Application guide
For Heating Element & Furnace Builders
Element life is decided by the lead wire as often as by the element. Carbon, surface cleanliness and diameter consistency are the three variables.
Where elements fail first
Not usually in the hot zone. The lead wire runs cooler, carries the current, and is the part that gets bent during assembly. Nickel 200 is the default, but above roughly 315 °C its carbon content starts to matter — which is the whole reason Nickel 201 exists.
| Requirement | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead wire below 315 °C | Ni200 / N6 | Lower cost, identical behaviour |
| Lead wire above 315 °C | Ni201 / N4 | Carbon ≤ 0.02 %, resists graphitisation |
| Resistance conductor | NiCr / CuNi44 | Graded resistivity |
| Corrosive atmosphere | Monel 400 | Where chlorides are present |
Practical supply
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 0.025 – 6.00 mm |
| Temper | Soft for bending, half-hard where the lead must hold shape |
| Packing | Spool, coil, or cut and straightened length |
| Minimum order | 1 kg |
| Lead time | 3–7 days |
A question worth asking your supplier
"What is the carbon content of this lot, and where is it written?" If the answer is a grade name rather than a number on a certificate, you are buying a hope.
Questions we get asked
Can you supply cut and straightened lengths?
Yes, within the diameter range; specify length, tolerance and end condition.
Do you supply the resistance element wire too?
NiCr and CuNi44 yes; FeCrAl is not our line and we will say so rather than quote around it.
Send the specification — diameter, grade, temper, quantity.
We come back with a confirmed lead time and the documentation we can issue for the shipment. 100 g sample at cost; orders from 1 kg.
Request a quotation Order a 100 g sample