Nickel Foam 99% Ni 40 PPI Open Cell Research Grade ATOMFAIR®

NICKEL FOAM 99% NI 40 PPI OPEN CELL DISTILLATION PACKING MATERIAL

RESEARCH GRADE MATERIAL

Product Overview

This high-purity Nickel Foam substrate features a 99% nickel 40 PPI open cell architecture manufactured via a plain-weave electrodeposition process, delivering exceptional structural uniformity and chemical purity for demanding laboratory and industrial applications. With a through-hole ratio exceeding 98% and porosity ranging from 60–70%, the material provides superior fluid permeability and an extensive specific surface area ideal for distillation column packing material and vapor-liquid mass transfer operations. The intrinsic acid-alkali corrosion resistant properties of nickel—reinforced by a dense passivating oxide film formed at ambient temperature—ensure long-term chemical stability against organic acids, alkaline solutions, and oxidizing environments. Capable of withstanding continuous operating temperatures above 500°C with a thermal conductivity exceeding 3 W/(m²·K), this foam serves as a versatile platform for catalysis, electrochemical energy storage, and high-temperature filtration across academic research and industrial R&D settings.

Technical Specifications

PARAMETER	DETAILS
Material	High-Purity Nickel (Ni > 99%)
Weaving Method	Plain Weave
Pore Density (PPI)	5–130 PPI (Standard: 40 PPI)
Pore Size Range	0.1 mm–10 mm (40 PPI)
Thickness Range	0.5 mm–40 mm
Porosity	60–70%
Through-Hole Ratio	≥98%
Bulk Density	>0.1 g/cm³
Holes Per Inch	5–130
Filtration Precision	Standard: 5 mm–200 μm (5–130 PPI); Special Process: 3–50 μm
Water Permeability	≥80% (Higher PPI increases fluid resistance)
Tensile Strength	8–50 MPa
Compressive Strength	≥250 KPa at 50% Compression
Mechanical Strength	>2–7 MPa
Temperature Resistance	≥500°C
Thermal Conductivity	>3 W/(m²·K)
Corrosion Resistance	Acid & Alkali Resistant
Geometric Dimensions	Customizable to Specification
Alternative Options	Explore our related catalog or custom dimensions. For urgent technical custom requests or bulk inquiries, please contact our support team.

Key Features & Advantages

Ultra-High Purity Nickel (Ni > 99%): The elemental composition exceeds 99% nickel with only trace carbon and chemical deposits, ensuring minimal catalytic interference and superior electrochemical stability for sensitive electrode and catalyst carrier applications where material purity directly governs experimental reproducibility.
Self-Passivating Corrosion Barrier: Nickel forms a dense, adherent oxide film spontaneously at ambient temperature, conferring intrinsic resistance to organic acids, alkaline solutions, and atmospheric oxidation. Concentrated nitric acid further passivates the surface, enhancing anti-corrosion performance for aggressive chemical environments.
Dual-Range Filtration Precision: Standard processing achieves filtration precision of 5 mm down to 200 μm across the 5–130 PPI range, while specialized manufacturing techniques extend precision down to 3–50 μm, enabling the foam to serve as both macro-scale distillation packing and micro-scale particulate filtration media within a single material platform.
High Hydrogen Absorption Capacity: Nickel exhibits significant hydrogen absorption characteristics, with absorption capacity inversely proportional to grain size. This property makes the foam particularly suitable for hydrogen-related electrochemical applications including alkaline electrolysis and metal hydride battery systems.

APPLICATION SCOPE: Validated for use as distillation column structured packing and condenser heat exchange material in chemical separation processes. Serves as a high-surface-area catalyst carrier in heterogeneous catalysis and chemical reactor engineering. Functions as an electrode current collector and active material substrate in power battery systems including Ni-MH and Ni-Cd chemistries. Applicable as industrial filtration media for liquid and gas purification, high-end decorative architectural panels, vibration-damping flooring underlayment, electromagnetic shielding enclosures, acoustic damping materials, protective packaging, and lightweight structural composites. The 99% nickel purity, plain-weave architecture, and 40 PPI open-cell morphology provide consistent mass transfer and fluid dynamics characteristics across all application domains.

PACKAGING: Supplied in custom-cut geometric dimensions per customer specification. Each unit is vacuum-sealed within low-outgassing polyethylene film and protected by rigid backing plates to preserve the open-cell pore structure and plain-weave surface integrity during transit. The dense surface oxide film formed at ambient temperature provides adequate short-term atmospheric protection; however, for applications requiring pristine metallic surfaces, inert atmosphere packaging is available upon request. Custom dimensions, thicknesses (0.5–40 mm), and PPI grades (5–130) manufactured to order.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: When handling thin nickel foam sheets (< 1 mm thickness), employ vacuum pickup tools or flat-tipped tweezers to prevent localized plastic deformation of the plain-weave structure. For high-temperature applications exceeding 500°C in oxidizing atmospheres, pre-condition the material in a reducing environment (H₂/Ar) to remove the surface oxide layer and restore maximum electrical and thermal conductivity. Note that dilute nitric acid slowly dissolves nickel; concentrated nitric acid passivates the surface and enhances corrosion resistance. The material absorbs hydrogen gas—absorption capacity increases with decreasing grain size—requiring appropriate safety considerations during hydrogen-rich electrochemical operations. Store in a desiccated environment if extended shelf life with minimal surface oxidation is required.

