ASTM B596-89(2017)

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 and health 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: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2017
• 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)

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 2017)
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
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
1.1 This specification covers a wrought alloy containing
gold and copper in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing for thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
prescribed in this specification.
electrical contacts.
3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
1.2 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, pickling)
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
as are required to produce the prescribed properties.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard.
4. Chemical Composition
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the
4.1 Materials produced under the specification shall meet
test method portion only, Section 7, of this standard: This
the 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 and health practices, and deter-
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations 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 material shall be free of stress corrosion (as tested)
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. in accordance with 7.3.
6. General Requirements
2. Referenced Documents
6.1 Specification B476 shall apply to all materials produced
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to this specification.
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
7. Test Methods
E8Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
7.1 Test methods shall be in accordance with Specification
E384Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
B476.
rials
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)andlargershallbetestedusinga100-gindenterload.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
A minimum of five hardness indentations shall be made on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
each specimen. The hardness value reported shall be the
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
average of the five indentations. Material less than 0.005 in. in
Current edition approved April 1, 2017. Published April 2017. Originally
thickness (or diameter) shall be tested with a 50-g indenter
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as B596–89(2012).
DOI: 10.1520/B0596-89R17.
load.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
7.1.2 All tension tests shall be in accordance with Test
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Methods E8 and test specimens shall be full cross section,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. when practical.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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B596−89(2017)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements TABLE 5 Mechanical Properties of Tubing (0.025 to 2.0 in. (0.64
to 51 mm) outside diameter)
Element Wei
...

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 2012) B596 − 89 (Reapproved 2017)
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 Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS)(SDS) 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.
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
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.
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) in accordance with 7.3.
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, 2012April 1, 2017. Published May 2012April 2017. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 20062012 as
B596 – 89 (2006).(2012). DOI: 10.1520/B0596-89R12.10.1520/B0596-89R17.
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’sstandard’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

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B596 − 89 (2017)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Element Weight, %
Gold 89.0–91.0
Copper balance 9.0–11.0
Total, noble metal impurities 0.2 max
Total, all other impurities 0.2 max
TABLE 2 Mechanical Properties of Wire (0.005 to 0.020 in. (0.13
to 0.51 mm) diameter)
Temper,
Property
Annealed Hard Drawn
Tensile strength, ksi (MPa) 75 max 90 min
(520 max) (620 min)
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, % 15 min 3 max
A
Hardness, Knoop, HK100 170 max 200 min
A
Hardness, Knoop, HK 170 max 200 m
...