ASTM B596-21

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 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 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 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-Oct-2021
• 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:B596 −21
Standard Specification for
1
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.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 a wrought alloy containing 3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
gold and copper in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing for thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
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 as are required to produce the prescribed properties.
and are not considered standard.
4. Chemical Composition
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the
test method portion only, Section 7, of this standard: This
4.1 Materials produced under the specification shall meet
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
the requirements of chemical composition shown in Table 1.
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including
5. Mechanical Properties
those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
5.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limi-
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
tations prior to use.
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
5.2 The material shall conform to the mechanical properties
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
shown in Table 2, Table 3, Table 4,or Table 5.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.3 The stress corrosion test in accordance with 7.3 is
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
optional upon a mutual agreement between purchaser and
supplier.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6. General Requirements
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
6.1 Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
to this specification.
E8Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
[Metric] E0008_E0008M
7. Test Methods
E384Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
rials
7.1 Test methods shall be in accordance with Specification
B476.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
7.1.1 Knoop hardness tests shall be in accordance with Test
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
Method E384. Material 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) in thickness (or
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
diameter)andlargershallbetestedusinga100-gindenterload.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published December 2021. Originally
A minimum of five hardness indentations shall be made on
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as B596–89(2017).
DOI: 10.1520/B0596-21.
each specimen. The hardness value reported shall be the
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
average of the five indentations. Material less than 0.005 in. in
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
thickness (or diameter) shall be tested with a 50-g indenter
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. load.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B596−21
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements TABLE 5 Mechanical Pr
...

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: B596 − 89 (Reapproved 2017) B596 − 21
Standard Specification for
1
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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. 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 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 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 Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this
product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental
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:
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials [Metric] E0008_E0008M
E384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
3. Materials and 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, pickling) as are
required to produce the prescribed properties.
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 April 1, 2017Nov. 1, 2021. Published April 2017December 2021. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 20122017 as
B596 – 89 (2012).(2017). DOI: 10.1520/B0596-89R17.10.1520/B0596-21.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B596 − 21
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 Materials produced under the specification shall meet the requirements of chemical composition shown in Table 1.
5. Mechanical Properties
5.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hardness (Rockwell
or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of 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.
5.2 The material shall conform to the mechanical properties shown in Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, or Table 5.
5.3 The material shall be free of stress corrosion (as tested) test in accordance with 7.3. is optional upon a mutual agreement
between purchaser and supplier.
6. General Requirements
6.1 Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced to this specification.
7. Test Methods
7.1 Test methods shall be in accordance with Specification B476.
7.1.1 Knoop hardness tests shall be in accordance with Test Method E384. Material 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) in thickness (or diameter)
and larger shall be tested using a 100-g indenter load. A minimum of five ha
...