Nickel Foam
Nickel Foam
Main Features
- Purity of the foam: > 99%
- Melting Point: 1455 °C
- Boiling Point: 2732 °C
- Specific Heat: 0.44 kJ/kg·K
- Porosity: 95%-98%
- Cell Size (PPI): 10 to 180 PPI
- Thermal Conductivity: 97.5 W/m.K
- Mechanical strength: ≥ 2~7 MPa
- Tensile Strength (Theoretical): 8~50 MPa
- Temperature Resistance (Theoretical): ≥ 500 ℃
- Molecular Weight: 58.68
- Vickers Hardness: 638 MPa
- Areal Density: 350±20g/m2
- Electrical resistivity: 69.3 nΩ·m (20 °C)
Nickel Foam Details and Specifications
What is Nickel foam?
It is low-density metal foam with a high permeability substance with many uses. The defining feature of this foam is its extremely high porosity, with holes accounting for 75-95 % of the volume. It has an interconnected cellular structure with more than 95% high porosity. It has a relatively large surface area due to its high porosity and is helpful in applications needing a high surface-to-volume ratio. The inspiration for the product lies in the structure of the reticulated polymer foam. The pores contain gases making the product lightweight, and the square-cube law makes it strong.
Nickel Metal foams (famous as metals with pores) are a new form of a porous metal substance having a certain number and size of pores and a specific porosity. It has remarkable homogeneity, low weight, high porosity, inherent strength, corrosion resistance, superior thermal stability, low bulk density, a high specific surface area, strong energy absorption, a high specific strength, and high specific stiffness. The through-hole body has outstanding permeability and substantial heat transmission and dispersion qualities. Metal foam with various characteristics and indications may be fits perfect for a wide range of functional and structural purposes and can have both structural and functional properties. They have a high impact on energy absorption as well as mechanical dampening.
Technical Specification Nickel Foam
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Nickel Foam |
| Material | Nickel (Ni) |
| Purity | > 99% |
| Porosity | 95–98% as listed under the product properties |
| Cell Size | 10–180 PPI (pores per inch) |
| Structure | Three-dimensional porous metallic structure |
| Available Cell Types | Open-cell and closed-cell structures |
| Product Form | Nickel foam sheets; dimensions may be customized according to requirements |
| Melting Point | 1455 °C |
| Boiling Point | 2732 °C |
| Molecular Weight | 58.68 g/mol |
| Specific Heat | 0.44 kJ/(kg·K) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 97.5 W/(m·K), as listed on the product page |
| Mechanical Strength | 2–7 MPa, as listed on the product page; confirm the applicable test method and grade |
| Tensile Strength | 8–50 MPa (theoretical range stated on the product page) |
| Temperature Resistance | ≥ 500 °C (theoretical value stated on the product page; verify actual service limits) |
| Vickers Hardness | 638 MPa, as listed on the product page |
| Areal Density | 350 ± 20 g/m² |
| Electrical Resistivity | 69.3 nΩ·m at 20 °C |
| Surface Area | High specific surface area due to the porous structure; numerical value not specified |
| Permeability | High permeability potential in interconnected open-cell structures |
| Thermal Stability | Suitable for evaluating thermal applications within verified operating limits |
| Key Features | High porosity, lightweight structure, electrical conductivity, heat-transfer potential and energy absorption |
| Applications | Battery electrodes, fuel cells, catalyst supports, filtration, heat exchangers, sound absorption and hydrogen-related research |
What are the types of Nickel Foams (Ni foam)?
There are two types
- Open cell Nickel Foams are a type of foam with interconnected pores.
- Closed cell Nickel Foams – this type of foam has sealed pores.
It is also available in foam sheets. The dimensions of the sheets can vary as per the client’s requirements.
Properties of Nickel Foam
Physical Properties
- Purity of the foam: > 99%
- Melting Point: 1455 °C
- Boiling Point: 2732 °C
- Specific Heat: 0.44 kJ/kg·K
- Porosity: 95%-98%
- Cell Size (PPI): 10 to 180 PPI
Mechanical Properties
- Thermal Conductivity: 97.5 W/m.K
- Mechanical strength: ≥ 2~7 MPa
- Tensile Strength (Theoretical): 8~50 MPa
- Temperature Resistance (Theoretical): ≥ 500 ℃
- Molecular Weight: 58.68
- Vickers Hardness: 638 MPa
- Areal Density: 350±20g/m2
- Electrical resistivity: 69.3 nΩ·m (20 °C)
Applications of Nickel Foam
It is a porous three-dimensional anode appropriate for the oxidation of organic compounds. It is frequently employed as a photocatalytic material, as an electrode in photoluminescence systems, and as electrode development in fuel cells.
