Ferro Nickel

Nickel laterite mine and smelter is a significant producer of ferronickel, a nickel iron alloy which is used to make stainless steel used in everyday household items. Ferro Nickel is a nickel iron alloy which is used to make stainless steel used in everyday household items. Ferronickel predominantly originates from lateritic ores which is converted into an impure product with a nickel content of around 30% and an iron content of up to 70%.

Nickel 28 % Specifications:
Nickel: 28%
Cobalt: 1.1% Max
Chromium: 0.20% Max
Phosphorus: 0.04% Max
Carbon: 0.06% Max
Sulphur: 0.06% Max
Silicon: 0.7% Max
Copper: 0.2% Max
Iron: Balance.
Granulated with 98% sizing between 3-50 MM with composition specified as above.

Nickel 17% – 23% Specifications:
NI: 17% – 23%
C: 3.00%Max
P: 0.03%Max
CU: 0.1% Max
Cr: 2.5%Max
Cu: 0.5%Max
SI: 4.00% Max
Mn: 0.2% Max
S: 0.03% Max
Co: 1/30 Ni Max
FE : Balance
Size: 3 – 50mm

Premium Quality:
Nickel 35 % – 42% Specifications:
NI : 35% – 42%
CU : 0.50 % Max
P : 0.025 % Max
S : 0.05 % Max
C : 0.10 % Max
SI : 0.60 % Max
CO : 1/60 NI Max
FE : Balance
Size : 2 – 30 MM granules

Nickel metal is produced from sulfidic and lateritic ores, undergoing either a pyro- or hydrometallurgical treatment followed by refining.

Nickel has a broad range of industrial applications

Always used as an alloy, in combination with other metals, and seldom used alone, nickel alloys exhibit some unique properties that are absent in pure metals. Mostly used to manufacture stainless steel, nickel provides its strength and anti-corrosive property.

Also, for steel that is made to be less magnetic, nickel forms the main ingredient. Its ability to withstand high temperatures has made it a significant component in super alloys and specialty steels such as those used in jet engines.

Nickel alloys are also used in industrial gas turbines, heat exchangers in power plants, resistance wires, electric-vehicle batteries and furnace components. One of its most common uses is nickel plating.

Indonesia is the top nickel producing country, followed by the Philippines.

Reserves of the metal are estimated at 94 million tonnes globally, with Indonesia and Australia among the countries holding the world’s largest nickel reserves.

Significant nickel deposits are also believed to be present in metallic nodules that are found in the deep sea, which are estimated to be over 290 million tonnes. Access to these can only be made possible with the future development of deep-sea mining technologies.