Nickel Alloy NiCr60/16-HD
Supply condition
UNS N06004 · JIS NCHW2 · GB Cr15Ni60
HD = 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.
Values for the HD condition
Other NiCr60/16 tempers and conditions
NiCr60/16 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at NiCr60/16.
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 |
HDThis page 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 |
What is NiCr60/16-HD?
NiCr60/16-HD is NiCr60/16 supplied in the HD condition — for resistors, precision springs and fine wire needing high tensile strength and straightness; anneals out above ~600 °C in service. NiCr60/16-HD 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 3% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi). NiCr60/16-HD 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). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 35/100, better than 97% of nickel alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of nickel alloy grades
- High strength — 850 MPa (123 ksi), better than 89% of nickel alloy grades
- High service temperature — 1,100°C (2,012 °F), better than 88% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 56/100, worse than 91% of nickel alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 84% of nickel alloy grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 75% of nickel alloy grades
NiCr60/16-HD properties
Typical room-temperature values for NiCr60/16-HD; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are NiCr60/16 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
NiCr60/16-HD 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-HD 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 3% and the elastic modulus is 215 GPa (31.2 Msi).
Thermal6
NiCr60/16-HD 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-HD conducts electricity at 1.5 % IACS, better than 67% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (56/100), worse than 91% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of NiCr60/16-HD 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-HD's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 97% of nickel alloy grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with NiCr60/16-HD
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.
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.
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 | — |
NiCr60/16-HD — frequently asked
What is NiCr60/16-HD used for?
NiCr60/16-HD 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-HD?
NiCr60/16-HD 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 NiCr60/16-HD easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 97% 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-HD be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). 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-HD?
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-HD 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-HD?
NiCr60/16-HD 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.