ASTM B684/B684M-22

Standard Specification for Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials

ABSTRACT
This specification covers two platinum-iridium alloys in the form of rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts. Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that the finished product (produced by cold working, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling as required) will have the properties and characteristics prescribed in this specification. The alloys shall meet the requirements of chemical composition specified for platinum, iridium, total impurities, total platinum group (palladium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and gold), total other impurities (including lead, antimony, bismuth, tin, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and iron) and other elements. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hardness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of these mechanical properties may be specified as criterion for temper designation. Annealed and work hardened wire and strip shall conform to the mechanical requirements prescribed for ultimate tensile strength, elongation, and microhardness. Knoop hardness test, tension test, and chemical analysis using spectrochemical or wet analysis method shall be performed.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers an 80 % platinum—20 % iridium alloy, an 85 % platinum—15 % iridium alloy, and a 90 % platinum—10 % iridium alloy, in the form of rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2022
• ICS: 77.120.99 - Other non-ferrous metals and their alloys
• Technical Committee: B02 - Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B02.05 - Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials and Test Methods

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:B684/B684M −22
Standard Specification for
1
Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B684/B684M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* B542 Terminology Relating to Electrical Contacts and Their
Use
1.1 This specification covers an 80 % platinum—20 %
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
iridium alloy, an 85 % platinum—15 % iridium alloy, and a
terials
90 % platinum—10 % iridium alloy, in the form of rod, wire,
E384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts.
rials
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
3. Terminology
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
3.1 For definitions of terms related to electrical contact
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
materials, refer to Terminology B542.
used independently of the other, and values from the two
systems shall not be combined.
4. General Requirements
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 The requirements of Specification B476 shall apply to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
all materials produced to this specification.
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
4.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
referenced in 4.1 appears in this specification, it contains
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
additional requirements which supplement those appearing in
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability
Specification B476.
of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
5. Ordering Information
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
5.1 Include the following information when placing orders
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
for product under this specification, as applicable:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.1.2 Grade of material (see Table 1),
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.1.3 Temper (annealed or work hardened, see Table 2 and
2. Referenced Documents Table 3),
2
5.1.4 Form (rod, wire, sheet, or strip),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1.5 Dimensions and tolerances,
B277 Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact Mate-
5.1.6 Quantity, total weight or total length or number of
rials
pieces of each size,
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
5.1.7 Heat identification or traceability details, if required,
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
5.1.8 Certification or test report, or both, if required.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
6. Materials and Manufacture
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
6.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
Current edition approved April 1, 2022. Published April 2022. Originally
the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as B684/B684M – 16.
prescribed in this specification.
DOI: 10.1520/B0684_B0684M-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
working, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling) as are
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. required to produce the prescribed properties.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B684/B684M−22
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
80Pt/20Ir 85Pt/15Ir 90Pt/10Ir
Element
Weight % Weight % Weight %
Pt balance balance balance
Ir 19.5
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B684/B684M − 16 B684/B684M − 22
Standard Specification for
1
Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B684/B684M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers an 80 % platinum—20 % iridium alloy, an 85 % platinum—15 % iridium alloy, and a 90 %
platinum—10 % iridium alloy, in the form of rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet
(SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvi-
ronmental practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B277 Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact Materials
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
B542 Terminology Relating to Electrical Contacts and Their Use
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms related to electrical contact materials, refer to Terminology B542.
4. General Requirements
4.1 The requirements of Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced to this specification.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B02.05 on
Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
Current edition approved June 1, 2016April 1, 2022. Published June 2016April 2022. Originally approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 20122016 as
B684 – 97 (2012).B684/B684M – 16. DOI: 10.1520/B0684_B0684M-16.10.1520/B0684_B0684M-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B684/B684M − 22
4.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that referenced in 4.1 appears in this specification, it contains additional
requirements which supplement those appearing in Specification B476.
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Include the following information when placing orders for product under this specification, as applicable:
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
5.1.2 Grade of material (see Table 1),
5.1.3 Temper (annealed or work hardened, see Table 2 and Table 3),
5.1.4 Form (rod, wire, sheet, or strip),
5.1.5 Dimensions and tolerances,
5.1.6 Quantity, total weight or total length or number of pieces of each size,
5.1.7 Heat identification or traceability details, if required,
5.1.8 Certification and/or Test Report, or test report, or both, if required.
6. Materials and Manufacture
6.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
prescribed in this specification.
6.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold work
...