Hydrofluoric acid handling and caustic circulation are two of the services that bring wire into a chemical plant, and NP1 (N4, ≥99.9% Ni+Co) together with NP2 (N6, ≥99.5%) is specified for them. This pure nickel wire is drawn from 0.025 mm to 10 mm, with diameter and temper set per drawing. Trace-element tolerance rather than price alone decides which of the two grades a process needs, and export orders ship with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates.

Pure Nickel and Stainless Steel in Chemical Service

Stainless steels such as 304 and 316 are the default for many chemical lines and they serve well in most of them. Nickel takes over where the medium is hot caustic, hydrofluoric acid or a reducing chloride environment, because its oxide film stays intact in those conditions while stainless becomes vulnerable to pitting and stress-corrosion cracking. Cost per kg runs above stainless, so nickel wire is specified at the points where the medium leaves the standard grades behind. NP1 and NP2 wire is solid nickel through the section, unlike nickel-plated steel wire, whose core is steel under a coating and therefore unsuitable where through-thickness chemistry matters.

Dimensions & Specifications

Micro wire (≤0.05 mm, including 0.025 mm) is available at a 1 kg MOQ; standard wire sizes start at a 5 kg MOQ. Thickness and dimensions can be produced to customer requirements; submit the drawing for confirmation.

Key Strengths

• Media hold: caustic alkalis, hydrofluoric acid and reducing chloride environments sit inside nickel's window, with the medium and its temperature checked before the grade is fixed.

• Grade pair: NP1 gives ≥99.9% Ni+Co with carbon held to ≤0.01%, and NP2 covers general plant duty at ≥99.5% and a lower price per kg.

• Micro capability: drawn to 0.025 mm with diameter and surface finish checked per spool, from a 1 kg minimum on micro sizes.

• Temperature stability: mechanical properties hold through cyclic reactor temperatures, which is where a probe lead has to stay straight and ductile.

• Instrument leads: resistivity of 0.096 μΩ·m keeps a sensor lead stable in the signal path, and thermal conductivity of 70.2 W/m·K (Ni200) spreads heat along a probe.

Technical Details

Matching Wire to Chemical Media

Nickel's corrosion profile is selective. It holds in caustic alkalis and hydrofluoric acid, and in neutral salt solutions and reducing environments, forming a dense oxide layer in air that limits further attack. Strong oxidizing acids, nitric acid and hot concentrated sulfuric acid among them, sit outside that behaviour, which is why the medium, its concentration and its temperature are the first three questions in a chemical inquiry. Where the service goes beyond nickel, an alloyed grade is evaluated.

NP1 and NP2: Purity Against Cost

NP1 (N4) holds a minimum of 99.9% Ni+Co and leaves 0.1% for every other element combined, with carbon capped at 0.01%; it goes to precision instrument leads and analytical service where trace elements have to stay at the floor. NP2 (N6) at ≥99.5% Ni+Co covers general chemical plant duty at a lower cost per kg. Both are commercial-purity nickel, and the ASTM equivalents are Ni200 (UNS N02200) and Ni201 (UNS N02201). State the designation system the order uses, GB or ASTM, and the mill certificate follows it.

Drawing 0.025 mm Micro Wire: Tolerance and Surface

Ultra-thin wire comes from multi-stage drawing through tungsten-carbide dies, with intermediate annealing to control work hardening and a cleaning step that removes oxide and drawing lubricant. At 0.025 mm, diameter consistency and surface finish decide whether the wire winds, weaves or forms a straight lead as the drawing requires; both are checked per spool, and dimensional tolerances are locked per drawing at order confirmation. Soft, hard and 1/2 hard tempers cover winding and straight-lead use.

Chemical Plant Applications: Where the Wire Serves

Inside a chemical plant the wire shows up as reactor internals and instrumentation leads, in valves and pumps handling corrosive media, and in laboratory work from catalyst handling to reactor instrumentation. Oil and gas hardware in sour service uses these grades where temperature and medium allow. Pure nickel tube covers plant piping and heat-exchanger service where the requirement is a seamless section rather than a wire form.

Price (USD/kg, FOB)

Chemical Composition

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Quality Assurance

Release follows a fixed sequence: chemical composition by analysis, then dimensional and mechanical testing, then a surface check on the finished wire. Micro sizes carry a diameter and finish check per spool, and the results for the batch travel with the shipment. Export orders include EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates.

Applicable Standards

• N4 (NP1) / N6 (NP2) wire: GB/T 21653 (Nickel and Nickel Alloy Wire and Drawing Stock)

• Ni200 / Ni201 wire: ASTM B164 (Nickel Rod, Bar and Wire)

• Export documentation: EN 10204 3.1 MTC

References

• Standards: GB/T 21653-2008; ASTM B164; EN 10204

• Industry literature: ASM Specialty Handbook: Nickel, Cobalt, and Their Alloys (ASM International); Nickel Institute corrosion and application guides

• Primary sources: factory catalog, mill test certificates (EN 10204 3.1), ISO 9001 / SGS certifications

Packaging & Delivery

Micro and fine wire is wound on spools and packed in carton boxes; larger diameters are supplied as coils in polybags or on spools as requested. Spools and coils are labelled with the grade and the lot number for incoming inspection. Delivery is 7–15 days for standard production, 3–7 days for small in-stock quantities, and 15–30 days for complex custom requirements after the drawing is approved.

About the Factory

On a chemical industry order, the wire that arrives is set against the wire that was specified, and the grade chemistry and diameter of each coil are recorded on the batch file. DZX was founded in 2002, holds ISO 9001 and SGS certification, and brings 20+ years of nickel drawing experience, 50+ patents, 1,000+ product configurations and 2,000+ partners across 60+ export countries.

Submit your drawing and quantity for a confirmed quote.

FAQ

Which grade is specified for caustic or hydrofluoric service?

Both NP1 (N4, ≥99.9%) and NP2 (N6, ≥99.5%) hold in alkaline media and hydrofluoric acid. NP1 is chosen where trace elements have to be kept to the floor, NP2 where general plant service and a lower cost per kg decide. The medium and its temperature are checked with the engineering team before the order is placed.

What are the tolerances on 0.025 mm micro wire?

Tolerances are set per drawing and fixed when the order is placed. Micro sizes (≤0.05 mm) are drawn at the tight end of the tolerance band, with diameter and surface finish checked per spool.

How is purity graded across the four grades?

Purity is graded rather than flat: NP1/N4 at ≥99.9% Ni+Co, NP2/N6 at ≥99.5%, Ni200 at ≥99.2% and Ni201 at ≥99.0%. The mill certificate states the chemistry of the batch supplied, so the grade on the order and the grade in the analysis match.

Are tube and other forms available for plant piping?

Yes. Tube, strip and plate are supplied as separate product lines. Wire is drawn from 0.025 mm to 10 mm; other forms follow the drawing.

What is the MOQ and sample policy?

Micro wire (≤0.05 mm) starts at 1 kg; standard wire at 5 kg. Samples are free for N6/NP2 and Ni200 (0.5 kg); N4/NP1 and Ni201 samples are charged and refunded on a first order of 50 kg or more.

What is the delivery time and what documents ship with the order?

Standard production ships in 7–15 days; small in-stock quantities in 3–7 days; complex custom requirements in 15–30 days after the drawing is approved. Export orders include EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates and batch test records.