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UNS N02200, also known as Nickel 200, Nickel Alloy 200, Alloy 200, N6, occupies an important position in the US material standards. It has a high degree of international recognition and corresponds to 2.4066 in the European standard. This standardized naming system ensures the uniformity of material selection and application worldwide.
The production standards of UNS N02200 nickel alloy also include requirements for mechanical properties. According to ASTM B160/B161/B162 standards, the tensile strength of nickel alloys should be at least 380 MPa, the yield strength should not be less than 100 MPa, and the elongation should be above 40%. These parameters ensure that the alloy can still maintain excellent mechanical properties in high temperature, high pressure and corrosive environments, and is suitable for harsh industrial environments.
Nickel alloy 200 is a highly corrosion-resistant metal with excellent mechanical and physical properties. It is widely used in various fields such as chemical processing, electronics, aerospace, etc.
Grade | C≤ | Mn≤ | Si≤ | S≤ | Cu≤ | Fe≤ | Ni≥ |
Ni200 | 0.15 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.01 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 99.0 |
Density | 8.89 g/cm³ |
Melting Point | 1446 °C |
Coefficient of Expansion | 13.3 μm/m °C (20 – 100 °C) |
Modulus of Rigidity | 81 kN/mm² |
Modulus of Elasticity | 204 kN/mm² |
Form | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength (0.2% Offset) | Elongation in 2 in. (51 mm), % | Hardness | |||
Brinell (3000 kg) | Rockwell B | ||||||
ksi | MPa | ksi | MPa | ||||
Rod and Bar | |||||||
Hot-Finished Cold-Drawn Cold-Drawn, Annealed or Hot-finished, Annealed | 60-85 65-110 55-75 | 415-585 450-760 380-520 | 15-45 40-100 15-30 | 105-310 275-690 105-210 | 55-35 35-10 55-40 | 90-150 140-230 90-120 | 45-80 75-98 45-70 |
Plate | |||||||
Hot-Rolled Hot-Rolled, Annealed | 55-100 55-80 | 380-690 380-550 | 20-80 15-40 | 140-550 105-275 | 55-35 60-40 | 100-150 90-140 | 55-80 45-75 |
Sheet | |||||||
Hard Annealed | 90-115 55-75 | 620-795 380-520 | 70-105 15-30 | 480-725 105-210 | 15-2 55-40 | – – | 90 min. 70 max. |
Strip | |||||||
Spring Annealed | 90-130 55-75 | 620-895 380-520 | 70-115 15-30 | 480-795 105-210 | 15-2 55-40 | – – | 95 min. 64 max. |
Tubing | |||||||
Stress-Relieved Annealed | 65-110 55-75 | 450-760 380-520 | 40-90 12-30 | 275-620 85-210 | 35-15 60-40 | – – | 75-98 70 max. |
Condenser and Evaporator Tubing | |||||||
Annealed Stress-Relieved | 55-75 65-110 | 380-520 450-760 | 15-30 40-90 | 105-210 275-620 | 60-40 35-20 | – – | 65 max. 75-98 |
Wire, Cold-Drawn | |||||||
Annealed No. 1 Temper Spring Temper | 55-85 70-95 125-145 | 380-580 485-655 860-1000 | 15-50 40-75 105-135 | 105-345 275-520 725-930 | 50-30 40-20 15-2 | – – – | – – – |
Nickel 200 ASTM Specifications
Product | Standard | Show |
Pipe / Tube | ASTM B161/B163/B474 |  |
Sheet / Plate / Strip | ASTM B162 |  |
Bar / Rod | ASTM B160 |  |
Forging | ASTM B564 |  |
Fittings | ASTM B366 |  |
STANDARD | WERKSTOFF.NR. | UNS | JIS | BS | GOST | AFNOR | EN |
Ni200 | 2.4066/2.4060 | N02200 | NW 2200 | NA 11 | HП-2 | N-100M | Ni 99.2 |
As a commercially pure wrought nickel (99.0% Ni minimum), Nickel 200 derives its performance from nickel's inherent metallurgical nobility rather than from alloying additions.
• Outstanding resistance to caustic alkalis—Nickel 200 offers exceptional resistance to sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and other alkaline solutions across a wide range of concentrations and temperatures, making It is the benchmark material for caustic handling throughout the chemical industry.
• Best performance in reducing environments—corrosion resistance is strongest under reducing / de-aerated conditions; performance drops in strongly oxidizing media (nitric acid, ferric chloride, wet chlorine), so service selection should always consider aeration and oxidizing contaminants.
• Ferromagnetic and magnetostrictive — Nickel 200 changes dimension slightly under an applied magnetic field, a property exploited in magnetostrictive transducers used in sonar and ultrasonic welding control equipment.
• High thermal and electrical conductivity — supports use in heat exchanger components, resistance heating element leads, battery connections, and electronic/electrical contacts where efficient heat or current transfer matters.
