Question

What can be used instead of Nichrome wire?

Answer 1

Nichrome (also known as NiCr, nickel-chromium, or chromium-nickel) is a group of nickel-chromium alloys with a small amount of iron (and potentially additional elements) that are frequently used as resistance wire, heating elements in toasters and space heaters, and in some dental restorations (fillings). By mass, a common nichrome alloy has 80% nickel and 20% chromium, although there are numerous different metal combinations for varied purposes.

Complete answer:
Nichrome is a silvery-grey metal with a high melting point of around 1,400 °C (2,550 °F) and is corrosion-resistant. Almost any conductive wire may be used for heating, but because most metals conduct electricity so well, they must be fashioned into extremely thin and fragile wires in order to provide enough resistance to generate heat. Most metals oxidise quickly when heated in air, becoming brittle and breaking. When nichrome wire is heated to red-hot temperatures, a coating of chromium oxide forms on the outside, which is thermodynamically stable in air, mostly impenetrable to oxygen, and shields the heating element from further oxidation.
Nichrome alloys are recognised for their strong creep resistance and mechanical strength. The characteristics of nichrome vary depending on the alloy in which it is used. The statistics provided are typical of the material and are accurate to the expressed significant figures. Any differences are due to differing nickel or chromium percentages. Other materials cannot be used to replace nichrome wire. It has a very strong resistance to current flow. When current runs through the nichrome wire, it generates heat.

Note:
Nichrome is frequently used in electric heating components in applications such as hair dryers and heat guns due to its inexpensive cost of manufacturing, strength, ductility, resistance to oxidation, stability at high temperatures, and resistance to the passage of electrons. When current is conducted through nichrome, it is coiled in coils to a specific electrical resistance, and the Joule heating creates heat.