Ask a Teacher



what is a nichrome

Nichrome is a non-magnetic alloy of nickel, chromium, and often iron, usually used as a resistance wire. Patented in 1905, it is the oldest documented form of resistance heating alloy.
Nichrome is commonly wound up into coils and used in heating elements (devices that convert heat into electricity through Joule heating) such as hair dryers, toasters and ovens. However, nichrome wires are not used as much as copper wires (resistivity = 1.7 × 10-8 ?m) due to the high cost of chromium.


comments powered by Disqus