Purity 99.99% · CAS 7440-02-0 · Ni
Nickel Wire 99.99% (4N) — high-purity grade
Thin-film, evaporation, research
Overview
Four-nines nickel wire for thermal evaporation sources, magnetic thin films and laboratory work where the substrate cannot tolerate iron or cobalt contamination. Supplied with GDMS analysis.
Typical trace impurities
| Impurity | Typical max |
|---|---|
| Fe | ≤ 20 ppm |
| Co | ≤ 20 ppm |
| C | ≤ 30 ppm |
| S | ≤ 5 ppm |
Indicative values. The certificate of analysis for your lot is the binding document.
Where this grade is used
- ▪Thin-film deposition labs
- ▪Magnetic materials research
- ▪Analytical standards
Common forms
Spool, short lengths, evaporation coils
Specification at a glance
| Material | Nickel Wire (Ni) |
|---|---|
| Purity | 99.99% (4N), metals basis |
| CAS | 7440-02-0 |
| Production route | Vacuum-melted feedstock, cold drawn in a controlled-atmosphere line and bright annealed |
| Available forms | Spool, short lengths, evaporation coils |
| Analysis method | ICP-MS trace analysis with LECO combustion for O/C/S |
| 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 99.99% (4N) actually means
4N is shorthand for 99.99% purity on a metals basis: at most 0.01% 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 Fe at ≤ 20 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 4N versus the neighbouring grades
Coming from 99.98% (3N8): the step up buys you tighter trace control for thin-film, evaporation, research. If your process tolerates the residuals of 3N8, the lower grade remains the more economical and more widely available choice.
Going up to 99.999% (5N) is worth it when ultra-high purity research quantities 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 99.99% is normally released against a lot-specific certificate of analysis stating the assay, the trace elements measured and the method used (ICP-MS trace analysis with LECO combustion for O/C/S). 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 99.99%.
- Is 99.99% nickel wire the right grade for my application?
- It is the usual choice for thin-film, evaporation, research. Below it, 99.98% (3N8) covers less demanding work at lower cost. Above it, 99.999% (5N) is reserved for ultra-high purity research quantities.
- What does the 4N designation mean?
- The N notation counts the nines in the assay: 4N equals 99.99% 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-MS trace analysis with LECO combustion for O/C/S is used, and a certificate of analysis reports each element in the table above, starting with Fe at ≤ 20 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 99.99% nickel wire available in?
- Commonly: spool, short lengths, evaporation coils. The form is often a bigger practical constraint than the assay itself, because the last processing step has to preserve the purity already achieved.