ASTM B596-89(2006)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Gold-Copper Alloy Electrical Contact Material
Standard Specification for Gold-Copper Alloy Electrical Contact Material
ABSTRACT
This specification covers wrought gold-copper alloy in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing to be used for electrical contacts. Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that the finished product (produced by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, and/or pickling as required) will have the properties and characteristics prescribed in this specification. The material shall meet the requirements of chemical composition specified for gold, copper, noble metal impurities, and other impurities. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hardness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of these mechanical properties may be specified as the temper criterion. Annealed and hard drawn wires, strips, and tubings, within the prescribed diameter or thickness, shall conform to the specified tensile strength, elongation, and hardness. The following tests shall be performed: Knoop hardness test, tension test, chemical analysis such as spectrochemical or wet analysis, and stress corrosion crack test by immersion test, compression, and bending.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a wrought alloy containing gold and copper in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing for electrical contacts.
1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
The following precautionary statement pertains to the test method portion only, Section 7, of this standard: 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 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: B596 – 89 (Reapproved 2006)
Standard Specification for
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Gold-Copper Alloy Electrical Contact Material
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B596; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, pickling)
1.1 This specification covers a wrought alloy containing
as are required to produce the prescribed properties.
gold and copper in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing for
electrical contacts.
4. Chemical Composition
1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to
4.1 Materials produced under the specification shall meet
be regarded separately as standard. The values in parentheses
the requirements of chemical composition shown in Table 1.
are for information only.
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the
5. Mechanical Properties
test method portion only, Section 7, of this standard: This
5.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
those identified in the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
(MSDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufac-
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength.
turer, to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and
5.2 The material shall conform to the mechanical properties
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
shown in Table 2, Table 3, Table 4,or Table 5.
use.
5.3 The material shall be free of stress corrosion (as tested)
2. Referenced Documents in accordance with 7.3.
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
6. General Requirements
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
6.1 Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
to this specification.
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E384 Test Method for Knoop and Vickers Hardness of
7. Test Methods
Materials
7.1 Test methods shall be in accordance with Specification
B476.
3. Materials and Manufacture
7.1.1 Knoop hardness tests shall be in accordance with Test
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
Method E384. Material 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) in thickness (or
the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
diameter)andlargershallbetestedusinga100-gindenterload.
prescribed in this specification.
A minimum of five hardness indentations shall be made on
each specimen. The hardness value reported shall be the
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on average of the five indentations. Material less than 0.005 in. in
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
thickness (or diameter) shall be tested with a 50-g indenter
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
load.
Current edition approved June 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originally
7.1.2 All tension tests shall be in accordance with Test
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as B596 – 89 (1999).
DOI: 10.1520/B0596-89R06.
Methods E8 and test specimens shall be full cross section,
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
when practical.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
7.1.3 Alltestsshallbeconductedatroomtemperature,65to
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. 85°F (18 to 29°C).
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B596 – 89 (2006)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements TABLE 5 Mechanical Properties of Tubing (0.025 to 2.0 in. (0.64
to 51 mm) outside diameter)
Element Weight, %
Temper,
Gold 89.0–91.0
Property
Copper balance 9.0–11.0
Annealed Hard Drawn
Total, noble metal impurities 0.2 max
Tensile strength, ksi (MPa) 75 max 90 min
Total, all other impurities 0.2 max
(520 max) (620 min)
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, % 15 min 3 max
A
Hardness, Knoop, HK 100 1
...
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