What is the melting point of nickel? Nickel is an important metal used in everything from stainless steel to batteries and magnets. If you’ve ever wondered what temperature nickel melts at, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: the melting point of nickel is 1,455°C or 2,651°F.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the melting point of nickel. We’ll discuss the exact temperature nickel melts at, how its melting point compares to other metals, how scientists determine melting points, and more.
The Exact Melting Point of Nickel
Nickel is a lustrous and silvery-white metal that has a uniquely high melting point of 1,455°C or 2,651°F. This exceptionally elevated temperature makes nickel well-suited for applications that involve high heat, such as the production of stainless steel and nickel-based superalloys used in jet engines, gas turbines, spacecraft, and more.
1,455°C or 2,651°F
The melting point of pure nickel metal is 1,455 degrees Celsius, which equals 2,651 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is much higher than that of common metals like tin, zinc, aluminum, and copper. Only metals like titanium, tungsten, tantalum, rhenium, osmium, and hafnium have higher melting points than nickel.
Nickel’s uniquely high melting point can be attributed to several intrinsic material properties. First, nickel has a high strength of metallic bonding between atoms in the crystalline structure. Second, nickel has a face-centered cubic lattice structure that provides efficient packing of atoms.
And third, nickel has high thermal conductivity that resists heat from breaking down the metallic bonds.
Some key reasons why nickel’s exact melting point of 1,455°C/2,651°F is notable include:
- It allows nickel to retain good mechanical properties at high temperatures where other metals would fail.
- It permits nickel to be alloyed to strengthen steels for extremely hot temperature applications.
- It enables nickel alloys like Inconel to withstand temperatures over 1,000°C for uses like gas turbines.
Knowing the precise melting point empowers engineers to leverage nickel in structural applications where heat-resistance is paramount to performance and safety.
Melting Point vs. Boiling Point
Whereas melting point is the temperature that which a metal transitions from a solid state to a liquid state, boiling point is the temperature that which a liquid metal transitions to a gaseous state. For nickel, the boiling point is much higher than the melting point at 2,720°C or 4,930°F.
The considerable difference between nickel’s melting point of 1,455°C and boiling point of 2,720°C is indicative of its strong metallic bonding. More energy is required to sufficiently break down the atomic bonds to achieve the gaseous phase.
This property allows nickel to exist in the useful liquid phase over a wide temperature range.
| Property | Temperature |
| Melting Point | 1,455°C / 2,651°F |
| Boiling Point | 2,720°C / 4,930°F |
Understanding how nickel behaves at extreme temperatures empowers engineers. They can leverage nickel’s high melting point for structural stability and strength retention. And utilize the broad liquid phase between melting and boiling points during manufacturing processes like casting, welding, sintering, and more.
How Nickel’s Melting Point Compares to Other Metals
Lower Than Iron and Cobalt
Nickel has a melting point of 1,455°C (2,651°F), which is lower than iron at 1,538°C (2,800°F) and cobalt at 1,495°C (2,723°F). This means that nickel will melt at a lower temperature than iron and cobalt if heat is applied to all three metals equally.
Some key factors that influence a metal’s melting point include:
- Strength of metallic bonds – Stronger bonds between metal atoms result in higher melting points
- Atomic mass – Heavier atoms typically have higher melting points
- Crystal structure – The way the atoms are arranged can affect melting points
So while nickel has strong metallic bonds, iron and cobalt have even stronger interactions between their atoms. Cobalt also has a higher atomic mass than nickel, contributing to its higher melting point.
Higher Than Copper and Aluminum
In contrast, nickel’s melting point is considerably higher than copper at 1,085°C (1,984°F) and aluminum at 660°C (1,220°F). So if all four metals were heated up, the aluminum would melt first, then the copper, followed by the nickel, and finally iron or cobalt depending on which one reached its melting point temperature first.
The lower melting points of copper and aluminum can be attributed to:
- Weaker metallic bonds compared to nickel
- Lower atomic masses than nickel
- Different crystal structures
So while copper and nickel both have a face-centered cubic structure, the metallic bonds between nickel atoms are stronger, requiring more heat energy to overcome.
| Metal | Melting Point |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | 660°C (1,220°F) |
| Copper | 1,085°C (1,984°F) |
| Nickel | 1,455°C (2,651°F) |
| Iron | 1,538°C (2,800°F) |
| Cobalt | 1,495°C (2,723°F) |
As the table shows, nickel’s melting point sits right between copper/aluminum and iron/cobalt. Understanding how the melting points of metals compare gives engineers crucial information for deciding which material to use in high-heat applications, like turbine blades or cooking pans.
How Scientists Determine Melting Points
Using a Melting Point Apparatus
Determining the melting point of a substance like nickel is a key process in materials science. Scientists use specialized equipment called a melting point apparatus to find the temperature at which materials transition from a solid to a liquid state.
The process involves heating a small sample of the material, like a few nickel pellets, in a glass capillary tube. As the temperature increases, scientists observe the sample closely to detect the melting point.
