Nisil is an
alloy
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which in most cases at least one is a metal, metallic element, although it is also sometimes used for mixtures of elements; herein only metallic alloys are described. Metallic alloys often have prop ...
of
nickel
Nickel is a chemical element; it has symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel is a hard and ductile transition metal. Pure nickel is chemically reactive, but large pieces are slo ...
(95.5% wt.) and
silicon
Silicon is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid (sometimes considered a non-metal) and semiconductor. It is a membe ...
(4.4% wt.) with traces of Mg (0.1% wt.), which is non-magnetic.
Nisil melts at 1341 - 1420
°C
The degree Celsius is the unit of temperature on the Celsius temperature scale "Celsius temperature scale, also called centigrade temperature scale, scale based on 0 ° for the melting point of water and 100 ° for the boiling point ...
, has a
density
Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the ratio of a substance's mass to its volume. The symbol most often used for density is ''ρ'' (the lower case Greek letter rho), although the Latin letter ''D'' (or ''d'') can also be u ...
of 8.58 g/cm
3, and
electrical resistivity
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by ...
of 0.365 Ω⋅mm
2/m at 20 °C.
It is often used in conjunction with
Nicrosil in
type N thermocouple
A thermocouple, also known as a "thermoelectrical thermometer", is an electrical device consisting of two dissimilar electrical conductors forming an electrical junction. A thermocouple produces a temperature-dependent voltage as a result of the ...
s. In this use, it serves as the negative leg of the thermocouple. It offers higher thermoelectric stability in air above 1000°C (1830°F) and better oxidation resistance than type E, J and K thermocouples. It can not be exposed to sulphur-containing gases.
External links
Materials properties of thermocouple wires sold by Omega Engineering, Inc.
Properties of Nisil
{{alloy-stub
Nickel alloys
Silicon alloys
Refractory metals