ASTM B617-98(2010)

Standard Specification for Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy

ABSTRACT
This specification covers silver-copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts. The material shall be finished by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling as are required to produce the prescribed properties. Material produced under this specification shall meet the requirements for chemical composition of silver, copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, nickel, aluminum, and phosphorous. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, and hardness shall conform to the prescribed requirements. Materials shall be inspected by visual inspection, temper test, dimensional test, and spectographic or chemical analysis
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers 90 % silver-10 % copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material 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 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2010
• 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

• Replaces: ASTM B617-98(2004) - Standard Specification for Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy
• Effective Date: 01-May-2010

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:B617 −98(Reapproved2010)
Standard Specification for
1
Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B617; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pick-
1.1 This specification covers 90% silver-10% copper alloy
ling) as are required to produce the prescribed properties.
tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical
contacts.
4. Chemical Composition
1.2 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
4.1 Materialproducedunderthisspecificationshallmeetthe
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
requirements for chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard.
5. Mechanical Requirements
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to the listings of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Table 2 or Table 3.
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
5.2 All test specimens shall be full thickness or diameter
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
when practical.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product/material
as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate
5.3 Alltestsaretobeconductedatroomtemperature,about
safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of
68°F (20°C).
regulatory limitations prior to use.
6. General Requirements
2. Referenced Documents
6.1 The provisions of Specification B476 shall apply to all
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
materials produced to this specification.
B277Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact Mate-
rials
7. Inspection and Testing
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
7.1 Material furnished under this specification shall be
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
inspected by the manufacturer as detailed in the applicable
3. Manufacture
provisions of Specification B476 and as listed as follows:
7.1.1 Visual inspection at 10×.
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
7.1.2 Temper test (hardness or tension, but not both). A
thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
tensiontestisrecommendedforstripbelow0.030-in.(0.8-mm)
prescribed in this specification.
thickness and for wire of any diameter.
1
7.1.3 Dimensional tests.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.1.4 Spectrographic or chemical analysis when indicated
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
by the purchaser order.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010. Published October 2010. Originally
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as B617–98(2004).
8. Keywords
DOI: 10.1520/B0617-98R10.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
8.1 arcing contacts; coin silver alloy; compositions; electri-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
cal contacts; impurities; precious metals; silver alloy; silver
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. copper alloy
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B617−98(2010)
A
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition
Element Weight %
Silver 89.6 to 91.0
Copper 9.0 to 10.4
Zinc 0.06 max
Iron 0.05 max
Cadmium 0.05 max
Lead 0.03 max
Nickel 0.01 max
Aluminum 0.005 max
Phosphorus 0.02 max
Total others 0.06 max
A
Analysis is regularly made for the elements for which specific limits are listed. If,
however, the presence of “other” elements is suspected or indicated in the course
of routine analysis, further analysis shall be made to determine that the total of
these “other” elements and the listed impurities are not in excess of the total
impurities limit.
TABLE 2 Mechanical Properties of Sheet and Strip
Ultimate Tensile Strength, psi
Reduction inB&S Percent Re- Minimum Elon-
Hardness,
(MPa)
Temper Numbers duction (Ref- gationin2
Rockwell 30T
(Reference) erence) in., %
min max
A 0 0 36 000 47 000 20 42 to 50
(250) (320)
1
⁄2 H 2 21 47 000 57 000 4 56 to 64
(320) (390)
3
⁄4 H 3 29 53 000 63 000 2 58 to 67
(370) (430)
Hard 4 37 58 000 68 000 1
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:B617–98(Reapproved2004) Designation: B617 – 98 (Reapproved XXXX)
Standard Specification for
1
Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B617; 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
1.1 This specification covers 90 % silver-10 % copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts.
1.2
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 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.
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
3. Manufacture
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
prescribed in this specification.
3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling) as
are required to produce the prescribed properties.
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 Material produced under this specification shall meet the requirements for chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
5. Mechanical Requirements
5.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to the listings of Table 2 or Table 3.
5.2 All test specimens shall be full thickness or diameter when practical.
5.3 All tests are to be conducted at room temperature, about 68°F (20°C).
6. General Requirements
6.1 The provisions of Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced to this specification.
7. Inspection and Testing
7.1 Material furnished under this specification shall be inspected by the manufacturer as detailed in the applicable provisions
of Specification B476 and as listed as follows:
7.1.1 Visual inspection at 103.
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 May 1, 2004. Published May 2004. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as B617–98. DOI:
10.1520/B0617-98R04.
Current edition approved . Published XXXX XXXX. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as B617 – 98 (2004). DOI: 10.1520/B0617-
98R10.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B617 – 98 (Reapproved XXXX)
TABLE 2 Mechanical Properties of Sheet and Strip
Reduction inB&S Percent Re- Ultimate Tensile Strength, psi Minimum Elon-
Hardness,
Temper Numbers duction (Ref- (MPa) gationin2
Rockwell 30T
(Reference) erence) min max in., %
A 0 0 36 000 47 000 20 42 to 50
(250) (320)
1
⁄2 H 2 21 47 000 57 000 4 56 to 64
(320) (390)
3
⁄4 H 3 29 53 000 63 000 2 58 to 67
(370) (430)
Hard 4 37 58 000 68 000 1 61 to 69
(400) (470)
Spring 8 60 67 000 75 000 1 64 to 72
(460) (520)
TABLE 3 Mechanical Properties of Wire, Rod, and Tubing
Reduction inB&S Percent Re- Ultimate Tensile Strength, psi Minimum Elon-
Hardness,
Temper Numbers duction (Ref- (MPa) gationin2
Rockwell 30T
(Reference) erence) min max in., %
A 0 0 36 000 47 000 20 42 to 50
(250) (320)
1 1
⁄8 H ⁄2 11 42 000 52 000 8 49 to 57
(290) (360)
1
⁄4 H 1 21 47 000 57 000 4 56 to 64
(320) (390)
1
⁄2 H 2 37 56
...