Hydrogen Storage Media
It may be helpful as a filter material due to its homogeneous 3-D structure and specific porosity. Because of its unique shape capabilities, wide porosity range, and environmental stability may also be used as a hydrogen storage media, a heat exchanger medium, and in the arts. Because of its magnetic characteristics might be used as a magnetic flux conductor to handle magnetic nanoparticles in a fluid. The industrial metal foam may be used as a filter material for magnetic particle processing in a fluid magnetic conductor. Other uses include hydrogen storage media and heat exchange medium.
Sound Absorption
This foam is a good sound absorption material, with a more significant sound absorption coefficient at high frequencies. With this, the design of sound absorption frameworks may increase the sound absorption property at low frequencies. It is also used in Nickel-Cadmium batteries and Hydrogen-Nickel battery electrode materials. The base material is open-celled foams and porous, and three methods of producing a conductive layer can be chemical plating, vacuum plating, and leaching of conductive adhesive. The Nickel pre-plating can be in Sulphate Nickel plating solution in Nickel plating thickness general. After calcination, reduction, and annealing process can get Nickel Foam Electrode practical applications with excellent performance.
Air Filter
Nickel foam air filter applications have potential as a heterogeneous catalyst for automotive catalytic converters and catalytic combustion, and catalytic filters for diesel engine particulates. Due to its unique open crystalline structure, low-pressure drop, intrinsic strength, and resistance to thermal shock. In the low light-off transformation of combustion products and hydrocarbons during cold engine start, its strong thermal conductivity may outperform ceramic monolith supported catalysts. As catalyst support, Ni foam may be equivalent to or superior to high-temperature steels. Other Nickel metal foam catalyst uses include foam assisted catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch process, steam reforming, and fine chemical hydrogenation.
Comparison Nickel Foam
| Parameter | Nickel Foam | Copper Foam | Aluminum Foam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Material | Nickel | Copper | Aluminum or aluminum alloy |
| Structure | Open-cell or closed-cell porous metallic structure | Porous metallic structure, commonly with interconnected open cells | Random-pore or ordered-pore cellular structure |
| Purity | > 99%, as stated on the product page | Not specified as a numerical product-wide value | 98.5% aluminum alloy or 99.5% pure aluminum, as listed on the product page |
| Porosity | 95–98% in the properties section; another page description states 75–95% | Relative density listed as 3–12%; confirm the supplied configuration | 60–90% in the technical specifications; the description gives a different range |
| Pore or Cell Size | 10–180 PPI | Not specified; depends on product configuration | 2–11 mm listed for closed-cell foam |
| Thermal Performance | Useful for selected heat-transfer and thermal-management applications | Strong candidate for heat-transfer applications requiring copper’s thermal properties | Useful for selected heat exchangers and thermal-management designs |
| Electrical Conductivity | Suitable for conductive supports, electrodes and electrochemical research | Suitable for conductive structures and selected electrode applications | Conductive; performance depends on alloy and foam structure |
| Weight | Lightweight relative to solid nickel due to its porous structure | Lightweight relative to solid copper due to its porous structure | Low-density option; listed foam density is 0.11–0.41 g/cm³ |
| Energy Absorption | Can absorb energy through deformation and progressive structural collapse | Can provide energy absorption and mechanical damping | Suitable for selected impact-absorption and crash-protection designs |
| Filtration | Suitable for selected gas and liquid filtration and catalyst-support designs | Suitable for selected industrial filtration applications | Suitable when pore structure and flow requirements are met |
| Battery Applications | Used in nickel-based battery electrodes and investigated for other electrochemical systems | Used or investigated for electrode substrates and related energy applications | Potential use in selected energy and electrochemical systems |
| Acoustic Performance | Can absorb sound, particularly at higher frequencies in suitable configurations | Potential for vibration damping and selected acoustic applications | Useful for sound absorption and noise-control applications |
| Best Suited For | Battery electrodes, electrochemical research, catalyst supports and porous conductive structures | Heat transfer, electrical conduction and specialized filtration | Lightweight structures, impact absorption and acoustic applications |
Note: This comparison is qualitative. Actual performance depends on material grade, pore size, density, cell connectivity, manufacturing method and operating conditions. Confirm numerical specifications with the relevant product datasheet before making a final selection.