• Low gas content and low vapor pressure — useful in vacuum and high-purity electronic applications where outgassing must be minimized.
• Good ductility, low work-hardening rate, and excellent
weldability/solderability — Nickel 200 work-hardens at a rate comparable to austenitic stainless steel (faster than carbon steel, but manageable with intermediate annealing), and is readily welded with Nickel 61 filler wire or Nickel 141 covered electrodes.
• Temperature limit: 315°C (600°F) — above this temperature, Nickel 200's carbon content (0.15% max) can precipitate as graphite at grain boundaries, reducing strength and ductility. For continuous service above 315°C, the low-carbon variant Nickel 201 (0.02% C max) is the correct material choice.
Nickel Alloy Pipe Fitting For Power Plants
Nickel Alloy Fitting For Oil And Gas Industry
Nickel Alloy Forged Fitting For Fluid Piping
Elbow For Dairy And Food Processing
Heat Exchanger
Pharmaceutical Processing Industry
Threaded Fitting For Pulp And Paper Industry
Aerospace and missile components
Two industries in particular rely on Nickel 200 for reasons that go beyond general corrosion resistance: food and beverage processing, where material purity itself is the specification, and chemical processing, where caustic and reducing-acid resistance is the
deciding factor.
Food and Beverage Processing
Commercially pure nickel is permitted under FDA and European food-contact regulations for certain food processing equipment. Nickel 200 is specified where stainless steel risks imparting a metallic taste, or where nickel's specific purity and corrosion behavior are
required to protect product quality:
• Evaporators, kettles, and mixing vessels for food and dairy processing
• Conveyors, mesh belts, stirrers, and heat exchanger coils in dairy, confectionery, and beverage production, where resistance to mild organic acids and neutral-pH solutions combines with easy cleaning and sterilization
• Synthetic fiber production equipment, another long-standing use case for Nickel 200's purity and corrosion resistance
• Piping, fittings, and elbows for dairy and food-grade fluid transfer
Chemical Processing
Nickel 200's signature industrial use is the chlor-alkali process—the electrolysis of brine to produce chlorine gas and caustic soda. This process is highly corrosive to most materials, and Nickel 200 is a standard material for cathode elements and associated caustic evaporator components.
Nickel 200 is the best choice for caustic alkalis (NaOH, KOH) at all concentrations and temperatures, food-grade processing, and high electrical conductivity applications. Monel 400 is the best choice for seawater, hydrofluoric acid (HF), reducing acids (H²SO⁴, HCl), and marine engineering. The critical difference is copper content — Monel 400 contains ~30% copper, which provides seawater and HF resistance but makes it unsuitable for food contact and high-temperature caustic where copper would leach or corrode.
| Element | Nickel 200 (UNS N02200) | Monel 400 (UNS N04400) | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel (Ni) | 99.0% min | 63.0% min (balance) | More nickel = better caustic and high-temperature resistance |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.25% max | 28.0-34.0% | Copper in Monel provides seawater and HF resistance; Nickel 200 copper-free = food-grade |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.40% max | 2.5% max | Both low iron; not a differentiating factor |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.35% max | 2.0% max | Higher Mn in Monel improves hot-working characteristics |
| Carbon (C) | 0.15% max | 0.30% max | Lower C in Nickel 200 = better weldability without sensitization |
| Environment / Application | Nickel 200 | Monel 400 | Recommended Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| NaOH (caustic soda), all concentrations, all temperatures | Excellent | Good (up to 80°C only; copper content corrodes in hot caustic) | Nickel 200 — Monel 400 corrodes in hot NaOH due to copper phase attack |
| Seawater, brine, marine atmosphere | Good | Excellent | Monel 400 — copper content provides exceptional seawater pitting resistance; Nickel 200 can pit in stagnant seawater |
| Hydrofluoric acid (HF), all concentrations, up to 120°C | Poor (aqueous HF attacks nickel) | Excellent | Monel 400 — copper-nickel combination is uniquely HF-resistant; nickel alone is not |
| Reducing acids (H²SO⁴, HCl, deaerated) | Limited (moderate for low conc.) | Good (better than Nickel 200) | Monel 400 — copper content improves reducing acid resistance |
| Food-grade processing (FDA, non-toxic) | Excellent (copper-free) | Not recommended (copper leaches into acidic food) | Nickel 200 — Monel 400 copper content violates food contact requirements for acidic products |
| High-purity water / semiconductor | Excellent (no Cu or Cr leaching) | Not suitable (copper ion contamination) | Nickel 200 — Monel 400 copper leaches into high-purity water systems |
| Marine engineering (pump shafts, propeller shafts, valve trim) | Good | Excellent | Monel 400 — seawater corrosion + high strength combination |
| High-temperature dry gas (Cl², HCl, F², up to 540°C) | Excellent | Good | Nickel 200 — higher melting point (1,446°C vs 1,350°C) and no low-melting copper phase |
| Thermal conductivity / heat exchanger | 70 W/m·K | 35 W/m·K | Nickel 200 — 2× better heat transfer; shorter cycle times in heating/cooling |
| Electrical conductivity / electronic components | Excellent (0.096 μΩ·m) | Good (0.51 μΩ·m) | Nickel 200 — 5× lower electrical resistivity; preferred for electrical applications |
Nickel 200 and Monel 400 are comparably priced because nickel — the primary component of both alloys — is the dominant cost driver. At a nickel LME price of $18,000/ton, both alloys cost approximately $25-35/kg for standard mill product forms (plate, sheet, bar). However, because Nickel 200 is a single-element commercial-purity metal (easier to melt, cast, and fabricate) compared to the two-component Monel 400 alloy system (requiring precise copper content control), Nickel 200 typically costs 5-10% less than Monel 400 for equivalent product forms and quantities. When both alloys are technically suitable (neutral/alkaline environments, ambient temperature), cost considerations favor Nickel 200.
