Nichrome Wire

Nichrome wire is made of a non-magnetic alloy composed primarily of nickel, chromium, and iron. Nichrome is characterized by its high resistivity and good oxidation resistance. Nichrome wire also has good ductility after use and excellent weldability.

The number that comes after the Nichrome wire type indicates the percentage of nickel in the alloy. For example, "Nichrome 60" has approximately 60% Nickel in its composition.

Applications for Nichrome wire include heating elements of hair dryers, heat sealers, and ceramic support in kilns.

Types of Nichrome Wire

Nichrome 20

This alloy has moderate resistance to oxidation.

Applications: Refractory anchor bolts, element fastener, and terminals attached to nickel-chromium heating elements.

Nichrome 30

This alloy is also used for heating cables and rope heaters in defrosting and de-icing elements, resistors, floor heaters, electric blankets and pads, baseboard heaters, and car seats.

Applications: Heavy duty rheostats, open coil heaters in HVAC systems, night-storage heaters, solid hot plates, convection heaters, and fan heaters.

Nichrome 40

Applications: Night-storage heaters, convection heaters, heavy duty rheostats, fan heaters, heating cables and rope heaters in defrosting and de-icing elements, electric blankets and pads, car seats, baseboard heaters and floor heaters, and resistors.

Nichrome 60

Nichrome 60 is is ideal for use as heating elements in household utilities and in moderate heat, high humidity environments.

Applications: Metal sheathed tubular elements used in, for example, hot plates, grills, toaster ovens and storage heaters. The alloy is also used for suspended coils in air heaters in clothes dryers, fan heaters, hand dryers.

Nichrome 70

Nichrome 70 is great for reducing atmospheres, as it is not subject to 'green rot'.

Applications: This type of Nichrome wire is used in electrical heating elements in industrial furnaces.

Nichrome 80

Nichrome 80 has very good form stability. This alloy offers superior service life compared to other Nichrome wire types due to the excellent adhesion properties of its surface oxide.

It is commonly used for industrial furnaces and heating elements in home appliances.

Applications: Water heaters, flat irons, ironing machines, plastic moulding dies, soldering irons, metal sheathed tubular elements and cartridge elements.

Nichrome Wire Type	Max. Operating Temperature	Resistivity @ 20°C (68°F) Ω mm2/m (Ω/cmf)	Applications	Oxidation Resistance
20	1050°C (1920°F)	0.95 (572)	Terminals attached to nickel-chromium heating elements, element fasteners, refractory anchor bolts	Moderate
30	1050°C (1920°F)	1.03 (620)	Solid hot plates, open coil heaters in HVAC systems, heaters, de-icing elements	High
40	1100°C (2010°F)	1.04 (626)	Heaters, de-icing elements, heating cables and rope heaters, resistors
60	1150°C (2100°F)	1.11 (668)	Household heating elements, moderate heat, high humidity environments
70	1250°C (2280°F)	1.18 (709)	Industrial furnace electrical heating elements
80	1180°C (2150°F)	1.09 (656)	Industrial furnaces, home appliance heating elements

Specifications

Nichrome 60

Melting Temperature: 1350°C (2462°F)
Maximum Operating Temperature: 1150°C (2100°F)
Density: 0.2979 lbs/cubic in.
Specific heat capacity @ 68°F: 0.11 Btu/lb°F
Thermal Expansion: 14 x 10 to the -6 per °C

Nichrome 80

Melting Temperature: 1400°C (2552°F)
Maximum Operating Temperature: 1180°C (2150°F)
Density: 0.304 lbs/cubic in.
Specific heat capacity @ 68°F: 0.11 Btu/lb°F
Thermal Expansion: 14 x 10 to the -6 per °C

Gauge (AWG)	Average Wire Diameter (in.)	Feet per Pound		Resistance (ohms/ft. @ 68°F)
Gauge (AWG)	Average Wire Diameter (in.)	Nichrome 60	Nichrome 80	Nichrome 60	Nichrome 80
16	0.0508	138.9	135	0.259	0.2519
18	0.04	222.6	215	0.4219	0.4002
20	0.032	347.8	641	0.6592	0.6348
22	0.0253	556.5	546	1.055	1.6089
24	0.0201	881.8	865	1.671	1.0155
26	0.0159	1413	1383	2.67	2.5711
28	0.0126	2257	2202	4.21	4.0942
30	0.01	3584	3496	6.68	6.5
32	0.008	5565	5463	10.55	10.1563
33	0.0071	7092	6936	13.2	12.8943
34	0.0063	9009	8809	16.8	16.3769
36	0.005	14347	13986	26.7	26

Product Selection

Know how much wire and which size you want? Pick your part number from the nichrome wire charts below.

Nichrome 60

Nichrome 60 wire is generally used to manufacture electrical resistance for insulated and open appliances. It is widely used in the application of industrial furnaces and even provides the means to melt metals. At high temperatures, Nichrome 60 wire will resist embrittlement, meaning that it will last you longer than less resolute variations. It has good plasticity when cold, making it easy to weld, manipulate and shape to serve your specific needs.

Nichrome 60 is less resistant to rust and oxidation as Kanthal, but it has a higher high wet corrosion resistance and is made of a non-magnetic alloy. This means that in acidic environments or areas where a wire is likely to come in contact with a liquid or electrolyte medium, Nichrome 60 wire will resist degradation at a higher level and continue to function for a longer period of time.

Gauge (AWG)	25 ft.	50 ft.	100 ft.	250 ft.	500 ft.	1000 ft.	2500 ft.	5000 ft.	8 oz.	1 lb.	1.5 lb.
16	RW0266	RW0267	-	-	-	-	-	-	RW0268	RW0269	RW0270
18	-	RW0068	-	-	-	-	-	-	RW0069	RW0070	RW0071
20	RW0060	RW0061	RW0062	-	-	-	-	-	RW0063	RW0064	RW0065
22	RW0053	RW0054	RW0055	-	-	-	-	-	RW0056	RW0057	RW0058
24	RW0045	RW0046	RW0047	RW0048	-	-	-	-	RW0049	RW0050	RW0051
26	RW0036	RW0037	RW0038	RW0039	RW0040	-	-	-	RW0041	RW0042	RW0043
28	RW0271	RW0272	RW0273	RW0274	RW0275	-	-	-	RW0276	RW0277	RW0278
30	RW0279	RW0280	RW0281	RW0282	RW0283	RW0284	-	-	RW0285	RW0286	RW0287
32	-	-	RW0028	RW0029	RW0030	RW0031	-	-	RW0032	RW0033	RW0034
33	-	-	RW0288	RW0289	RW0290	RW0291	RW0292	-	RW0293	RW0294	RW0295
34	-	-	RW0296	RW0297	RW0298	RW0299	RW0300	-	RW0301	RW0302	RW0303
36	-	-	RW0304	RW0305	RW0306	RW0307	RW0308	RW0309	RW0310	RW0311	RW0312

Nichrome 80

Gauge (AWG)	25 ft.	50 ft.	100 ft.	250 ft.	500 ft.	1000 ft.	2500 ft.	5000 ft.	8 oz.	1 lb.	1.5 lb.
16	RW0384	RW0385	-	-	-	-	-	-	RW0386	RW0387	RW0388
18	-	RW0389	-	-	-	-	-	-	RW0390	RW0391	RW0392
20	RW0393	RW0394	RW0395	-	-	-	-	-	RW0396	RW0397	RW0398
22	RW0399	RW0400	RW0401	-	-	-	-	-	RW0402	RW0403	RW0404
24	RW0405	RW0406	RW0407	RW0408	-	-	-	-	RW0409	RW0410	RW0411
26	RW0412	RW0413	RW0414	RW0415	RW0416	-	-	-	RW0417	RW0418	RW0419
28	RW0420	RW0421	RW0422	RW0423	RW0424	-	-	-	RW0425	RW0426	RW0427
30	RW0428	RW0429	RW0430	RW0431	RW0432	RW0433	-	-	RW0434	RW0435	RW0436
32	-	-	RW0437	RW0438	RW0439	RW0440	-	-	RW0441	RW0442	RW0443
33	-	-	RW0444	RW0445	RW0446	RW0447	RW0448	-	RW0449	RW0450	RW0451
34	-	-	RW0452	RW0453	RW0454	RW0455	RW0456	-	RW0457	RW0458	RW0459
36	-	-	RW0460	RW0461	RW0462	RW0463	RW0464	RW0465	RW0466	RW0467	RW0468