Why Choose Techinstro Nickel Foam?
Techinstro Nickel Foam is a lightweight porous metallic material designed for research and industrial applications that require electrical conductivity, a high surface-area structure and fluid or gas permeability. Its interconnected cellular architecture makes it suitable for exploring battery technologies, electrochemical systems, catalyst supports, filtration and thermal management.
- High Purity: The product page specifies nickel foam purity greater than 99%, making it a candidate for applications with defined material-purity requirements.
- High Porosity: Its highly porous structure provides a large surface-area potential for electrochemical reactions, fluid interaction and specialized engineering applications.
- Multiple Pore Sizes: The listed cell-size range of 10–180 PPI supports selection according to the required pore structure, subject to product availability.
- Battery Electrode Applications: Nickel foam is used as a conductive support in nickel-based battery electrodes and can be evaluated for suitable electrochemical research.
- Fuel-Cell and Electrochemical Research: Its conductive porous structure can support electrode development and selected fuel-cell-related research applications.
- Catalyst Support: The high surface-area structure makes nickel foam a candidate for catalytic systems and chemical-processing research.
- Heat-Transfer Potential: Nickel’s thermal properties and the foam’s porous architecture can be useful in selected heat exchangers and thermal-management designs.
- Filtration and Permeability: Open-cell nickel foam can allow fluid or gas flow and may be suitable for filtration and catalyst-filter applications.
- Sound Absorption: Its porous structure can support acoustic absorption in appropriately designed systems, particularly at higher frequencies.
- Lightweight Design: The cellular structure reduces material mass relative to a solid nickel component of the same external volume.
- Customizable Sheet Dimensions: Sheet dimensions can be discussed according to project requirements and available manufacturing options.
- Research and Industrial Versatility: Potential applications include hydrogen-related research, heat exchange, filtration, energy storage and advanced material development.
Looking for nickel foam for battery research, electrochemical experiments, filtration or thermal management? Contact Techinstro with your required PPI, dimensions, thickness, purity and intended application to request a suitable specification and quotation.
How to Use Nickel Foam
- On a clean surface, remove the foam from the packaging.
- Make sure you have your protective gears on.
- Use the product as per the requirements of the experiments.
Safety Measures
- Use Heavy Duty Gloves as the metal foam sheets may have sharp edges.
- Wear a full-sleeved shirt, long pants, and shoes to avoid direct contact with the metal.
- Wear protective eyewear and masks if the experiments include chemical gas exposure.
- Keep fire extinguishers handy to avoid unfortunate accidents.
Why Choose Us
At Techinstro have the determination to provide our clients with exceptional quality products. We are premium manufacturers and sellers of Nickel Foam and many other types of metal foams. Our product has excellent quality and meets industrial and research applications standards. We provide product customization as per the request of our clients. With us, you get 100% satisfaction. Our products are available for worldwide delivery. To place your orders, reach out to us from our contact us..
FAQ's
It is used in batteries, fuel cells, filtration systems, catalysis, and heat exchangers.
Its open, porous structure holds the active electrode material and carries current well, which is why it is used in Ni-Cd and nickel-hydrogen batteries.
Open-cell structures have interconnected pores, while closed-cell structures contain sealed pores.
Yes, it can absorb sound, particularly at higher frequencies.
Yes, its low pressure drop and strength suit air filters, catalytic converters, and diesel particulate filters.
It has a theoretical temperature resistance of 500 °C and above, and nickel itself melts at 1455 °C.
Yes, Nickel Foam is corrosion-resistant.
Yes, nickel foam can serve as a porous electrode or catalyst support in certain hydrogen-storage and fuel-cell systems.
PPI shows the number of pores per inch. Different PPI values affect pore size, fluid flow, surface area, and pressure drop.
It has a theoretical temperature resistance of 500 °C and above, and nickel itself melts
at 1455 °C.