Copper Nickel alloy is commonly known as cupronickel and used in a variety of industrial applications. It is widely used in the marine industry because of the alloy’s exceptional ability to resist corrosion. It can withstand saline water corrosion better than most other metals and their combinations. The alloy also has good strength and is highly ductile too. Generally, some other metals are also added to this alloy in small quantities so that they can be welded better.
Ideal Material in Coinage and Hygiene Related Applications
Copper nickel alloy also finds applications in various other industries. They are used in brake tubes and a variety of cryogenic applications. The Euro 1 and Euro 2 denominations silver coins as well as the 5 cent nickel of the United States are made using copper nickel combination. Owing to the extremely high antimicrobial properties of copper and nickel, find use in the hygienic sectors to diminish infections and cross-contamination and infections. Most intensive care units of hospitals and medical care centers have equipment made of this alloy to ensure a greater level of hygiene.
Copper nickel alloy offer the added advantage of high resistance to instances of bio-fouling – the process of undesirable growth of various types of microorganisms such as plants and algae on immersed structures of ships, navigational instruments and pilings of jetty. They are excellent for use in chemical and marine environments. The alloy is of immense value in construction of heat exchange equipment, hydraulic pipelines, desalination plants, oil rigs and cages used in fish farming.
Suitable For Applications in Cryogenic Engineering
At low temperatures, the alloy displays good mechanical properties. Its tensile strength declines with falling temperature but it does not affect its ability to elongate. Therefore, it does not become brittle like most alloys at low temperatures. Copper nickel alloy is extremely suitable for applications in the field of cryogenic engineering because of this property.
Copper Nickel alloy is also used for manufacturing of tubing for hydraulic and instrumentation systems. They are used for managing operations of ships and to control offshore platforms. Instrumentation systems play a key role in monitoring processes of these industries.
As they are highly resistant to corrosion caused by saltwater, the copper nickel alloy can be used to develop a highly reliable system. They are used for developing equipment, pipelines and machinery that can last long. The cost of expensive repairs can be easily reduced. Also revenue losses caused by downtimes and safety hazards can be eliminated by using copper nickel alloy as the material of choice for constructing various utility systems in the marine industry.
Copper nickel alloy can be used in various ratios to achieve superior strength, high durability and ease of use. Tubing made from the alloy can save costs and time needed for installation as they are easy to weld and assemble. The high ductility of the alloy ensures smooth-contoured bending making it convenient to manage. It can be designed into coils of long lengths which minimize the cost of expensive joints besides reducing cost of maintenance. These pipes have the strength to withstand the extreme pressure present in most marine instrumentation systems.