Did You Know?
. . . that nickel alloys have properties that differ from the properties of the elements that go into them? It's a Natural Nickel Fact
 |
 |
Nickel Magazine, November, 2005 -- This is what allows engineers to make
different materials that provide the different qualities that we need: strength, toughness, high
temperature stability, corrosion resistance, shape memory, etc.
To illustrate how the properties of individual elements differ from the properties of alloys, consider nickel
by itself. When left in contact with the skin, nickel can cause an allergy.
Nickel plated jewellery has been especially implicated in nickel allergy as have nickel plated buttons,
hooks, eyes, snaps and other items related to clothing.
Yet the same articles made from stainless steel – a group of alloys of iron, chromium and nickel – will not give someone an allergy to nickel.
Put another way, the concerns associated with nickel (allergy via skin contact, soluble nickel compounds carcinogenic via inhalation and reproductive toxicants via ingestion) all change when it is combined with iron and chromium in any of the group of alloys known as stainless steel.
For these reasons, the nickel industry and the industries that use nickel operate under very strict occupational health and safety regulations where contact with various forms of nickel (and other chemicals) is protected against.
On the other hand, users of consumer items containing nickel in alloy form – such as stainless steel cookware and cutlery – are not at any risk.
 Following, is a list of links to web pages managed by the Nickel Institute that provide in-depth
information on the human health affects of nickel compounds: |
<< Previous -- Main Index Page -- Next >>
