Overview

Vacuum electronics tolerates no outgassing surprises: filaments, grids and lead wires must hold stable emission and geometry inside sealed envelopes. Factory-supplied Ni200 Ni201 pure nickel wire, drawn from 0.025 mm to 10 mm, pairs high-purity chemistry with a controlled surface finish for vacuum tube, X-ray tube and electron beam components. Four commercial-purity grades (N4, N6, Ni200, Ni201) allow the carbon level and minimum nickel content to be matched to the operating temperature, and round, flat and custom-drawn sections follow the geometry of the assembly.

Pure Nickel Wire or Alloy Wire: Which One the Vacuum Part Needs

Ni200 and Ni201 are commercial-purity nickel, with minimum nickel content of 99.2% and 99.0% respectively and no deliberate alloying additions. The section is solid nickel from surface to core, which is what vacuum-electronics structural parts rely on: filament supports, grid wire, lead-ins and screens, where clean weldability and stable electrical and thermal conductivity carry more weight than resistance. Higher resistance belongs to a separate product line, the nickel-chromium alloys such as Nichrome, and nickel-plated wire is a steel core under a nickel coating. Where uniform chemistry through the section and predictable emission behaviour are the requirement, solid commercial-purity nickel within the Pure Nickel Series is the specification.

Dimensions & Specifications

Micro wire (≤0.05 mm) is available at a 1 kg MOQ; standard wire sizes start at a 5 kg MOQ. Thickness and dimensions are produced to customer requirements within the pure nickel wire range; submit the drawing for confirmation.

Key Strengths

• Specifiable grade chemistry: four grades with graded minimum nickel (Ni200 ≥99.2%, Ni201 ≥99.0%, N6 ≥99.5%, N4 ≥99.9%). The low-carbon Ni201 grade (C ≤0.02%) suits vacuum components that see sustained heat.

• Electrical and thermal conductivity: electrical resistivity of 0.096 μΩ·m and thermal conductivity of 70.2 W/m·K (Ni200) keep temperature gradients low in current-carrying leads.

• Diameters and shapes: round wire from 0.025 mm to 10 mm, plus flat wire and other customized shapes according to the drawing.

• Corrosion resistance: stable against alkaline and reducing media, and against oxidation and water vapour at elevated temperature.

• Weldability: TIG, MIG and resistance welding, for clean integration into grids, supports and sealed assemblies.

Technical Details

Vacuum Service: Outgassing, Purity and Stable Emission

Inside a sealed vacuum envelope, impurities and surface oxides become contamination sources: they outgas, disturb the vacuum and shift emission behaviour over life. Commercial-purity nickel wire contributes low volatile content and a clean, controlled surface, which is why Ni200/Ni201 wire is specified for filament supports, grid wire and lead-ins rather than coated or alloyed substitutes. Nickel is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of 358°C, which sets a limit where magnetic shielding or deflection behaviour is part of the design.

Ni200 vs. Ni201: Grade Choice for Vacuum Components

Ni200 (C ≤0.15%) and Ni201 (C ≤0.02%) share the same corrosion profile; the difference is carbon. Above roughly 315°C, the higher-carbon Ni200 can precipitate carbon at grain boundaries and become brittle or lose ductility in service. Where vacuum components operate hot, in cathode structures, grid supports and heater leads, the low-carbon Ni201 grade is the standard choice. Ni200 covers room-temperature structural leads and general fabrication, and N4 (≥99.9%) is available where maximum purity is the deciding factor.

Filaments, Grids and Leads: Where the Wire Serves

Typical vacuum-electronics roles for Ni200/Ni201 wire include filament and cathode supports, grid wire, anode and lead-in conductors, getter support frames, and heater wire in vacuum tubes, X-ray tubes, electron guns and vacuum switches. In each role the part needs uniform diameter for consistent thermal mass, a clean surface for sound weld joints, and chemistry that stays stable under heat, the properties this wire is drawn to hold across the coil.

From Melt to Micro Wire: The Eight-Step Line

Produced on an in-house nickel line, the wire passes eight controlled steps: high-purity nickel raw material preparation; melting and casting in an electric arc or induction furnace; hot or cold rolling to reduce section and build tensile properties; annealing to relieve internal stress and restore plasticity; drawing through steel or tungsten-carbide dies to reach the required diameter; cleaning and surface treatment to remove oxides; testing and quality control covering chemical composition analysis, dimensional measurement, mechanical testing and appearance inspection; and packaging for delivery.

Price

Chemical Composition

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Quality Assurance

Every batch passes chemical composition analysis, dimensional measurement, mechanical property testing and surface inspection before release. Test records accompany each shipment, and export orders ship with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates, with batch-level chemistry and geometry verified against in-house inspection records.

Applicable Standards

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

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

• Export documentation: EN 10204 3.1 MTC

References

• Standards: ASTM B164; GB/T 21653-2008; 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. Delivery is 7-15 days for standard production, 3-7 days for small in-stock quantities, and 15-30 days for complex custom requirements confirmed against the drawing.

About the Factory

DZX has run nickel and alloy production since 2002, with ISO 9001 and SGS certified quality systems, 20+ years of experience and 50+ patents behind the drawing, rolling and heat-treatment processes. Vacuum-electronics buyers specify this wire for behaviour that holds coil after coil: consistent diameter, surface and chemistry, applied across 1,000+ product configurations exported to 60+ countries for 2,000+ partners.

Submit your drawing and quantity for a confirmed quote.

FAQ

Which grade suits a filament support or grid?

For components that run hot inside the envelope, specify low-carbon Ni201 (C ≤0.02%) to avoid carbide precipitation and embrittlement above roughly 315°C. For room-temperature structural leads, Ni200 is sufficient. N4 (≥99.9%) is available where maximum purity is specified.

What wire diameters and tolerances are available?

Round wire from 0.025 mm to 10 mm, with soft, hard or 1/2 hard temper. Dimensional tolerances are locked per drawing at order confirmation; micro sizes (≤0.05 mm) are drawn to the tight end of the range.

Are custom diameters or flat wire available?

Yes: flat wire (0.05-0.2) × (0.5-6) mm and other customized shapes are available. Provide the cross-section and required temper so the drawing sequence can be set up correctly.

What is the MOQ, and is a sample available first?

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

What is the delivery time for standard and custom orders?

Standard production ships in 7-15 days, small in-stock quantities in 3-7 days, and complex custom requirements in 15-30 days after drawing confirmation.

Which certificates and test reports ship with the wire?

Each shipment includes batch test records and, for export orders, EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates covering chemical composition, dimensions and mechanical properties.