The 400 nickel round rod has been cold drawn and stress relieved, meets American Society for Testing and Materials International ASTM B164, Federal Specification QQ-N-281D Class A, American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME SB 164, and NACE International MR0175 specifications, has an unpolished (mill) surface, and has a standard tolerance. The 400 nickel alloy includes copper for good formability, strength, and corrosion resistance to salt water and some acids. The rod has been cold drawn, a room-temperature process of pulling metal through a die to create the shape, followed by subsequent stress relief.

Nickel alloys provide good corrosion resistance, stability in heat, and strength. They may be alloyed with elements such as copper, chromium, molybdenum, or iron. Some nickel alloys provide greater resistance to corrosion from harsh substances than many stainless steels, while other nickel alloys maintain high strength, resistance to oxidation and carburization, or dimensional stability at high temperatures.

Tensile strength, used to indicate a material’s overall strength, is the peak stress it can withstand before it breaks. Wear resistance indicates the ability to prevent surface damage caused by contact with other surfaces. Hardness (commonly measured as indentation hardness) describes the material's resistance to permanent surface deformation. Formability indicates how easily the material can be permanently shaped. Weldability characterizes its ability to be welded.