Nichrome

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Nichrome (NiCr, nickel-chrome, chrome-nickel, etc.) is any of various alloys of
nickel, chromium, and often iron (and possibly other elements). The most common
usage is as resistance wire, although they are also used in some dental
restorations (fillings) and in a few other applications.

Contents
1 History
2 Uses
3 Properties
3.1 Table 1: Resistance per inch (O), closed helix, 80/20 alloy.
3.2 Table 2: Current (A) vs. temperature characteristics, straight wire.
3.3 Table 3: Cold resistance (O at 75�F) and wire gauge vs. power output (W) at
operating voltage (V).
4 Resistance of nichrome flat/strip and weight table
5 Additional properties
6 See also
7 References
History
Patented in 1906 by Albert Marsh (US patent 811,859[1]), nichrome is the oldest
documented form of resistance heating alloy. A common nichrome alloy is 80% nickel
and 20% chromium, by mass, but there are many other combinations of metals for
various applications. Nichrome is consistently silvery-grey in colour, is
corrosion-resistant, and has a high melting point of about 1,400 �C (2,550 �F).
Because of its low cost of manufacture, strength, ductility, resistance to
oxidation, stability at high temperatures, and resistance to the flow of electrons,
nichrome is widely used in electric heating elements in applications such as hair
dryers and heat guns. Typically, nichrome is wound in coils to a certain electrical
resistance, and when current is passed through it the Joule heating produces heat.

Uses
Almost any conductive wire can be used for heating, but most metals conduct
electricity with great efficiency, requiring them to be formed into very thin and
delicate wires in order to create enough resistance to generate heat. When heated
in air, most metals then oxidize quickly, become brittle, and break. Nichrome wire,
however, when heated to red-hot temperatures, develops an outer layer of chromium
oxide,[2] which is thermodynamically stable in air, is mostly impervious to oxygen,
and protects the heating element from further oxidation.

Nichrome is used in the explosives and fireworks industry as a bridgewire in

electric ignition systems, such as electric matches and model rocket igniters.

Industrial and hobby hot-wire foam cutters use nichrome wire.

Nichrome wire is commonly used in ceramic as an internal support structure to help

some elements of clay sculptures hold their shape while they are still soft.
Nichrome wire is used for its ability to withstand the high temperatures that occur
when clay work is fired in a kiln.

Nichrome wire can be used as an alternative to platinum wire for flame testing by
colouring the non-luminous part of a flame to detect cations such as sodium,
potassium, copper, calcium, etc.

Other areas of usage include motorcycle mufflers, in certain areas in the

microbiological lab apparatus, as the heating element of plastic extruders by the
RepRap 3D printing community, in the solar panel deployment mechanism of spacecraft
LightSail-A, and as the heating coils of electronic cigarettes.

The alloy price is controlled by the more expensive nickel content. Distributor
pricing is typically indexed to market prices for nickel.

Properties
Nichrome alloys are known for their high mechanical strength and their high creep
strength.[3] The properties of nichrome vary depending on its alloy. Figures given
are representative of typical material and are accurate to expressed significant
figures. Any variations are due to different percentages of nickel or chromium.

Material property Value Unit

Modulus of elasticity 2.2 � 1011 Pa
Density 8400 kg�m-3
Melting point 1400 �C
Electrical resistivity at room temperature (1.0�1.5) � 10-6 O�m
Specific heat 450 J�kg-1�K-1
Thermal conductivity 11.3 W�m-1�K-1
Thermal expansion 14 � 10-6 K-1
Standard ambient temperature and pressure
used unless otherwise noted.
Table 1: Resistance per inch (O), closed helix, 80/20 alloy.
Wire Gauge
(B&S No. / AWG) Outside Diameter of Helix (inches)[4]
?3/4 ?5/8 ?1/2 ?3/8 ?1/4 ?7/32 ?3/16 ?5/32 ?1/8 ?3/32 ?1/16 ?1/32
14 0.446 0.365 0.283 0.202 0.121 0.101
15 0.638 0.523 0.408 0.293 0.178 0.148 0.120
16 0.895 0.735 0.575 0.415 0.255 0.215 0.175 0.135
17 1.32 1.08 0.851 0.617 0.383 0.325 0.266 0.208 0.150
18 1.89 1.56 1.22 0.891 0.559 0.475 0.392 0.309 0.226
19 2.60 2.14 1.69 1.23 0.779 0.665 0.551 0.438 0.324
20 3.72 3.07 2.42 1.78 1.13 0.967 0.805 0.644 0.482
21 4.53 3.58 2.63 1.68 1.45 1.21 0.971 0.733 0.496
22 4.98 3.67 2.36 2.03 1.70 1.37 1.05 .719
23 7.02 5.18 3.34 2.88 2.42 1.96 1.51 1.05
24 4.69 4.05 3.41 2.78 2.14 1.60 0.865
25 6.87 5.94 5.02 4.10 3.17 2.25 1.32
[4]

Table 2: Current (A) vs. temperature characteristics, straight wire.

Showing approximate current (in amperes) necessary to produce a given temperature.
Applying only to straight wires stretched horizontally in free air. Values for
diameters from 0.040" through 0.010" are based on coiling on an arbor 0.12"
diameter and stretched to twice the close-wound lengths.[4]

Wire Gauge
(B&S No. / AWG) Diam. (inches/mm) 400 �F
204 �C 600 �F
316 �C 800 �F
427 �C 1000 �F
538 �C 1200 �F
649 �C 1400 �F
760 �C 1600 �F
871 �C 1800 �F
982 �C 2000 �F
1093 �C
12 0.081 2.057 11.34 15.91 20.27 25.53 31.77 39.03 46.73 54.80 63.01
13 0.072 1.829 9.73 13.53 17.21 21.61 26.89 33.06 39.60 46.41 53.31
14 0.064 1.626 8.34 10.50 14.59 18.30 22.76 28.01 33.56 39.31 45.11
15 0.057 1.448 7.15 9.78 12.38 15.50 19.26 23.73 28.44 33.30 38.17
16 0.051 1.296 6.13 8.31 10.50 13.11 16.30 20.10 24.10 28.20 32.30
17 0.045 1.143 5.31 7.18 9.13 11.30 13.90 16.90 20.30 23.60 27.00
18 0.040 1.016 4.66 6.26 7.90 9.75 11.96 14.51 17.37 20.48 23.08
19 0.036 0.914 4.09 5.46 6.84 8.41 10.30 12.45 14.87 17.78 19.73
20 0.032 0.813 3.58 4.77 5.92 7.25 8.86 10.69 12.72 15.43 16.87
21 0.0285 0.724 3.14 4.16 5.13 6.26 7.63 9.17 10.88 13.40 14.40
22 0.0253 0.643 2.76 3.63 4.44 5.40 6.56 7.87 9.31 11.63 12.33
23 0.0226 0.574 2.42 3.16 3.84 4.67 5.65 6.76 7.97 10.09 10.54
24 0.020 0.508 2.12 2.76 3.32 4.01 4.86 5.80 6.82 8.76 9.01
25 0.0179 0.455 1.84 2.42 2.90 3.44 4.15 4.97 5.86 6.96 7.72
26 0.0159 0.404 1.58 2.09 2.52 3.00 3.61 4.31 5.06 5.97 6.63
27 0.0142 0.361 1.34 1.80 2.19 2.62 3.14 3.73 4.37 5.12 5.69
28 0.0126 0.320 1.18 1.55 1.90 2.28 2.73 3.23 3.77 4.39 4.88
29 0.0113 0.287 1.02 1.34 1.65 1.99 2.37 2.80 3.25 3.76 4.39
30 0.010 0.254 0.875 1.16 1.43 1.74 2.06 2.43 2.81 3.22 3.59
Table 3: Cold resistance (O at 75�F) and wire gauge vs. power output (W) at
operating voltage (V).
In the following table, the alloy named nichrome V is specified as: 19�21% Cr, 2.5%
Mn (max), 1.0% Fe (max), 0.75�1.6% Si, 0.15% C (max), balance Ni.[4]

Power output (W)

(upon reaching operating temperature)
Resistance (O), nichrome V, 75 �F. Resistance (O), nichrome, 75 �F. Recommended
wire gauge (B&S No./AWG)
110�120 V 220�240 V 110�120 V 220�240 V 110�120 V 220�240 V
100 123.52 494.09 118.10 472.40 Max. 26�30 min. Max. 29�33
min.
150 82.347 329.38 78.732 314.93 26�30 29�33
200 61.761 247.04 59.050 236.20 25�29 28�32
250 49.409 197.64 47.240 188.96 24�28 27�31
300 41.174 164.69 39.366 157.46 24�28 27�31
350 35.291 141.16 33.742 134.97 23�27 26�30
400 30.881 123.52 29.525 118.10 22�26 25�29
450 27.449 109.80 26.244 104.98 20�24 23�27
500 24.704 98.817 23.620 94.479 20�24 23�27
550 22.458 89.832 21.472 85.889 19�23 22�26
600 20.586 83.345 19.683 79.730 19�23 22�26
650 19.004 76.016 18.170 72.679 18�22 21�25
700 17.646 70.584 16.871 67.486 18�22 21�25
750 16.468 65.874 15.745 62.982 18�22 21�25
800 15.440 61.766 14.762 59.055 18�22 21�25
850 14.532 58.128 13.894 55.577 17�21 20�24
900 13.724 54.897 13.122 52.487 17�21 20�24
950 13.002 52.009 12.431 49.726 17�21 20�24
1000 12.352 49.409 11.810 47.240 16�20 19�23
1050 11.764 47.055 11.247 44.989 16�20 19�23
1100 11.229 44.918 10.737 42.946 16�20 19�23
1150 10.741 42.964 10.270 41.078 15�19 18�22
1200 10.294 41.174 9.8418 39.367 15�19 18�22
1250 9.8817 39.527 9.4479 37.792 14�18 17�21
1300 9.5016 38.006 9.0845 36.338 14�18 17�21
1350 9.1497 37.599 8.7480 35.992 13�17 16�20
1400 8.8229 36.292 8.4356 34.743 13�17 16�20
1450 8.5188 34.075 8.1449 32.579 12�16 15�19
1500 8.2347 32.938 7.8732 31.493 12�16 15�19
2000 6.1761 24.704 5.9050 23.619 10�14 13�17
2500 4.9409 19.764 4.7240 18.896 9�13 12�16
3000 4.1174 16.469 3.9366 15.746 8�12 11�15
Resistance of nichrome flat/strip and weight table
Width x Thickness (mm) Cross* Section (mm2) Ni80CR20 Ni60CR15
Resistivity (1.09 � 0.05�O.m) Resistivity (1.12 � 0.05�O.m)
Resistance per metre 20 �C O/m Length per kg (m/kg) Weight per metre
(kg/m) Resistance per metre 20 �C O/m Length per kg (m/kg) Weight per
5000

metre 5000(kg/m)

