ASTM B617-98(2021)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy
Standard Specification for Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy
ABSTRACT
This specification covers silver-copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts. The material shall be finished by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling as are required to produce the prescribed properties. Material produced under this specification shall meet the requirements for chemical composition of silver, copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, nickel, aluminum, and phosphorous. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, and hardness shall conform to the prescribed requirements. Materials shall be inspected by visual inspection, temper test, dimensional test, and spectographic or chemical analysis
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers 90 % silver-10 % copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material 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 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-Mar-2021
- Technical Committee
- B02 - Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
Relations
- Effective Date
- 01-Apr-2024
- Effective Date
- 01-May-2012
- Effective Date
- 01-May-2012
- Effective Date
- 01-Jun-2006
- Effective Date
- 01-Jun-2006
- Effective Date
- 10-May-2001
- Effective Date
- 15-Aug-1995
Overview
ASTM B617-98(2021) is an international standard specification developed by ASTM International for coin silver electrical contact alloy. This standard covers the requirements for 90% silver-10% copper alloy materials, including tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet, specifically for electrical contacts. These materials are produced and finished through processes such as cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling, ensuring their suitability for use in electrical applications. The specification establishes strict requirements for chemical composition, mechanical properties, inspection, and testing, ensuring the reliability and durability of electrical contact components.
Key Topics
- Material Composition: The alloy specified under ASTM B617 consists of 89.6 to 91.0% silver and 9.0 to 10.4% copper, with tightly controlled impurity limits for elements such as zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, nickel, aluminum, and phosphorus.
- Product Forms: Covered forms include tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet, providing versatile options for various electrical contact applications.
- Mechanical Properties: The standard includes defined ranges for tensile strength, hardness, and elongation, ensuring the material meets required strength and durability standards for electrical contacts.
- Manufacturing Processes: Operations such as cold working, heat treating, annealing, and grinding are specified to achieve the prescribed properties, supporting product consistency.
- Inspection and Testing: Products must undergo visual inspection, temper testing, dimensional testing, and spectrographic or chemical analysis to confirm compliance with specification requirements.
- Safety and Compliance: The standard references safety data sheets (SDS) and requires users to establish appropriate health and environmental practices when handling these materials.
Applications
The coin silver electrical contact alloy outlined in ASTM B617 is widely used in the electrical and electronics industries for:
- Electrical Contacts and Connectors: The high silver content ensures excellent electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance, making the alloy ideal for precision electrical contacts and connectors in switches, relays, and circuit breakers.
- Industrial Control Equipment: The robust mechanical properties support reliable performance in demanding industrial environments.
- Aerospace and Defense: As an ASTM-approved standard also used by U.S. Department of Defense agencies, this alloy is suitable for mission-critical electrical applications.
- Custom Electrical Assemblies: The range of forms covered-wire, rod, strip, sheet, and tubing-enables customization for specialized electrical components requiring high performance and durability.
Related Standards
For comprehensive quality assurance and best practices, the following related ASTM standards and federal specifications should also be consulted:
- ASTM B476: Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
- ASTM B277: Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact Materials
- U.S. Federal Standards:
- Fed. Std. No. 102: Preservation, Packaging, and Packing Levels
- Fed. Std. No. 123: Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)
- Military Standards:
- MIL-STD-129: Marking for Shipment and Storage
These documents provide additional requirements for marking, preparation for delivery, and quality control, ensuring full compliance with federal and military procurement needs.
Keywords: ASTM B617, coin silver alloy, silver electrical contact alloy, silver-copper alloy, electrical contacts, material specification, precious metal contacts, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, quality assurance, inspection, testing, ASTM standards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
ASTM B617-98(2021) is a technical specification published by ASTM International. Its full title is "Standard Specification for Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy". This standard covers: ABSTRACT This specification covers silver-copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts. The material shall be finished by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling as are required to produce the prescribed properties. Material produced under this specification shall meet the requirements for chemical composition of silver, copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, nickel, aluminum, and phosphorous. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, and hardness shall conform to the prescribed requirements. Materials shall be inspected by visual inspection, temper test, dimensional test, and spectographic or chemical analysis SCOPE 1.1 This specification covers 90 % silver-10 % copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material 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 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.
ABSTRACT This specification covers silver-copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts. The material shall be finished by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling as are required to produce the prescribed properties. Material produced under this specification shall meet the requirements for chemical composition of silver, copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, nickel, aluminum, and phosphorous. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, and hardness shall conform to the prescribed requirements. Materials shall be inspected by visual inspection, temper test, dimensional test, and spectographic or chemical analysis SCOPE 1.1 This specification covers 90 % silver-10 % copper alloy tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material 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 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.
ASTM B617-98(2021) is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 77.120.99 - Other non-ferrous metals and their alloys. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
ASTM B617-98(2021) has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ASTM B277-18(2024), ASTM B277-95(2012), ASTM B476-01(2012), ASTM B277-95(2006), ASTM B476-01(2006), ASTM B476-01, ASTM B277-95(2001). Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
ASTM B617-98(2021) is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
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:B617 −98(Reapproved 2021)
Standard Specification for
Coin Silver Electrical Contact Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B617; 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. Manufacture
1.1 This specification covers 90% silver-10% copper alloy 3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
tubing, rod, wire, strip, and sheet material for electrical thefinishedproductwillhavethepropertiesandcharacteristics
contacts. prescribed in this specification.
3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
1.2 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, or pick-
ling) 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 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 Materialproducedunderthisspecificationshallmeetthe
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
requirements for chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
5. Mechanical Requirements
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
5.1 Mechanical properties shall conform to the listings of
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
Table 2 or Table 3.
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability
5.2 All test specimens shall be full thickness or diameter
of regulatory limitations prior to use.
when practical.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 5.3 Alltestsaretobeconductedatroomtemperature,about
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
68°F (20°C).
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
6. General Requirements
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
6.1 The provisions of Specification B476 shall apply to all
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
materials produced to this specification.
2. Referenced Documents
7. Inspection and Testing
2.1 ASTM Standards:
7.1 Material furnished under this specification shall be
B277Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact Mate-
inspected by the manufacturer as detailed in the applicable
rials
provisions of Specification B476 and as listed as follows:
B476Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
7.1.1 Visual inspection at 10×.
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
7.1.2 Temper test (hardness or tension, but not both). A
tensiontestisrecommendedforstripbelow0.030-in.(0.8-mm)
thickness and for wire of any diameter.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
7.1.3 Dimensional tests.
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.1.4 Spectrographic or chemical analysis when indicated
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
by the purchaser order.
Current edition approved April 1, 2021. Published April 2021. Originally
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as B617–98(2016).
8. Keywords
DOI: 10.1520/B0617-98R21.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
8.1 arcing contacts; coin silver alloy; compositions; electri-
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
cal contacts; impurities; precious metals; silver alloy; silver
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. copper alloy
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B617−98(2021)
A
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition
Element Weight %
Silver 89.6 to 91.0
Copper 9.0 to 10.4
Zinc 0.06 max
Iron 0.05 max
Cadmium 0.05 max
Lead 0.03 max
Nickel 0.01 max
Aluminum 0.005 max
Phosphorus 0.02 max
Total others 0.06 max
A
Analysis is regularly made for the elements for which specific limits are listed. If,
however, the presence of “other” elements is suspected 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 im
...
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