NICKEL MATERIAL AND REFINING METHOD THEREOF

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nickel material excellent in hot workability, and a method for stably producing the nickel material. SOLUTION: The nickel material has a chemical composition including, by mass, 0.0050-0.0150% Mg, 0.0001-0.0010% S, 0.020-0.100% Al, at least one element chosen from the group consisting of ≤0.05% Ti, ≤0.30% Mn, ≤0.40% Fe, ≤0.0030% B and ≤0.02% C and the balance being Ni and impurities, wherein the ΔS parameter (S-0.3×Mg) is within the range of -0.0011% to -0.0030%. The chemical composition can be stably obtained by carrying out ladle refining using a slag, in which the slag basicity (T. CaO/Al2O3) is ≤2.6 and the MgO concentration is equal to or larger than 4.0 mass% but smaller than 12.0 mass%, provided that the components are adjusted so as to achieve an oxygen activity ao, which is represented by formula (1)(not indicated in a figure), of 0.70-1.30. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT