Nickel is used for the manufacture of domestic utensils, for crucibles, coinage, plating, and for the preparation of various alloys, such as German silver, nickel steels such as invar (nickel, 35.7%; steel, 64.3%), which has a negligible coefficient of thermal expansion, and constantan (nickel, 45%; copper, 55%), which has a negligible thermal coefficient of its electrical resistance.
The peculiarity of these steels is that no quenching or tempering is required.
The badges of the two branches vary slightly in detail, more particularly in the attachment of fire-stones (fusils or furisons) and steels by which the fleece is attached to the ribbon of the collar.
The collar is composed of alternate links of furisons and double steels interlaced to form the letter B for Burgundy.
Alloy steels and cast irons are those which owe their properties chiefly to the presence of one or more elements other than carbon.
