Commercially pure or low-alloy nickel has characteristics that are useful in several fields, notably chemical processing and electronics. Nickel is highly resistant to various reducing chemicals and is unexcelled in resistance to caustic alkalies. Compared with nickel alloys, commercially pure nickel has high electrical and thermal conductivity. It also has a high Curie temperature and good magnetostrictive properties. Annealed nickel has a low hardness and good ductility and malleability. Those attributes, combined with good weldability, make the metal highly fabricable. Nickel has a relatively low work-hardening rate, but it can be cold worked to moderately high strength levels while maintaining ductility.

Nickel 201 (UNS N02201/W.Nr. 2.4061 and 2.4068) is the low-carbon version of Nickel 200. Typical applications are caustic evaporators, combustion boats, plater bars, and electronic components.

Nickel 201, because of its low base hardness and lower work-hardening rate, is particularly suited for spinning and cold forming. It is preferred to Nickel 200 for applications involving exposure to temperatures above 600°F (315°C).