Monel

Monel is a trademark (of Special Metals Corporation) for a series of stainless metal alloys, primarily composed of nickel (up to 67%) and copper, with some iron and other trace elements. Monel was created by Robert Crooks Stanley for INCO in 1901, and named for company president Ambrose Monell.

=Properties

Monel is very hard to machine as it work-hardens instantly with heat and does not harden into a constant matrix. It needs to be turned and worked at slow speeds and low feed rates. It is resistant to corrosion and acids, and some alloys can withstand a fire in pure oxygen. It is commonly used in applications with highly corrosive conditions. Small additions of aluminum and titanium form an alloy with the same corrosion resistance but with much greater strength. Monel is typically much more expensive than stainless steel.

Uses

Marine applications

Monel's corrosion resistance makes it ideal for marine applications such as piping systems, pump impellers, trolling wire, and strainer baskets. Some alloys are completely non-magnetic and are used for anchor cable aboard minesweepers, housings for magnetic-field measurement equipment, and have applications in the oil drilling industry.

Musical instruments

Monel is used as the material for valve pistons in some higher quality trumpets, e.g., Bach Stradivarius. RotoSound introduced the use of Monel for electric bass strings in 1962, and these strings have been used by numerous artists, including The Who, Sting, John Deacon, and John Paul Jones. Monel was in use in the early 1930s by other musical string manufacturers, such as Gibson Guitar Corporation.

Other

Monel is often used for kitchen sinks and in the frames of eyeglasses. It has also been used for firebox stays in fire-tube boilers.

Parts of the 10,000 Year Clock are made from Monel because of the corrosion resistance without the use of precious metals.

See also

• Cupronickel