ASTM B684-97

Standard Specification for Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers an 85% platinum-15% iridium alloy in the form of rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The metric equivalents of inch-pound units may be approximate.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 It is the responsibility of the user to become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 22-Sep-1999
• Technical Committee: B02 - Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B02.05 - Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials and Test Methods

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM B684-97(2002) - Standard Specification for Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: B 684 – 97
Standard Specification for
Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 684; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope required to produce the prescribed properties.
1.1 This specification covers an 85 % platinum—15 % iri-
4. General Requirements
dium alloy, and a 90 % platinum—10 % iridium alloy, in the
4.1 The provisions of Specification B 476 shall apply to all
form of rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical
materials produced to this specification.
contacts.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
5. Chemical Requirements
as the standard. The metric equivalents of inch-pound units
5.1 Material produced under the specification shall meet the
may be approximate.
requirements of chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
1.3 The original specification, B 684-81, covered the 85 %
platinum 15 % iridium alloy. The 1997 revision of this speci-
fication added the 90 % platinum 10 % iridium alloy. TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Element 85 Pt/15 Ir 90 Pt/10 Ir
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Weight % Weight %
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Pt balance balance
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Ir 14.50-15.50 9.50-10.50
Total Impurities 0.2 max. 0.2 max.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Total Platinum Group (Pd, Rh, Os, Ru), Au 0.1 max. 0.1 max.
1.5 It is the responsibility of the user to become familiar
Total Other Impurities (including the 0.1 max. 0.1 max.
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
elements below)
Pb, Sb, Bi, Sn, As, Cd, Zn 0.01 max each 0.01 max each
Material Safety Data Sheet for this product/material as pro-
Fe 0.015 max each 0.015 max each
vided by the manufacturer.
Other elements 0.02 max each 0.02 max each
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.2 By agreement between purchaser and manufacturer,
B 277 Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact
analysis may be required and limits established for elements or
Materials
compounds not specified in the table of chemical composition.
B 476 Specification For General Requirements for Wrought
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
NOTE 1—Analysis is regularly made for the elements for which specific
limits are listed. If, however, the presence of “other” elements is suspected
E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
or indicated in the course of routine analysis, further analysis shall be
E 384 Test Method for Microhardness of Materials
made to determine that the total of these “other” elements and the listed
impurities is not in excess of the total impurities limit.
3. Manufacture
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
6. Mechanical Requirements
the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
6.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
prescribed in this specification.
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
working, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling) as are
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-2 on
6.2 The mechanical properties shall conform to those prop-
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B2.05 on Precious Metals.
erties listed in Table 2 and Table 3. The term“ work hardened”,
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1997. Published October 1998. Originally
as used in these tables, refers to material which has been
published as B 684 – 81. Last previous edition B 684 – 92.
2 subjected to a minimum of 30 % reduction in cross–sectional
Annu
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