#nickel
- Alfenide — An stainless metallic alloy formed of copper, zinc, nickel, and iron, widely used as a base for silver-plating cutlery, tableware, and decorative items. Discovered in France during the 19th century by the Halphen chemists, the term denotes a malleable, corrosion-resistant material that closely mimics solid silver.
- Alnico — A hard ferromagnetic alloy composed primarily of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt, to which varying percentages of iron, copper, or titanium may be added. This structural material is characterized by high remanent magnetic induction and excellent thermal stability, being widely used in industry for manufacturing permanent magnets for electric motors, audio speakers, and precision sensors.
- Alpaca — A domestic, medium-sized ruminant mammal of South America (Vicugna pacos), belonging to the Camelidae family, bred for its long, fine, and silky wool. In the textile industry, it represents the high-quality fabric or yarn obtained from this animal; in metallurgy, it defines an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel (German silver), with a bright white appearance, used for manufacturing cutlery and decorative items.
- Alumel — A ductile magnetic alloy composed primarily of nickel (around 95%), aluminum, manganese, and silicon, widely used in industry, especially alongside chromel, to manufacture conductive wires for thermocouples designed to measure high temperatures.
- Silver alyssum — A perennial herbaceous plant species belonging to the genus Alyssum, native to southern Europe, characterized by stems that are woody at the base, leaves covered with stellate hairs giving them a grayish-silver appearance, and golden-yellow flowers; a notable nickel hyperaccumulator. This structural taxon is extensively studied in phytoextraction and bioremediation due to its exceptional ability to absorb and store heavy metals from contaminated or serpentinitic soils.
- Argentan — A town in northwestern France, situated in the Orne department within the Normandy region, historically renowned as a major center for fine lace production (Argentan lace); also, the name of a silvery-white metallic alloy made of copper, nickel, and zinc, structurally used as an argent silver substitute in silversmithing and industrial cutlery. In a geographical and economic sense, the locality represents a historical transport hub along the Orne river, marked by medieval remains and ducal fortifications.
- Ataxite — A structural type of iron meteorite (siderite) extremely rich in nickel (over 16%), characterized by the absence of Widmanstätten patterns when etched with acid. In a broad petrographic or structural sense, the term also describes an igneous rock or brecciated mineral mass with a completely irregular and unhomogeneous texture, formed by the chaotic mixing of distinct fragments.