What is resistance wire used for?
Nichrome is a brand name for a nickel-chromium resistance wire, a non-magnetic alloy of nickel and chromium. A common alloy is 80% nickel and 20% chromium, but there are many others to accommodate various applications. It is silvery-grey in colour, is corrosion resistant, and has a high melting point of about 1400 °C. Due to its relatively high resistivity and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures, it is widely used in heating elements, such as in hair dryers, electric ovens and toasters. Typically, Nichrome is wound in wire coils to a certain electrical resistance, and current passed through to produce heat. A heating element converts electricity into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electrical current running through the element encounters resistance, resulting in heating of the element. Heating Elements: Most heating elements use Nichrome wire or ribbon as the conductor. Nichrome is an ideal material as it is inexpensive, has relatively high resistance, and does not
