Iron/Nickel Alloy - Material Information

The Fe–Ni alloy system is one of the most technologically important classes of soft magnetic and low-expansion materials. The 55% Fe–45% Ni composition exhibits a unique combination of magnetic permeability, structural stability, and moderate thermal conductivity, making it a critical component in electromagnetic devices, sensors, and control systems. Its balanced microstructure provides both magnetic responsiveness and mechanical strength, suitable for precision components exposed to thermal or magnetic flux variations.

Material Overview

Iron–nickel alloys crystallize in a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure that supports excellent ductility and machinability. The Fe55/Ni45 composition has a saturation magnetization of approximately 1.3 T and a low coercive force, making it one of the preferred materials for magnetic shielding and core applications. Gheisari et al. (2011) demonstrated that controlled heat treatment reduces residual stresses and enhances coercivity stability in Fe–45%Ni nanostructured powders, improving their performance in alternating magnetic fields. Shokrollahi (2010) further noted that mechanical alloying techniques produce refined grains, boosting permeability and mechanical strength simultaneously. The alloy’s thermal expansion coefficient lies near 1.5 × 10?? K?¹, as reported by Gehrmann and Erpenbeck (2003), providing dimensional stability over broad temperature ranges. These properties make Fe–Ni alloys essential in applications where both magnetic precision and thermal control are required.

Applications and Advantages

Iron–nickel alloys such as Fe55/Ni45 are used in the cores of transformers, inductors, and relays, where high magnetic permeability and low hysteresis loss are critical. Their predictable behavior under magnetic cycling and resistance to demagnetization ensure long-term reliability in sensitive electronic components. Additionally, Fe–Ni alloys are applied in aerospace and cryogenic engineering, where their low expansion coefficients minimize deformation under fluctuating temperatures. Recent patents (Wei et al., 2013; Yang et al., 2019) have demonstrated that optimized Fe–Ni alloys maintain tensile strengths above 480 MPa while delivering fast magnetic response, confirming their suitability for compact, high-frequency electromagnetic systems.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow offers Iron/Nickel (Fe55/Ni45) alloy in high-purity form and customizable dimensions to suit advanced magnetic and electronic research. Each batch is produced to stringent quality standards, ensuring consistent microstructural integrity and reproducible magnetic properties. Custom processing and tailored sizes are available upon request for specific industrial or scientific applications.

Explore Iron/Nickel (Fe55/Ni45) and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Gheisari, K., Oh, J. T., & Javadpour, S. (2011). The effect of heat treatment on the structure and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed Fe–45%Ni nanostructured powders. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 509(4), 1378–1382.
• Shokrollahi, H. (2010). The magnetic and structural properties of the most important alloys of iron produced by mechanical alloying. ChemInform, 41(22), 192.
• Gehrmann, B., & Erpenbeck, B. (2003). Iron–nickel alloy with low thermal expansion coefficient and exceptional mechanical properties. US Patent.
• Wei, Z., Gao, X., Zheng, Q., & Sun, Q. (2013). An iron–nickel alloy material with a high iron content and a preparation method thereof. Chinese Patent.
• Yang, F., Xu, M., An, Y., Zhang, R., & Liu, H. (2019). High-performance iron–nickel magnetically soft alloy. Patent Publication.