10�0.5 4.9 0.222 24.30 0.04116 0.2265 24.89 0.04018

0.8 7.84 0.139 15.18 0.06586 0.1416 15.56 0.06429
1.0 9.8 0.115 12.15 0.08232 0.1163 12.44 0.08036
1.2 11.76 0.0961 10.12 0.09878 0.0969 10.37 0.09643
1.5 14.7 0.0769 8.10 0.1235 0.0776 8.30 0.1205
2.0 19.6 0.0577 6.08 0.1646 0.0582 6.22 0.1607
15�0.8 11.76 0.0927 10.12 0.09878 0.0944 10.37 0.09643
1.0 14.7 0.0769 8.10 0.1235 0.0776 8.30 0.1205
1.2 17.64 0.0641 6.75 0.1482 0.0646 6.91 0.1446
1.5 22.05 0.0512 5.40 0.1852 0.0517 5.53 0.1808
2.0 29.4 0.0384 4.05 0.2470 0.0388 4.15 0.2411
2.5 36.75 0.0307 3.24 0.3087 0.0310 3.32 0.3014
20�0.8 15.68 0.0695 7.59 0.1317 0.0708 7.78 0.1286
1.0 19.6 0.0577 6.07 0.1646 0.0582 6.22 0.1607
1.2 23.52 0.0480 5.06 0.1976 0.0485 5.18 0.1929
1.5 29.4 0.0384 4.05 0.2470 0.0388 4.15 0.2411
2.0 39.2 0.0288 3.04 0.3293 0.0291 3.11 0.3214
2.5 49 0.0231 2.43 0.4116 0.0233 2.49 0.4018
3.0 58.8 0.0192 2.02 0.4939 0.0194 2.07 0.4822
25�1.0 24.5 0.0461 4.86 0.2058 0.0465 4.98 0.2009
1.2 29.4 0.0384 4.05 0.2470 0.0388 4.15 0.2411
1.5 36.75 0.0307 3.24 0.3087 0.0310 3.32 0.3014
2.0 49 0.0231 2.43 0.4116 0.0233 2.49 0.4018
2.5 61.25 0.0184 1.94 0.5145 0.0186 1.99 0.5023
3.0 73.5 0.0154 1.62 0.6174 0.0155 1.66 0.6027
30�1.0 29.4 0.0384 4.05 0.2470 0.0388 4.15 0.2411
1.5 44.1 0.0256 2.70 0.3704 0.0259 2.77 0.3616
2.0 58.8 0.0192 2.02 0.4939 0.0194 2.07 0.4822
2.5 73.5 0.0154 1.62 0.6174 0.0155 1.66 0.6027
3.0 88.2 0.0128 1.35 0.7409 0.0129 1.38 0.7232
3.5 102.9 0.0111 1.16 0.8644 0.0112 1.19 0.8238
35�1.0 34.3 0.0329 3.47 0.2881 0.0332 3.56 0.2813
1.5 51.45 0.0220 2.31 0.4322 0.0222 2.37 0.4219
2.0 68.6 0.0165 1.74 0.5762 0.0166 1.78 0.5625
2.5 85.75 0.0132 1.39 0.7203 0.0133 1.42 0.7032
3.0 102.9 0.0110 1.16 0.8644 0.0111 1.19 0.8438
3.5 120.1 0.0095 0.99 1.0088 0.0096 1.02 0.9848
40�1.0 39.2 0.0288 3.04 0.3293 0.0291 3.11 0.3214
1.5 58.8 0.0192 2.02 0.4939 0.0194 2.07 0.4822
2.0 78.4 0.0144 1.52 0.6586 0.0145 1.56 0.6429
2.5 98 0.0115 1.21 0.8232 0.0116 1.24 0.8036
3.0 117.6 0.0096 1.01 0.9878 0.0097 1.04 0.9643
3.5 137.2 0.0083 0.87 1.1525 0.0084 0.89 1.1250
4.0 156.8 0.0073 0.76 1.3171 0.0073 0.78 1.2858
The effective cross sectional area = Width � Thickness � 0.98
[5]

Additional properties
Approximate current (A) to heat a straight oxidized wire to a given temperature[6]
AWG Diameter
(inches/mm) 400 �F
(204 �C) 1000 �F
(537 �C) 2000 �F
(1093 �C)
8 0.128 3.251 22.4 52 128
10 0.102 2.591 16.2 37.5 92
12 0.081 2.057 11.6 26.5 65
22 0.0253 0.643 2.9 5.6 12.5
32 0.0080 0.2032 0.68 1.36 2.76
40 0.0031 0.0787 0.24 0.43 0.79
Resistivity (ohms per foot) at 20 �C[6]
AWG Diameter
(inches/mm) NiCrA NiCrC
10 0.102 2.591 0.06248 0.06488
12 0.081 2.057 0.09907 0.1029
22 0.0253 0.643 1.015 1.055
32 0.0080 0.2032 10.16 10.55
40 0.0031 0.0787 67.64 70.24
Increase in resistance with temperature[6]
�F �C NiCrA NiCrC
68 20 0 0
600 315 3.3% 5.2%
1000 538 6.3% 8.6%
2000 1093 6.0% 10.5%
NiCrA
Chemical Composition: 80% Ni, 20% Cr
Approx. Melting Point: 1400�C
NiCrC
Chemical Composition: 61% Ni, 15% Cr, 24% Fe
Approx. Melting Point: 1350�C