ASTM B684-97(2002)

Standard Specification for Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers 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 inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The metric equivalents of inch-pound units may be approximate.
1.3 The original specification, B 684-81, covered the 85 % platinum 15 % iridium alloy. The 1997 revision of this specification added the 90 % platinum 10 % iridium alloy.
1.4 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 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: 09-Dec-1997
• 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 B684-97 - Standard Specification for Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Replaced By: ASTM B684-97(2008) - Standard Specification for Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2008

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: B 684 – 97 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Specification for
Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 684; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
1. Scope
Element 85 Pt/15 Ir 90 Pt/10 Ir
1.1 This specification covers an 85 % platinum—15 % iri-
Weight % Weight %
dium alloy, and a 90 % platinum—10 % iridium alloy, in the
form of rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical
Pt balance balance
Ir 14.50-15.50 9.50-10.50
contacts.
Total Impurities 0.2 max. 0.2 max.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Total Platinum Group (Pd, Rh, Os, Ru),Au 0.1 max. 0.1 max.
as the standard. The metric equivalents of inch-pound units Total Other Impurities (including the 0.1 max. 0.1 max.
elements below)
may be approximate.
Pb, Sb, Bi, Sn,As, Cd, Zn 0.01 max each 0.01 max each
1.3 The original specification, B 684-81, covered the 85 %
Fe 0.015 max each 0.015 max each
platinum 15 % iridium alloy. The 1997 revision of this speci- Other elements 0.02 max each 0.02 max each
fication added the 90 % platinum 10 % iridium alloy.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
working, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling) as are
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
required to produce the prescribed properties.
Material Safety Data Sheet for this product/material as pro-
4. General Requirements
vided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety and
health practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory
4.1 The provisions of Specification B 476 shall apply to all
limitations prior to use.
materials produced to this specification.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Chemical Requirements
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 Material produced under the specification shall meet the
B 277 Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact
requirements of chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
Materials
5.2 By agreement between purchaser and manufacturer,
B 476 Specification For General Requirements for Wrought
analysis may be required and limits established for elements or
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
compounds not specified in the table of chemical composition.
E8 TestMethodsforTensionTestingofMetallicMaterials
NOTE 1—Analysisisregularlymadefortheelementsforwhichspecific
E 384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Ma-
limitsarelisted.If,however,thepresenceof“other”elementsissuspected
terials
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
3. Manufacture
impurities is not in excess of the total impurities limit.
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
6. Mechanical Requirements
the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
prescribed in this specification. 6.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B2.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1997. Published October 1998. Originally
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength.
published as B 684 – 81. Last previous edition B 684 – 92.
2 6.2 The mechanical properties shall conform to those prop-
Annual Book of ASTM
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