Purity 99.98% · CAS 7440-02-0 · Ni
Nickel Wire 99.98+% — the standard commercial grade
Vacuum devices, precision electronics
Overview
Drawn from vacuum-melted Nickel 200/201 feedstock, this is the workhorse grade of the industry. Low carbon and low sulphur give clean welds and stable outgassing behaviour, which is why it dominates vacuum tube lead-in and precision electronic use.
Typical trace impurities
| Impurity | Typical max |
|---|---|
| C | ≤ 100 ppm |
| Fe | ≤ 80 ppm |
| S | ≤ 10 ppm |
| Cu | ≤ 40 ppm |
Indicative values. The certificate of analysis for your lot is the binding document.
Where this grade is used
- ▪Vacuum tube and lead-in wire manufacture
- ▪Precision battery tab and interconnect work
- ▪Catalyst supports and woven cloth
- ▪Aerospace and marine components
Common forms
Spool, ribbon, mesh, straight lengths
Specification at a glance
| Material | Nickel Wire (Ni) |
|---|---|
| Purity | 99.98% (3N8), metals basis |
| CAS | 7440-02-0 |
| Production route | Cold drawn from commercial nickel 200/201 rod |
| Available forms | Spool, ribbon, mesh, straight lengths |
| Analysis method | ICP-OES assay plus oxygen determination |
| Documentation | Certificate of analysis per lot, RoHS and REACH statements, country of origin |
| Typical packaging | 100 g spool · 1 kg spool · 5 kg spool · Bulk drum (25 kg+) |
What 99.98% (3N8) actually means
3N8 is shorthand for 99.98% purity on a metals basis: at most 0.02% of the material, by weight, is something other than Ni. The metals-basis convention excludes dissolved gases and, for powders, surface oxygen — which is why oxygen is quoted separately in the trace table below.
Two lots at the same nominal purity are not interchangeable if the residual elements differ. For this grade the limiting element is typically C at ≤ 100 ppm. What matters is which impurities your process is sensitive to — judge a lot on its full trace analysis, not on the headline number.
Choosing 3N8 versus the neighbouring grades
Coming from 99.9% (3N): the step up buys you tighter trace control for vacuum devices, precision electronics. If your process tolerates the residuals of 3N, the lower grade remains the more economical and more widely available choice.
Going up to 99.99% (4N) is worth it when thin-film, evaporation, research describes your application; expect a materially higher cost per kilo and scarcer availability for a difference few processes can detect otherwise.
When in doubt, qualify both adjacent grades on a sample and run your own incoming inspection before committing a process to either.
Quality control and traceability
Nickel Wire at 99.98% is normally released against a lot-specific certificate of analysis stating the assay, the trace elements measured and the method used (ICP-OES assay plus oxygen determination). Well-run lots stay traceable from the refinery batch through to the container that reaches the laboratory.
- ▪A retained sample per lot, so a later question can be re-tested against the original material
- ▪Independent third-party verification, used when the assay is contractually critical
- ▪Incoming inspection on the receiving side — the certificate states the method, not the result you will measure
Handling, storage and shipping
- ▪Spools ship in sealed polyethylene with desiccant; leave the wire on its spool until use to protect the drawn surface.
- ▪Handle bright-annealed wire with clean gloves — fingerprints bake into a visible stain during welding or vacuum bake-out.
- ▪Nickel is not classified as flammable, but fine dust from grinding must be collected; observe local limits for nickel exposure.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from buyers specifying nickel wire at 99.98%.
- Is 99.98% nickel wire the right grade for my application?
- It is the usual choice for vacuum devices, precision electronics. Below it, 99.9% (3N) covers less demanding work at lower cost. Above it, 99.99% (4N) is reserved for thin-film, evaporation, research.
- What does the 3N8 designation mean?
- The N notation counts the nines in the assay: 3N8 equals 99.98% Ni on a metals basis, with the balance made up of the trace elements listed in the analysis table.
- Which impurities are measured and reported?
- ICP-OES assay plus oxygen determination is used, and a certificate of analysis reports each element in the table above, starting with C at ≤ 100 ppm. The scope of a scan can be widened to further elements when a process is sensitive to one in particular.
- How is this grade normally packed?
- 100 g spool, 1 kg spool, 5 kg spool, Bulk drum (25 kg+). Handle bright-annealed wire with clean gloves — fingerprints bake into a visible stain during welding or vacuum bake-out.
- Which forms is 99.98% nickel wire available in?
- Commonly: spool, ribbon, mesh, straight lengths. The form is often a bigger practical constraint than the assay itself, because the last processing step has to preserve the purity already achieved.