Nickel plate is commonly used as a corrosion inhibitor for the manufacture of computers, cellphones, and electronic devices. It also can provide solderability, hardness, wearability, friction loss, paint adhesion, conductivity, and shielding. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Metalmen Sales Inc.
Long Island City, NY | 800-767-9494We supply Nickel and its alloys for a broad range of applications. metalmen provides supply solutions – we respond with quick quotes and on-time deliveries.

Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, Inc.
Torrance, CA | 877-455-5362For knowledgeable, immediate response to your metal sourcing requests, contact Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, Inc. today. This full service, high performance metal supplier is your complete source for aircraft grade materials. We have alloy steels, aluminum, copper and brass alloys, nickel alloys, magnesium, stainless steel, titanium, tool steels, and more, as well as a wide range of specialty plastics.

Tri Star Metals, Inc.
Carol Stream, IL | 800-541-2294Tri Star Metals is a producer and distributor of stainless steel, aluminum, and nickel alloy rod, bar and wire stock. Our two manufacturing facilities and extensive inventory enable us to get product to you with maximum efficiency and short lead times. We are ISO 9001:2000 certified. Ask us about just-in-time programs, special diameter and tolerances, and various finishes.

Metal Associates
Pompton Plains, NJ | 800-838-1978Our company may have started small, but we quickly grew to handle the largest aluminum orders. Our metals are made from the highest quality materials, and we pledge to offer superior service to all our customers.

ATI
Pittsburgh, PA | 800-289-7454Serving over 30 nations, ATI produces and markets high-quality stainless steel, tool steel, stainless steel alloys and much more. As a world wide leader, our metallurgists come to you so that we can thoroughly understand and meet your specific requirements.

The Trident Company
Richardson, TX | 800-442-4914The Trident Company, with almost 40 years of metals sales and service experience, makes on-time shipments throughout the world. Nickel sheet, plate, rod, bar, tubing, pipe, standard structural shapes and wire. Also, Stainless, Carbon, Red metals, Aluminum and many exotic alloys. 11 US locations.

Nickel plate refers to thick, flat stock metal shapes that exhibit uniform thickness and are formed using billets or ingots of pure nickel or any of a number of nickel alloys. In general, manufacturers consider planes with a thickness between 0.25 inches and 0.5 inches to be plates, while thinner measurements would be nickel sheets or foils. The categories made by individual nickel suppliers may vary with regards to the acceptable range of thicknesses.
The nickel plates themselves may or may not be used as the finished product, though they and the many products made from them are extremely versatile and widely employed across the industrial sector. Power generation, chemical processing, building and construction, marine, material handling, electronics, aerospace, automotive, medical and numerous other industries find many applications for metal plates in stock and finished form.
In some instances, the plates are fused to substrates through a process known as electroless nickel plating to form a protective surface. This and general uses for nickel plate take advantage of the materials natural ductility, malleability, hardness, ferromagnetism, electrical and heat conductivity as well as corrosion resistance. As these features vary among the many nickel alloys, it is important to consider the specific composition of a nickel plate prior to purchase.
Before the production of nickel plate can begin, this naturally occurring element must be mined from the earth, most often by means of pyrometallurgical extraction or hydruometallurgy. The resulting nickel ore is then refined until the desired purity is reached. Commercial grade nickel products are composed of 99.6% nickel and minimal amounts of other elements while some nickel alloys contain as little as 32.5% nickel.
Once the desired composition is achieved, stock billets, ingots, bars or other pre-forms are transformed into plates. Though casting and extrusion may be used, roll forming is the most common method employed in the manufacture of nickel plate. Hot rolling requires that the material be heated, with optimal working temperatures for nickel between1,800°F and 2,200°F, while cold rolling maintains room temperature.
Hot or cold, the material is fed through a pair of rollers that compress the metal into a thin sheet. In some cases several rollers or multiple passes through the same rollers is necessary to achieve the desired thickness. The thickness, which should be uniform throughout the plate, as well as gauge, length, and width, should be carefully considered with regard for the intended use of the plate as should processing techniques which may impact the characteristics and qualities of the nickel or alloy.
Finished plates may be used as such for supports or plating purposes or may undergo a range of secondary processes such as stamping, punching, cutting, bending, or other until the final component is produced.