Nickel Alloy NiMg Master Alloy
NiMg Master Alloy (NiMg15) is a nickel-magnesium nodulizer added to molten iron to convert flake graphite into spheroidal graphite in ductile (nodular) iron.
Reference datasheet — NiMg Master Alloy 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 NiMg15 condition
NiMg Master Alloy tempers and conditions
NiMg Master Alloy is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. NiMg15 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
~20 % Mg nickel-magnesium master alloy | High-Mg grade minimising Ni addition per kg of Mg; more brittle and more reactive, used when residual Ni must be limited. | 100 | 0.2 | 285 HB | 4.9 % IACS | |
NiMg15Default 15 % Mg nickel-magnesium master alloy, ingot/broken pieces | Standard nodulizer grade: highest Mg content still giving a compact, easily handled Ni–MgNi2 solid; the default stocked composition. | 130 | 0.3 | 265 HB | 5.7 % IACS | |
~10 % Mg nickel-magnesium master alloy | Lower-Mg, higher-density hypoeutectic grade for heavy sections and where more Ni pick-up is wanted per unit Mg. | 160 | 0.5 | 209 HB | 7 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways NiMg Master Alloy is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Ingot | As-cast ingot / waffle plate | Supply form |
GRAN | Granule / shot 1–10 mm | Surface finish |
LUMP | Lump / crushed 10–50 mm | Surface finish |
What is NiMg Master Alloy?
NiMg Master Alloy (NiMg15) is a nickel-magnesium nodulizer added to molten iron to convert flake graphite into spheroidal graphite in ductile (nodular) iron. It is held as NiMg10, NiMg15 and NiMg20 in lump, granule and ingot form, with a density near 6 g/cm3 and a melting point of 1095 C. The nickel carrier gives a controlled, low-flare treatment reaction and alloys nickel into the iron, but the nickel residual must fit the target chemistry and the alloy is more expensive than the usual route. Where nickel pickup is unwanted, magnesium ferrosilicon is the alternative. NiMg Master Alloy has a density of 6 g/cm³ (0.217 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,095°C (2,003 °F). NiMg Master Alloy has a tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi), weaker than 100% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0.3% and the elastic modulus is 140 GPa (20.3 Msi).
What is NiMg Master Alloy used for?
- ductile iron nodulizing treatment
- foundry ladle additions
- spheroidal graphite iron production
Advantages
- Lightweight — 6 g/cm³ (0.217 lb/in³), better than 100% of nickel alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of nickel alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 5.7 % IACS, better than 93% of nickel alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.3%, worse than 100% of nickel alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 0/100, worse than 100% of nickel alloy grades
- Limited formability — 0/100, worse than 100% of nickel alloy grades
- Difficult to machine — 5/100, worse than 99% of nickel alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 140 GPa (20.3 Msi), worse than 97% of nickel alloy grades
NiMg Master Alloy properties
Typical room-temperature values for NiMg Master Alloy-NiMg15; bars are the position among nickel alloy grades.
Physical3
NiMg Master Alloy has a density of 6 g/cm³ (0.217 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of nickel alloy grades. It melts at 1,095°C (2,003 °F).
Mechanical7
NiMg Master Alloy has a tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi), weaker than 100% of nickel alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0.3% and the elastic modulus is 140 GPa (20.3 Msi).
Thermal4
NiMg Master Alloy is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of nickel alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 14 µm/m·K (7.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
NiMg Master Alloy conducts electricity at 5.7 % IACS, better than 93% of nickel alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 96% of nickel alloy grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of NiMg Master Alloy takes about 172 MJ of energy and emits 15 kg of CO₂ — more than 63% of nickel alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability4
NiMg Master Alloy's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 99% of nickel alloy grades); weldability not recommended (0/100); formability not recommended (0/100).
Common Calculations4
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. NiMg Master Alloy is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with NiMg Master Alloy
Is NiMg Master Alloy easy to machine?
Not machined — the Ni–MgNi2 structure is hard and brittle and is jaw-crushed and screened to the required lump or granule size.
Can NiMg Master Alloy be welded?
Not weldable or joinable; supplied purely as a melt addition.
Can NiMg Master Alloy be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by induction melting Ni with Mg under cover and casting into ingots or waffle plates, then crushing.
NiMg Master Alloy 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mggrade-defining; NiMg10 ≈ 9–11 %, NiMg20 ≈ 19–21 % | 14 – 16 | 15 |
| Siimpurity/optional deoxidiser | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Feimpurity | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Cimpurity | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Cuimpurity | ≤ 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Simpurity, must stay low for nodulizing | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Nibalance, typically ≥ 82 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on NiMg Master Alloy?
No surface finishing; keep dry and sealed (moisture attacks the Mg-bearing phase) and preheat the ladle addition to avoid violent reaction.
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 NiMg Master Alloy in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- NiMg15
How much does NiMg Master Alloy cost?
NiMg Master Alloy is a high-cost nickel alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
NiMg Master Alloy — frequently asked
What is NiMg Master Alloy used for?
NiMg Master Alloy is typically used for ductile iron nodulizing treatment, foundry ladle additions and spheroidal graphite iron production. In short: controlled-reaction Mg nodulizer; adds nickel with magnesium; melt addition, not stock.
What is the tensile strength of NiMg Master Alloy?
NiMg Master Alloy has a typical tensile strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) — weaker than 100% of nickel alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is NiMg Master Alloy easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 99% of nickel alloy grades). Not machined — the Ni–MgNi2 structure is hard and brittle and is jaw-crushed and screened to the required lump or granule size.
Can NiMg Master Alloy be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (0/100). Not weldable or joinable; supplied purely as a melt addition.
What surface finishes work on NiMg Master Alloy?
No surface finishing; keep dry and sealed (moisture attacks the Mg-bearing phase) and preheat the ladle addition to avoid violent reaction.
Can NiMg Master Alloy be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by induction melting Ni with Mg under cover and casting into ingots or waffle plates, then crushing.
What is the maximum service temperature of NiMg Master Alloy?
NiMg Master Alloy is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does NiMg Master Alloy cost?
NiMg Master Alloy is a high-cost nickel alloy ($$$$), 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
- ASM Handbook Vol. 3: Alloy Phase Diagrams (Mg–Ni system) — ASM International (1992)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1A: Cast Iron Science and Technology — nodularizing treatments — ASM International (2017)
- Nickel-magnesium nodularizer master alloy datasheet — Foundry master-alloy producers (2023)
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.