ASTM B541-01(2012)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Gold Electrical Contact Alloy
Standard Specification for Gold Electrical Contact Alloy
ABSTRACT
This specification covers a gold-rich, age-hardenable alloy in rod, wire, and strip form applicable to electrical contacts. The material shall be finished by cold working, annealing, turning, grinding, and age hardening. The materials shall conform to the specified chemical composition requirements. Tensile strength, elongation, and hardness shall be determined by tension and hardness tests. Chemical analysis shall be done by spectrochemical or wet analysis methods.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a gold-rich, age-hardenable alloy in rod, wire, and strip form applicable to 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 specification. 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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Designation:B541 −01(Reapproved 2012)
Standard Specification for
Gold Electrical Contact Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B541; 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, annealing, turning, grinding, age hardening, etc.) as
1.1 This specification covers a gold-rich, age-hardenable
are required to produce the prescribed properties.
alloy in rod, wire, and strip form applicable to electrical
contacts.
4. Chemical Composition
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
4.1 Materialproducedunderthisspecificationshallmeetthe
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
requirements of Table 1 for chemical composition.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard. 5. Condition
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the 5.1 Thisspecificationcoverstheconditionsandformslisted
test method portion only, Section 7, of this specification. This in Table 2.
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
6. Mechanical Properties
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including 6.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to Table 3 and
those identified in the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet Table 4 as appropriate.
(MSDS) for this product/material as provided by the
6.2 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety and health
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limi-
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
tations prior to use.
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
2. Referenced Documents
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength and
elongation.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
6.3 Mechanical properties of flattened wire, less than 0.012
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
in. (0.30 mm) thick shall conform to 6.1 (Table 5).
E8Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E384Test Method for Knoop and Vickers Hardness of 7. Test Methods
Materials
7.1 TestmethodsareinaccordancewithSpecificationB476.
7.2 AlltensiontestsareinaccordancewithTestMethodsE8
3. Materials and Manufacture
and tensile specimens are full cross-section size when practi-
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
cal.
thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
7.3 Hardness is in accordance with Test Method E384. Test
prescribed in this specification.
material0.005in.(0.13mm)inthickness(diameter)andlarger
using a 100-gf indenter load. Test material less than 0.005 in.
in thickness (diameter) using a 50-gf indenter load. Make a
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
minimum of five hardness indentions on each specimen. Make
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
all indentions so that the long axis of the Knoop indenter is
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
Current edition approved May 1, 2012. Published May 2012. Originally parallel to the rolling or drawing direction of the material.
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as B541–01(2006).
7.4 Perform chemical analysis by spectrochemical or wet
DOI: 10.1520/B0541-01R12.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or analysis methods.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
7.5 Conduct all tests at room temperature (65 to 85°F) (18
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. to 29°C).
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B541−01(2012)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Element Composition, Weight %
Nominal Range
Gold 71.5 70.5–72.5
Platinum 8.5 8.0–9.0
Silver 4.5 4.0–5.0
Copper 14.5 13.5–15.5
Zinc 1.0 0
...
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