The wire which is used to convert electrical heater into heat energy in any heating devices is called heating element. Nichrome wire is used as heating element in electric heater.
Nichrome: Most resistance wire heating elements use nichrome 80/20 (80% Nickel, 20% Chromium) wire, ribbon, or strip. Nichrome 80/20 is an ideal material, because it has relatively high resistance and forms an adherent layer of chromium oxide when it is heated for the first time.