Nickel's Role in Sustainable Transportation
Nickel-containing products are widely used in all forms of sustainable transportation including
automobiles, trucks, buses and passenger rail cars. Personal mobility, in the form of automobiles and light
trucks, has received much attention from regulators and automobile manufacturers. Accordingly, we believe
that this subject will be of most interest to members of the automobile supply chain and, hence, it will be
our focus. However, it should be noted that many of the sustainability benefits that nickel-containing
products bring to the automotive sector apply equally to other modes of transportation.
Nickel - Natural, Essential and Plentiful
What is nickel used for?
Nickel and the auto industry
Recycling Nickel in Autos
Nickel, Hazard and Risk
Life cycle and sustainability dialogue - a work in progress
Feedback
Nickel - Natural, Essential and Plentiful
Nickel is the fifth most common element making up the earth. Although most of the nickel is inaccessible in the core of the earth, nickel occurs extensively in the earth's crust.
It is essential for healthy plant life. Nickel is found in most vegetables, fruits and nuts - and in food products derived from them, for example chocolate and wine.
It is currently mined in over 23 countries. Most important are Russia, Canada, New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Cuba, China, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Botswana, Columbia, Greece and Brazil. Also refined in Japan, United Kingdom, Finland and France.
Global 2003 production of nickel was 1.1 million tonnes from mined sources plus an estimated 600,000
tonnes from scrap sources.
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What is nickel used for?
Nickel readily combines with other metals to form alloys, especially iron, cobalt, copper (neighbours in the periodic table). Alloy properties include better corrosion resistance, better toughness, better strength at various temperatures and a wide range of special magnetic and electronic properties.
Most important are alloys of iron, nickel and chromium, of which stainless steels (8-12% nickel) are the
largest volume. Nickel based alloys, like stainless steel but with higher nickel content are used for more
demanding applications. Iron and nickel alloys are used in electronics and specialist engineering. Copper and
nickel alloys are used for coinage and marine engineering. There are about 3000 nickel-containing alloys in
everyday use. About 90% of all new nickel sold each year goes into alloys, two-thirds going into stainless
steel.
Nickel is used to provide hard-wearing decorative and engineering coatings as "nickel-plating" or
"electroless nickel coating" or "electroforming". When used together with chromium, it is popularly known as
"chrome-plating". When done in combination with silicon carbide it is known as composite plating. Nickel is a
key part of several rechargeable battery systems used in electronics, power tools, transport and emergency
power supply. Most important are nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH). Nickel is a key
ingredient in many catalysts. Nickel powders are used for sintered parts, especially sintered steels, and for
welding and spraying.
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Nickel is very versatile. The end uses are many and varied. Supply chains can be very long. About
two-thirds of all new nickel is used to make stainless steel, but end uses of stainless steel are themselves
many and varied. Nickel-containing products are used widely throughout the automobile and transportation
sector with no single use dominating. Many different products made by a variety of sectors and processes use
nickel.
Stainless steels: catalyst supports, exhaust systems, safety belt springs, special truck
bodies.
Being evaluated for structural uses - high strength, low weight and excellent crash energy absorption
characteristics
(more about automotive uses of stainless steel)
Nickel-based alloys: spark plugs, diesel valves, thermostats, turbochargers wheels and casings
Nickel-containing alloy steels: gears, drive shafts, special vehicles for low temperature and/or high wear uses
Nickel-iron alloys: Electronics, special engineering uses
Nickel powders: gears, magnets, airbag valves, strip, foil, electromagnetic interference
shielding (EMS) screening paints & coatings
(more about automotive uses of nickel alloys)
Nickel plating: anti-corrosion treatment for engine components, piston/cylinder coatings,
electronic cans & connectors
Chromium-nickel plating: internal and external trim, handles, seatbelt fasteners, grills,
wheels, customized components
(more about automotive uses of nickel and chromium-nickel
plating)
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries: EV's and hybrids
(more about nickel batteries in automotive
uses)
It is estimated that the automotive sector accounts for about 7-8% of new nickel use,
approximately 90,000 tonnes of nickel each year.
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Nickel, Hazard and Risk
Nickel and its compounds are found on the restricted substances lists of several automakers, although the use
of nickel metal and nickel-containing alloys is usually not restricted (but its use may have to be
reported).
Nickel has some properties which has led to it being classified as a hazardous substance in certain
situations. Nickel can be associated with toxicity, carcinogenicity and with dermal sensitization and more
information can be found through these links:
Health Guide: Safe Use of Nickel in the Workplace
Carcinogenicity
Ecotoxicity
Nickel Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Does nickel in auto parts pose a risk of dematitis to automobile
users?
The nickel industry is collaborating in the formal assessment of all the risks associated with nickel which
is currently being undertaken on behalf of the EU (and OECD) by Denmark. The results of that study will be
posted to these pages when it has been completed.
Most of the practical risks associated with nickel hazards are seen in certain complex processes used in nickel production and refining. The risks are well known and are managed and controlled by specific workplace regulation.
In the nickel industry's view, significant risks are not normally associated with the use of nickel,
nickel-containing alloys or nickel-containing products with the exception of the use of nickel and some
nickel alloys in jewelry (see Nickel Allergic Contact Dermatitis).
There are risks associated with the production and use of nickel but, in the view of the industry, these
are small, reasonable and manageable. The nickel industry operates a Product Stewardship policy and is
committed to act to discourage inappropriate use of nickel. To learn more click here.
Nickel use makes a very high practical contribution to improvements of health, safety and protection of the
environment. Society will lose a lot more than it will gain if it adopts an excessively precautionary
approach to the assessment and management of the risks associated with nickel.
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Life cycle and sustainability dialogue - a work in progress
The nickel industry has produced life cycle inventory (LCI) statistics (see life cycle inventory data) and continues to work on life cycle assessment
(LCA) and eco-indicator methodology to ensure that fair treatment is given to long life, recycling and
hazard.
There are ongoing efforts to improve understanding of nickel recycling and generate recycling statistics and
performance measures. With respect to recycling, we need help developing good statistics for recycling from
end of life vehicles (ELV) and to be made aware of any practical problems relating to nickel use and ELV
recycling (see recycling data).
We have also worked to improve scientific understanding of hazards and risks associated with nickel
production and use. (see Nickel Institute Environment
and www.nipera.org) and through efforts such as this web
site, to communicate hazards, risks and safe use information through all parts of the supply chain.
We have engaged the regulatory community to seek appropriate and proportionate regulation and seek to operate
an effective product stewardship policy to ensure that nickel is used appropriately (see product stewardship).
We will continue to work through the supply chain to encourage technical innovation to deliver improved
performance and cost effectiveness (for technical assistance see library or contact us).
At the same time we are looking for input from the auto industry to promote sensible methodology for life
cycle inventory, life cycle analysis and eco-indicators. We need assistance to reach the automotive community
to promote risk and hazard literacy not only with respect to regulators, but also among colleagues in
marketing, advertising and public relations functions to achieve practical and proportionate approaches to
risk management. We need to avoid a "tyranny of lists", i.e., restricting the use of a substance based on
another company or even another industry's restriction, whether appropriate or not. By joining us in
communicating coherent messages to fragmented supply chains, you will be keeping the door open for future
innovation and ensuring that the auto industry retains the ability to use nickel in future, as yet
undeveloped, uses.
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Feedback
If you have any questions, concerns or issues about the use of nickel-containing products in automobiles,
please contact Barry Waters at Bwaters@nickelinstitute.org.
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