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Ability to Alloy
According to Keytometals.com, nickel has been used since the dawn of civilization, as the element is versatile and will alloy with most metals. The malleable characteristic of nickel is one of the primary reasons it has become one of the elements most used by humans. It has complete solid solubility with copper and has a wide solubility with iron and chromium. Most products, appliances or structures that have steel or copper in them have large amounts of nickel as well.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel can be created by combining nickel with iron and chromium, two other metal elements of similar chemical makeup. Sixty-five percent of the nickel used in the western world goes into stainless steel, which is used in mass quantities in a variety of capacities: As one of the sturdiest metal alloys that can be created, it is used to build bridges, skyscrapers and automobiles. The nickel bonds to other elements when combined with them, making them all easier to work with when it comes to construction.
Resistance to Corrosion
Another advantageous characteristic of nickel is that it resists corrosion, even at very high temperatures. It also a very good conductor of heat and electricity. For this reason it is used in gas turbines and rocket engines, as well as in heavy-duty electrical wiring that may become very hot. Recently, an alloy called monel, which is a combination of nickel and copper, has become popular to use in electrical lines and wires in high-powered machinery.