About Nickel 200 Resource
Q: What is the difference between Nickel 200 and Nickel 201?
The only difference is carbon content. Nickel 200 contains up to 0.15% carbon, while Nickel 201 (UNS N02201) contains a maximum of 0.02% carbon. This lower carbon content prevents graphite precipitation at grain boundaries above 315°C (600°F), making Nickel 201 the preferred choice for service temperatures above 315°C. For applications below 315°C — which includes most chemical processing, food processing, and caustic handling — Nickel 200 and Nickel 201 are interchangeable, and Nickel 200 is the more economical choice. The mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the two grades are otherwise identical.
Q: Is Nickel 200 food-grade safe?
Yes. Nickel 200 is widely used in food processing equipment — including dairy pasteurizers, chocolate molds, food drying trays, and brewery fermenters — because it is non-toxic, does not leach harmful substances into food, and resists corrosion from food acids (lactic, citric, acetic). Its high thermal conductivity (70 W/m·K, approximately 4× that of 316L stainless steel) makes it especially valuable for heat exchangers in food processing where rapid, uniform heating or cooling is required. Unlike copper-containing alloys (including Monel 400), Nickel 200 does not impart metallic taste to food products.
Q: Can Nickel 200 handle caustic soda (NaOH)?
Yes — caustic soda handling is Nickel 200 strongest application. Nickel 200 resists NaOH at all concentrations (from dilute 5% to anhydrous fused caustic) and at all temperatures up to approximately 540°C (1,000°F), far exceeding the capability of any stainless steel. 304 and 316 stainless steel fail above approximately 100°C in concentrated NaOH due to chloride stress corrosion cracking (Cl-SCC). Nickel 200 is the standard material of construction worldwide for NaOH evaporators, caustic concentrators, caustic storage tanks, and caustic transfer piping in the chlor-alkali industry.
Q: Nickel 200 vs Monel 400 — which should I choose?
Choose Nickel 200 when: the service contains caustic alkalis (NaOH, KOH) at any concentration or temperature, when high electrical conductivity is needed, or when food-grade / pharmaceutical purity is required (no copper contamination). Choose Monel 400 when: the environment contains hydrofluoric acid (HF), seawater or brine, reducing acids (H²SO⁴, HCl), or when the component is used in marine engineering (pump shafts, propeller shafts). For neutral or mildly alkaline chemical processing at moderate temperatures, both alloys work, and Nickel 200 is typically 5-10% lower cost.
Q: Can Nickel 200 be welded?
Yes — Nickel 200 is readily weldable by all common processes: GTAW (TIG), GMAW (MIG), SMAW (stick), and SAW (submerged arc). The recommended filler metal is ERNi-1 (AWS A5.14) for GTAW/GMAW and ENi-1 (AWS A5.11) for SMAW. Pre-weld cleaning to remove oils, grease, and surface oxides is critical — nickel is sensitive to sulfur and lead embrittlement at welding temperature. No preheat is required for sections thinner than 25mm. Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) is not required for corrosion resistance, though stress relief at 600-650°C for 1 hour per 25mm of thickness may be used to reduce residual welding stress in thick sections or for dimensional stability.
Q: What is the maximum temperature for Nickel 200?
The maximum recommended service temperature for Nickel 200 is 315°C (600°F). Above this temperature, the 0.15% max carbon content can cause graphite precipitation at grain boundaries, which reduces ductility and can cause intergranular embrittlement over time. For applications above 315°C, use Nickel 201 (UNS N02201, 0.02% C max), which prevents graphite precipitation and can be used up to 1,230°C (2,250°F) under reducing or inert conditions. For oxidizing conditions, the upper limit for both Nickel 200 and 201 is approximately 540°C (1,000°F) — above which nickel oxidizes rapidly in air.
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