ENERGY INDUSTRY

Energy industry, power generation

Nickel and nickel-based alloys are, along with stainless steel, the most popular materials in energy industry. These properties are popular in applications where high temperatures are present. Nickel and nickel alloys are used to manufacture gas turbines, heat exchangers, elements of power generators or nuclear reactors. Since the 1960s, nickel was conventionally used in nickel-cadmium batteries, nowadays replaced by NiMH batteries (broadly used in electric cars).

In energy generation industry tungsten is predominantly used in a form of tungsten carbide, alloyed steel and nickel-based superalloys. Tungsten is applicable where the mechanical properties are to be retained in extreme temperatures. Used also as a connector in high-voltage applications as well as a heat exchanger in electronic integrated circuits.

Molybdenum is used as alloying element for carbon or stainless steel. Having a great corrosion resistance, molybdenum-based alloys are used to manufacture borehole drilling pipes which, during desulphurization process, have a direct contact with hydrogen sulfide.