How important is the use of nickel (as a catalyst or otherwise) in the manufacture of fertilizers?
Nickel’s Contribution to Society Nickel is one of the most valuable and useable metals in the world. It has been called the “hidden metal,” but it is used in thousands of applications in virtually every industry. Nickel is essential in the manufacture of jet engines, CDs and DVDs, and rechargeable battery systems. It is found in pots and pans, hinges and knobs, razor blades, coinage, watches and other jewellery, and in cars, trains and planes. Approximately two-thirds of the nickel mined each year is used to make stainless steel. Most of it is combined with other metals, especially iron, chromium and copper, to produce alloys with enhanced properties pure metals don’t have. In short, nickel is one of the most versatile of metals. Nickel electroplating is a well-known and widely applied process. It is a technique that has long been used to provide both corrosion-resistant and decorative finishes, and is used as well to create the substrate for chromium coatings. Among nickel’s least kno
