ASTM B541-01(2018)
(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 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.
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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:B541 −01(Reapproved 2018)
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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3. Materials and Manufacture
1.1 This specification covers a gold-rich, age-hardenable 3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
alloy in rod, wire, and strip form applicable to electrical thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
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, annealing, turning, grinding, age hardening, etc.) as
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only are required to produce the prescribed properties.
and are not considered standard.
4. Chemical Composition
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the
4.1 Materialproducedunderthisspecificationshallmeetthe
test method portion only, Section 7, of this specification. This
requirements of Table 1 for chemical composition.
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. Condition
of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including
5.1 Thisspecificationcoverstheconditionsandformslisted
those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
in Table 2.
this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
6. Mechanical Properties
practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limi-
6.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to Table 3 and
tations prior to use.
Table 4 as appropriate.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
6.2 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength and
2. Referenced Documents
elongation.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6.3 Mechanical properties of flattened wire, less than 0.012
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
in. (0.30 mm) thick shall conform to 6.1 (Table 5).
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
E8/E8MTest Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
7. Test Methods
terials
7.1 TestmethodsareinaccordancewithSpecificationB476.
E384Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
7.2 All tension tests are in accordance with Test Methods
rials
E8/E8Mandtensilespecimensarefullcross-sectionsizewhen
practical.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.3 Hardness is in accordance with Test Method E384. Test
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
material0.005in.(0.13mm)inthickness(diameter)andlarger
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018. Published November 2018. Originally
using a 100-gf indenter load. Test material less than 0.005 in.
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as B541–01(2012).
DOI: 10.1520/B0541-01R18.
in thickness (diameter) using a 50-gf indenter load. Make a
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
minimum of five hardness indentions on each specimen. Make
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
all indentions so that the long axis of the Knoop indenter is
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. parallel to the rolling or drawing direction of the material.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B541−01(2018)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, Weight %
Element
Nominal Range
Gold 71.5 70.5–
...
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: B541 − 01 (Reapproved 2018)
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. 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 3. Materials and Manufacture
1.1 This specification covers a gold-rich, age-hardenable 3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
alloy in rod, wire, and strip form applicable to electrical the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
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, annealing, turning, grinding, age hardening, etc.) as
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only are required to produce the prescribed properties.
and are not considered standard.
4. Chemical Composition
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the
4.1 Material produced under this specification shall meet the
test method portion only, Section 7, of this specification. This
requirements of Table 1 for chemical composition.
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. Condition
of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including
5.1 This specification covers the conditions and forms listed
those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
in Table 2.
this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental
6. Mechanical Properties
practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limi-
6.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to Table 3 and
tations prior to use.
Table 4 as appropriate.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 6.2 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength and
2. Referenced Documents
elongation.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6.3 Mechanical properties of flattened wire, less than 0.012
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
in. (0.30 mm) thick shall conform to 6.1 (Table 5).
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
7. Test Methods
terials
7.1 Test methods are in accordance with Specification B476.
E384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
7.2 All tension tests are in accordance with Test Methods
rials
E8/E8M and tensile specimens are full cross-section size when
practical.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.3 Hardness is in accordance with Test Method E384. Test
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
material 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) in thickness (diameter) and larger
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018. Published November 2018. Originally
using a 100-gf indenter load. Test material less than 0.005 in.
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as B541 – 01 (2012).
DOI: 10.1520/B0541-01R18.
in thickness (diameter) using a 50-gf indenter load. Make a
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
minimum of five hardness indentions on each specimen. Make
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
all indentions so that the long axis of the Knoop indenter is
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. parallel to the rolling or drawing direction of the material.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B541 − 01 ( 2018)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, Weight %
Element
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.
...
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: B541 − 01 (Reapproved 2012) B541 − 01 (Reapproved 2018)
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. 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 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)(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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
E8E8/E8M 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, annealing, turning, grinding, age hardening, etc.) as are
required to produce the prescribed properties.
4. Chemical Composition
4.1 Material produced under this specification shall meet the requirements of Table 1 for chemical composition.
5. Condition
5.1 This specification covers the conditions and forms listed in Table 2.
6. Mechanical Properties
6.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to Table 3 and Table 4 as appropriate.
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, 2012Nov. 1, 2018. Published May 2012November 2018. Originally approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 20062012 as
B541 – 01 (2006).(2012). DOI: 10.1520/B0541-01R12.10.1520/B0541-01R18.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. 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
B541 − 01 ( 2018)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, Weight %
Element
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 0.7–1.3
Total base metal impurities . 0.2 max
Total platinum group metal impurities . 0.2 max
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, Weight %
Element
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 0.7–1.3
Total base metal impurities . 0.2 max
Total platinum group metal impurities . 0.2 max
TABLE 2 Conditions and Forms
Form
Process Symbol
Wire Strip Rod
Annealed A X X X
Stress relieved S-R X X
Annealed A X X X
Stress relieved S-R X X
Age hardened from solution HT-A X X X
annealed condition
Age hardened from solution annealed HT-CW X X X
and cold-worked condition
A
TABLE 3 Mechanical Properties of Wire (0.004 to 0.020-in. (0.12 to 0.5-mm) diameter)
Condition
Property
A S-R HT-A HT-CW
Tensile strength, ksi 85–110 130–170 130–165 150–200
Tensile strength, MPa 590–760 900–1170 900–1140 1030–1380
Elongation, % in 5 in. or 125 mm 20 min 5–15 7–14 2–10
B
Hardness, Knoop, HK 180–240 270–340 280–350 310–380
B
Hardness, Vickers HV 180–250 270–340 285–360 290–370
A
See 6.2.
B
See 7.3.
A
TABLE 4 Mechanical Properties of Wire (0.021
...
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