ASTM B563-01(2022)

Standard Specification for Palladium-Silver-Copper Electrical Contact Alloy

ABSTRACT
This specification covers an alloy containing palladium, silver, copper, platinum, and nickel in the form of wire, rod, and strip for electrical contacts. The materials shall be processed by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, and pickling. The material shall conform to the required chemical composition of palladium, silver, copper, platinum, and nickel. The alloys shall conform to the required mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, Knoop hardness, and Vickers hardness.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers an alloy containing palladium, silver, copper, platinum, and nickel in the form of wire, rod, and strip for electrical contacts.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the test method portion only, Section 7, of this specification: 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

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-24 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2024
• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-16 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2016
• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-15 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2015
• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-13 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013
• Refers: ASTM B476-01(2012) - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2012
• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-11 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2011
• Refers: ASTM E384-10e1 - Standard Test Method for Knoop and Vickers Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010
• Refers: ASTM E384-10 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010
• Refers: ASTM E384-09 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Refers: ASTM E384-08ae1 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2008
• Refers: ASTM E384-08a - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2008
• Refers: ASTM E384-08 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2008
• Refers: ASTM E384-07a - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2007
• Refers: ASTM E384-07 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2007
• Refers: ASTM E384-06 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2006

Overview

ASTM B563-01(2022) is the internationally recognized standard specification for palladium-silver-copper electrical contact alloy. Developed by ASTM International, this standard outlines the requirements for an alloy containing palladium, silver, copper, platinum, and nickel in the forms of wire, rod, and strip, primarily used for electrical contacts. The specification establishes key chemical compositions, mechanical and physical properties, and manufacturing processes to ensure reliable performance in electrical applications. This document supports manufacturers, designers, and users in meeting stringent quality and functional requirements for precious metal contact materials in modern electrical systems.

Key Topics

• Material Composition: The alloy covered by ASTM B563-01(2022) must consist of carefully controlled amounts of palladium, silver, copper, platinum, and nickel. Chemical purity is essential, with strict limits on both noble and base metal impurities to guarantee optimal electrical and mechanical properties.

• Forms and Processing: Supplied as wire, rod, and strip, the material is processed through methods such as cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, and pickling. Each processing step contributes to the development of the desired combination of strength, hardness, and ductility.

• Mechanical Properties: The standard outlines requirements for tensile strength, elongation, Knoop hardness, and Vickers hardness. These properties are critical for the durability and wear resistance of electrical contacts in demanding environments.

• Inspection and Testing: Manufacturers must perform comprehensive product evaluation including visual inspection (at 10x magnification), tension and hardness testing for temper verification, dimensional checks, and chemical analysis. Test methods referenced include well-established ASTM procedures for mechanical and microhardness testing.

• International Compliance: This specification conforms to principles developed under WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) to support global interoperability and minimize trade restrictions.

Applications

Palladium-silver-copper alloys produced per ASTM B563-01(2022) are essential in industries where reliable electrical contacts are critical, including:

• Switchgear and Relays: Used in the fabrication of contact components for high-precision, low-resistance electrical connections.
• Connectors and Terminals: Employed in electronic and electrical connectors requiring high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and durability.
• Automotive Electronics: Utilized in vehicle control systems, sensors, and modules with demanding mechanical and electrical performance.
• Aerospace and Defense: Adopted for use in mission-critical communication and control equipment, thanks to stable properties under varying temperatures and stresses.
• Instrumentation and Measurement Devices: Suitable for high-accuracy, long-lived contact elements in scientific and industrial instruments.

The alloy’s combination of electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and wear resistance makes it invaluable in environments where consistent and reliable performance is vital.

Related Standards

For comprehensive procurement and application, users should consider ASTM B563-01(2022) alongside the following key standards:

• ASTM B476 - Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
• ASTM E8/E8M - Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• ASTM E384 - Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials

Adherence to these standards ensures full compliance with industry best practices for material selection, testing, and quality control of precious metal electrical contact alloys.

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By referencing ASTM B563-01(2022) in product design and manufacturing, organizations can ensure the highest performance and reliability in electrical contact applications, bolstered by globally recognized standardization and quality verification 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:B563 −01 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Specification for
Palladium-Silver-Copper Electrical Contact Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B563; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 3. Materials and Manufacture
1.1 This specification covers an alloy containing palladium, 3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
silver, copper, platinum, and nickel in the form of wire, rod, thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
and strip for electrical contacts. prescribed in this specification.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, pickling)
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are required to produce the prescribed properties.
and are not considered standard.
4. Chemical Composition
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the
4.1 Materialproducedunderthisspecificationshallmeetthe
test method portion only, Section 7, of this specification: This
requirements of chemical composition shown in Table 1.
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
5. Mechanical Properties
of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including
5.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limi-
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
tations prior to use.
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength and
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
elongation.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
5.2 The material shall conform to the mechanical properties
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
shown in Table 2, Table 3,or Table 4.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
6. General Requirements
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6.1 Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced
2. Referenced Documents
to this specification.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
7. Test Methods
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
7.1 TestmethodsareinaccordancewithSpecificationB476.
E8/E8MTest Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
7.2 All tension tests are in accordance with Test Methods
terials
E8/E8Mandtensilespecimensarefullcross-sectionsizewhen
E384Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
practical. Elongation measurements should be based ona2in.
rials
(50 mm) gauge length.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
7.3 Hardness is in accordance with Test Method E384. Test
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
material0.005in.(0.13mm)inthickness(diameter)andlarger
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
using a 100 g indenter load.Test material less than 0.005 in. in
Current edition approved April 1, 2022. Published April 2022. Originally
thickness (diameter) using a 50 g indenter load. Make a
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as B563–01(2017).
DOI: 10.1520/B0563-01R22.
minimum of five hardness indentations on each specimen.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Make all indentations so that the long axis of the Knoop
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
indenter is parallel to the rolling or drawing direction of the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. material.
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