREOX | Pre-oxidized annealed wire | Surface finish |
What is NiCr60/16?
NiCr60/16 is a Ni-Cr-Fe electrical resistance alloy (N06004, Cr15Ni60, NCHW2) in which iron replaces part of the nickel of the 80/20 chemistry, lowering cost while keeping usable resistivity and oxidation resistance. It is chosen for moderate-temperature heating elements and is stocked as wire, cold-rolled strip and ribbon in annealed, half-hard, hard-drawn, hot-rolled annealed and pre-oxidised conditions. Maximum service temperature is 1100 °C against 1150 °C for NiCr80/20, and the iron content gives a less durable scale in cycling service, so step up to NiCr80/20 where element life matters more than price. NiCr60/16 has a density of 8.2 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 63% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,390°C (2,534 °F). NiCr60/16 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 60% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is NiCr60/16 used for?
- Domestic appliance heating elements
- Low-cost furnace elements
- Oven and toaster element coils
- Tubular heater windings
- Hair dryer and fan heater coils
- Heat-sealing bar strip
- Resistance strip for storage heaters
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of nickel alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 75/100, better than 82% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 58/100, worse than 91% of nickel alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 84% of nickel alloy grades
NiCr60/16 properties
Typical room-temperature values for NiCr60/16-ANN; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
NiCr60/16 has a density of 8.2 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 63% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,390°C (2,534 °F).
Mechanical14
NiCr60/16 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 60% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
NiCr60/16 is rated for continuous service to 1,100°C (2,012 °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 13.5 µm/m·K (7.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
NiCr60/16 conducts electricity at 1.6 % IACS, better than 67% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), worse than 91% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of NiCr60/16 takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 93% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
NiCr60/16's machinability is poor (30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades); weldability good (62/100); formability very good (75/100).
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. NiCr60/16 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with NiCr60/16
Is NiCr60/16 easy to machine?
Machine like an austenitic Ni alloy: rigid setup, sharp positive-rake carbide, low speed (~15–25 m/min) with heavy feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening and glazing.
Can NiCr60/16 be welded?
Resistance/spot welding and TIG with matching NiCr60 or ERNiCr-3 filler work well; keep heat input low, avoid sulfur-bearing contaminants and remove oxide before welding.
Can NiCr60/16 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed material coils, bends and stamps readily but work-hardens fast — use generous radii, interstage anneals at 900–1000 °C and lubricated dies for deep drawing.
NiCr60/16 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 N06004: 57–62 % | 55 – 61 | 58 |
| Cr | 15 – 18 | 16 |
| Siadded for oxide adherence and resistivity | 0.75 – 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| C | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Al | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Tioptional deoxidizer | ≤ 0.5 | |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Fe≈22–26 % typical | balance |
What surface finishes work on NiCr60/16?
Not anodizable; supplied bright, matte or pre-oxidized. Controlled pre-oxidation at 900–1000 °C in air gives the protective Cr2O3 film; electropolish or pickle in HNO3-HF blends to clean before brazing.
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 NiCr60/16 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N06004
- GB (China)
- Cr15Ni60
- JIS
- NCHW2
- Also called
- Nichrome 60
How much does NiCr60/16 cost?
NiCr60/16 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.
NiCr60/16 — frequently asked
What is NiCr60/16 used for?
NiCr60/16 is typically used for domestic appliance heating elements, low-cost furnace elements, oven and toaster element coils, tubular heater windings, hair dryer and fan heater coils and heat-sealing bar strip. In short: lower-cost nichrome grade; fe-bearing 60/16 chemistry; 1100 °C element wire.
What is the yield strength of NiCr60/16?
NiCr60/16 has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — weaker than 60% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is NiCr60/16 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, better than 90% of nickel alloy grades). Machine like an austenitic Ni alloy: rigid setup, sharp positive-rake carbide, low speed (~15–25 m/min) with heavy feed and flood coolant to avoid work hardening and glazing.
Can NiCr60/16 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (62/100). Resistance/spot welding and TIG with matching NiCr60 or ERNiCr-3 filler work well; keep heat input low, avoid sulfur-bearing contaminants and remove oxide before welding.
What surface finishes work on NiCr60/16?
Not anodizable; supplied bright, matte or pre-oxidized. Controlled pre-oxidation at 900–1000 °C in air gives the protective Cr2O3 film; electropolish or pickle in HNO3-HF blends to clean before brazing.
Can NiCr60/16 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed material coils, bends and stamps readily but work-hardens fast — use generous radii, interstage anneals at 900–1000 °C and lubricated dies for deep drawing.
What is the maximum service temperature of NiCr60/16?
NiCr60/16 is rated for continuous use to about 1,100°C (2,012 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between NiCr60/16-ANN and NiCr60/16-HD?
ANN is the default condition — standard stocked condition for coiling heating elements and forming — maximum ductility, stable resistance. HD: for resistors, precision springs and fine wire needing high tensile strength and straightness; anneals out above ~600 °C in service. Yield strength is 350 MPa in ANN versus 850 MPa in HD.
How much does NiCr60/16 cost?
NiCr60/16 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 — Drawn or Rolled Nickel-Chromium and Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloys for Electrical Heating Elements — ASTM International (2019)
- Nikrothal 60 (NiCr 60/16) resistance heating alloy datasheet — Kanthal / Sandvik (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- Electrical resistance alloy property tables — MatWeb / CINDAS (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.