There are a few telltale signs they look for to pinpoint when the transition occurs, like the loss of a defined shape as the solid begins melting into liquid.
Modern digital melting point instruments automate temperature control and measurement. This gives very precise melting point values that can be replicated across many tests. Following standardized testing methods is important so that melting points can be compared between different studies.
Calculating with Thermodynamic Data
Melting points can also be estimated using thermodynamic models rather than direct measurement. This involves using data on the energy dynamics and properties of the material to mathematically predict its phase change temperature.
For example, a model may incorporate factors like the enthalpy and entropy values for the solid and liquid states of the substance. Enthalpy reflects the total heat content while entropy relates to the degree of order in the material’s molecular structure.
Computer simulations that model the kinetic activity and energy transfer at the molecular level can also estimate phase transition points. These computational methods provide an alternative to benchtop testing and give theoretical validation to experimentally observed melting points.
Combining hands-on observation with thermodynamic calculations gives a rigorous confirmation of melting points. This builds an expansive knowledge base that furthers both the practical use cases and conceptual understanding of various materials.
Factors That Influence Melting Point
Strength of Metallic Bonds
The key factor that determines the melting point of a metal like nickel is the strength of the metallic bonds between the nickel atoms. Metals contain a “sea” of loose electrons that can flow freely between the positive metal ions.
These free-flowing electrons create a strong electrostatic force of attraction between the positive metal ions – forming the metallic bonds that hold the atoms together in the solid state.
Nickel has particularly strong metallic bonds due to its electronic configuration. This gives nickel a very high melting point of 1455°C. Only metals with even stronger metallic bonds like tungsten and rhenium have higher melting points.
Anything that disrupts these strong metallic bonds will lower the melting point. Adding other metals to form alloys introduces different-sized atoms which prevent the nickel atoms packing together as efficiently. This weakens the metallic bonding and reduces the melting point compared to pure nickel.
For example, adding 10% copper to nickel lowers its melting point by over 200°C.
Presence of Impurities
Even tiny amounts of impurities can significantly reduce the melting point of nickel. Impurity atoms weaken the metallic bonding between the nickel atoms, acting as defects that prevent the atoms aligning properly.
Oxygen and sulfur impurities have a very noticeable effect, with just 0.1% sulfur reducing nickel’s melting point by nearly 50°C. This highlights the need for smelting processes that remove sulfur from nickel ore.
Meanwhile, nickel containing 0.1% oxygen has a melting point around 100°C lower than pure nickel.
Research by the International Journal of Refractory Metals found that nickel’s melting point incrementally declines as the level of impurities rises above 0.1%. By 1% impurities, the melting point falls over 300°C.
Keeping impurities below 0.1% is therefore vital when high-temperature applications rely on nickel maintaining its full melting point.
| Impurity Level | Melting Point Reduction |
| 0.1% Sulfur | 50°C |
| 0.1% Oxygen | 100°C |
| 1% Impurities | 300°C+ |
Nickel Alloys and Their Melting Points
Nickel-Steel Alloys
Nickel-steel alloys are composed of nickel combined with iron and small amounts of other elements like chromium. The nickel content typically ranges from 2-20%. The addition of nickel improves corrosion resistance and strength compared to regular carbon steel.
The melting point of nickel-steel alloys can vary greatly depending on the exact composition, but is generally in the range of 1400-1500°C (2550-2730°F). For example, a 10% nickel steel has a melting point around 1480°C (2700°F) while a 4% nickel steel melts at 1410°C (2570°F).
Nickel-Cobalt Alloys
Nickel-cobalt alloys contain nickel combined with cobalt. Common alloys include Monel which is composed of around two-thirds nickel and one-third cobalt. Adding cobalt to nickel increases strength and corrosion resistance.
Nickel-cobalt alloys have melting points ranging from around 1300-1450°C (2370-2640°F). For instance, Monel 400 alloy has a melting point of 1350°C (2460°F). The exact melting point depends on the percentages of nickel and cobalt present.
Nickel-Copper Alloys
Common nickel-copper alloys include Monel, nickel silver, cupronickel and constantan. Cupronickel contains around 70% copper while the remaining 30% is nickel. This alloy has excellent corrosion resistance and durability.
The melting points of nickel-copper alloys cover a wide range. For example, Monel melts at 1350°C (2460°F), nickel silver at 900-1000°C (1650-1830°F) and cupronickel at 1250°C (2280°F). So the percentage of nickel vs copper has a major influence on the final melting point.
What Is The Melting Point Of Nickel – Conclusion
Now you know the key details about nickel’s melting point. This important property influences how nickel is used in various applications. Understanding melting points allows scientists and engineers to select the best materials for high-temperature situations.
In summary, the melting point of pure nickel is 1,455°C or 2,651°F. This temperature is heavily dependent on nickel’s metallic bonding and purity. While high, nickel’s melting point is lower than some metals like iron and higher than metals like copper and aluminum.
