NICKEL

Westbrook Resources is a leading Nickel supplier in the UK, specialising in the supply and distribution of high-purity Nickel to steelworks across the world. We offer Nickel in various forms including pellets, rounds, cathode, discs and briquettes. The chemical analysis is as follows:

Standard Material	%
Ni	99.8% min

Nickel Packing & Size Options

At Westbrook, we can supply you with Nickel pellets, Nickel rounds, Nickel cathodes, Nickel discs and Nickel briquettes depending on your preferences. Our packing and sizing options are detailed below.

Packing

Drums on pallets
2mt bags on pallets
25kg bags

Sizing

4″ x 4″ cathode
Pellets
Rounds
Discs
Briquettes

About Nickel

Nickel is a transition metal and crucial in the metallurgical industry. It naturally occurs extensively in the earth’s crust, although the majority of it resides within the earth’s core and remains inaccessible for mining. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal & is the fifth most common element on earth.

The bulk of the Nickel mined comes from two types of ore deposits; laterites and magmatic sulphide deposits. Nickel was first classified as a chemical element in 1751.

Nickel is resistant to corrosion (due to its slow rate of oxidation at room temperature) and to most acids, except nitric acid. It has a high melting point and is very ductile. It is also magnetic at room temperature. Nickel is a versatile metal used extensively in the production of stainless steel and other steel and nonferrous alloys.

Note that Westbrook Resource’s Nickel Rounds are ideal for customers attempting to reduce their carbon footprint as the direct and indirect CO₂ emissions from production are much lower than industry averages. Contact us today for more information.

Production of Nickel

Nickel is produced through two main methods depending on the original ore mined: laterite ore processing and sulphide ore processing. Laterite ores are processed using techniques such as hydrometallurgy (using aqueous solutions) or pyrometallurgy (heating and melting), while sulphide ores undergo smelting and refining. Once the impurities are removed, it is subject to electrorefining or electrolysis to produce pure Nickel.

Nickel ore can also be refined into pellets using the Mond process, which was first established by Ludwig Mond in 1890. After noticing the rapid corrosion of Nickel valves used in the apparatus used in the Solvay process, he invented Nickel carbonyl (tetracarbonylnickel) and used it to purify Nickel. The process involves burning Nickel ore in carbon monoxide to form a Nickel carbonyl vapour. This separates Nickel from impurities as only Nickel combines with carbon monoxide to form carbonyl compounds leaving the impurities as solids. It is then heated to decompose the Nickel carbonyl back to pure Nickel and carbon monoxide. This technique is used commercially using a Nickel decomposer, which slowly grows Nickel pellets by using pre-heated seed pellets (pre-heated to the decomposition temperature) and exposing them to the carbonyl gas resulting in a layer of Nickel being deposited on the pellets. This is repeated many times over to grow the pellets.

Westbrook Resources supplies high-purity Nickel for use in steel production, alloying, batteries, and other high-demand industries.

Uses of Nickel

Nickel is a key component in the metals industry, with historical uses of Nickel dating back to ancient times (as far back as 3500 BC) and was referred to as a “white copper” until it was recognised as a distinct element.

As a long-established Nickel supplier, we understand that Nickel is a key component in a wide range of industrial applications although few things are made of pure Nickel. Nickel is often used in making superalloys and its primary use is in the production of stainless steel, where it enhances strength, corrosion resistance, and durability. Nickel is also essential in the manufacturing of alloys, batteries and electroplating. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in the aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries due to its high melting point and resistance to extreme temperatures.

In many of these applications, there is no substitute for Nickel without reducing performance or increasing cost.

Key Properties of Nickel

Nickel is highly valued for its corrosion resistance, strength and heat tolerance. Its durability and flexibility make it ideal for forming alloys like stainless steel, while its high melting point ensures reliability in high-temperatures. Nickel is also one of only four ferromagnetic metals (the others being Iron, Cobalt and Gadolinium). Ferromagnetic metals are attracted to magnets and retain magnetic properties when an external magnetic field is removed.

The Benefits of Our Nickel Supply

Choosing Westbrook Resources as your Nickel supplier means you get consistent, high-quality material that meets modern industrial specifications. Benefits of our Nickel include:

High Purity Levels – 99.8% minimum purity (usually >99.9%) for optimal alloy production without residual element concerns.

Reduced Carbon Footprint - Westbrook’s Nickel rounds have much lower embedded CO₂ emissions than industry averages, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable practices.

Performance – Engineered for strength and durability, for corrosion resistance and thermal stability, for critical manufacturing processes.

Multiple Applications – For stainless steel, batteries, electroplating and high-performance alloys across aerospace, automotive and electronics industries.

Packaging and Supply Flexibility – We have various packaging options, no minimum order quantities and a range of sizing to choose from. We offer long-term call off options and can deliver in the UK at short notice for any urgent requirements.

Sustainably Sourced – We source responsibly so the material you receive is traceable and meets global sustainability standards.

Why Choose Westbrook For Nickel

Westbrook Resources are a globally trusted supplier of high-purity Nickel. Our Nickel Rounds are ideal for customers attempting to reduce their carbon footprint as the direct and indirect CO₂ emissions from production are much lower than industry averages.

We have storage facilities located in the United Kingdom, Africa, Europe, and North America, and are therefore strategically located to distribute Nickel and other Pure Metals internationally.

We aim to be a reliable Nickel supplier and long-term partner by ensuring:

Continuity of Supply
Consistent Quality
Highly Competitive Pricing
Timely Deliveries
World Class Service

As trusted Nickel suppliers, we are efficient in meeting urgent customer demands, leveraging our extensive global distribution network to serve international industries.

We are a Nickel supplier committed to quality and compliance holding ISO 9001 certification and being an Authorised Economic Operator. Our business holds numerous REACH registrations both in the UK and the EU (including Nickel) and have several Turkish KKDIK pre-registrations. We have fiscal representation in several countries to facilitate deliveries of Nickel direct to your plant.

Contact Us

Our team is here to help you meet all of your Nickel supply needs.

Contact us today to discuss your Nickel requirements and experience the difference of working with a reliable and experienced supplier in the industry.

Nickel FAQs

Is Nickel used in Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries?

EVs use lithium-ion batteries which usually contain 80% Nickel in the composition of the cathode. Nickel plays a pivotal role in these batteries, enhancing the properties of the battery components by increasing their energy density. This gives the EV extended driving ranges and longer battery life. Nickel is also used in battery storage units used to store solar and wind energy.

Is Nickel deemed a critical material?

Nickel is currently on the UK Critical Minerals Expert Committee’s “watchlist” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Russia is a major supplier to the market and high purity Nickel is so important, particularly for use in EV batteries, the criticality of Nickel may, at some point, increase to full “critical” status.

In 2023, Nickel was added in the fifth list of critical raw materials published by the EU as a “strategic raw material” (crucial for strategic technologies) but not as a critical raw material (high economic importance and highly vulnerable to supply disruptions).

Why is Nickel important in steel production?

Nickel plays a crucial role in steel production by significantly improving the material's formability, weldability, and resistance to heat, corrosion and acids. This makes nickel-alloyed steel ideal for use in harsh environments or high-performance applications, such as in construction, automotive and chemical industries, where longevity and strong performance are critical factors.

What role does Nickel play in high-temperature environments?

Nickel is very well suited to high-temperature environments due to its high melting point, thermal stability and resistance to oxidation. It is a core component in the production of super alloys used in gas turbines, jet engines and power plants; applications where materials must maintain strength, structural integrity and anti-corrosive properties under extreme heat and stress. These properties make Nickel Alloys ideal where operational temperatures regularly exceed 1000°C.

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