TAILORED SOLUTIONS FOR RESEARCH

Contact our engineering team for technical support or official quotations.

EMAIL: inquiry@atomfair.com

Manufacturer: Atomfair LLC

Brand: ATOMFAIR®

This product requires specific handling, pre-conditioning, and storage protocols to maintain structural integrity and performance. The material exhibits chemical reactivity with nitric acid and hydrogen gas, necessitating appropriate safety measures.

Handling thin sheets: When handling thin nickel foam sheets below 1 mm thickness, use vacuum pickup tools or flat-tipped tweezers to prevent localized plastic deformation.
High-temperature pre-conditioning: For high-temperature applications exceeding 500°C in oxidizing atmospheres, pre-condition the material in a reducing environment to remove the surface oxide layer.
Nitric acid interaction: Dilute nitric acid slowly dissolves nickel while concentrated nitric acid passivates the surface and enhances corrosion resistance.
Hydrogen absorption: The material absorbs hydrogen gas, with absorption capacity increasing as grain size decreases, requiring safety considerations during hydrogen-rich electrochemical operations.
Storage requirements: Store in a desiccated environment if extended shelf life with minimal surface oxidation is required.

HowTo

Follow these steps to safely handle thin nickel foam sheets, prepare them for high-temperature use, and store them properly. These procedures prevent mechanical damage, ensure optimal performance, and minimize oxidation.

Required Equipment: Vacuum pickup tools, Flat-tipped tweezers

Handle thin sheets
Use vacuum pickup tools or flat-tipped tweezers when handling thin nickel foam sheets to prevent plastic deformation.
Pre-condition for high temperature
Pre-condition the nickel foam in a reducing atmosphere of H₂/Ar to remove surface oxide before use above 500°C in oxidizing environments.
Store in desiccated environment
Store the nickel foam in a desiccated environment to minimize surface oxidation during extended shelf life.

FAQ

How does the pore density of this nickel foam affect the balance between fluid permeability and mechanical strength?

At the standard 40 PPI, water permeability is ≥80% with tensile strength ranging from 8–50 MPa and compressive strength ≥250 KPa at 50% compression. Higher PPI increases fluid resistance, reducing permeability, but the source does not specify the exact impact on mechanical strength. The 40 PPI standard provides a balanced compromise for distillation packing and filtration applications.

Can this nickel foam be used directly as an electrode substrate in alkaline electrolysis without additional surface treatment?

Yes, the 99% nickel foam with its self-passivating oxide film is suitable for alkaline electrolysis and Ni-MH/Ni-Cd battery systems. However, for high-temperature applications exceeding 500°C in oxidizing atmospheres, pre-conditioning in a reducing environment (H₂/Ar) is recommended to remove the oxide layer and restore maximum electrical and thermal conductivity. The material also absorbs hydrogen, requiring appropriate safety considerations during hydrogen-rich electrochemical operations.

What handling precautions are necessary when working with thin nickel foam sheets to preserve structural integrity?

For sheets under 1 mm thickness, use vacuum pickup tools or flat-tipped tweezers to prevent localized plastic deformation of the plain-weave structure. Store in a desiccated environment if extended shelf life with minimal surface oxidation is required. For hydrogen-rich electrochemical applications, account for the material's hydrogen absorption capacity, which increases with decreasing grain size.

Assessment

This 99% nickel, 40 PPI open-cell foam provides high corrosion resistance, thermal stability above 500°C, and excellent fluid permeability for distillation packing and electrochemical applications. Thin sheets require careful handling to avoid deformation, and hydrogen absorption introduces safety considerations in hydrogen-rich environments.

Positive

Ultra-high purity nickel: Nickel purity exceeds 99% with minimal trace elements, ensuring low catalytic interference and reliable electrochemical stability for sensitive electrode and catalyst carrier applications.
Self-passivating corrosion barrier: Nickel forms a dense oxide film at ambient temperature, providing intrinsic resistance to organic acids, alkaline solutions, and atmospheric oxidation, with enhanced passivation in concentrated nitric acid.

Trade-offs

Fragile thin sheets: Sheets under 1 mm thickness are prone to plastic deformation; vacuum pickup tools or flat-tipped tweezers are required to avoid structural damage during handling.
Hydrogen absorption risk: The material absorbs hydrogen, with capacity increasing as grain size decreases, necessitating appropriate safety protocols during hydrogen-rich electrochemical operations.

Quality Standards & Performance Verification

Every advanced material, component, equipment, and instrument in our catalog is backed by rigorous testing. We maintain strict internal quality management frameworks and align with CE conformity metrics to deliver transparent, reproducible performance data via our public open-science repository.

To request raw batch performance data, submit formal vendor registration paperwork, or execute a fast-turnaround R&D manufacturing loop, contact us at inquiry@atomfair.com.

Shipping & Returns

Item is dispatched under the Atomfair Shipping & Delivery Framework (Free worldwide shipping on orders over $59 USD excl. heavy equipment). Return is governed by the Atomfair Return & Refund Policy (7-day technical return window).