ASTM B596-89(1999)

Standard Specification for Gold-Copper Alloy Electrical Contact Material

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 either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
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 establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-1999
• 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

• Replaced By: ASTM B596-89(2006) - Standard Specification for Gold-Copper Alloy Electrical Contact Material
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2006

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 596 – 89 (Reapproved 1999)
Standard Specification for
Gold-Copper Alloy Electrical Contact Material
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 596; 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.
1. Scope 4. Chemical Composition
1.1 This specification covers a wrought alloy containing 4.1 Materials produced under the specification shall meet
gold and copper in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing for the requirements of chemical composition shown in Table 1.
electrical contacts.
5. Mechanical Properties
1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to
be regarded separately as standard. The values in parentheses 5.1 The contract or order may specify ultimate tensile
strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hard-
are for information only.
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains to the ness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of
these mechanical properties as temper criterion. If the contract
test method portion only, Section 7, of this standard: This
standarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns, or order does not specify a temper criterion, then the criterion
for temper designation will be ultimate tensile strength.
ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuser
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health 5.2 The material shall conform to the mechanical properties
shown in Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, or Table 5.
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
tions prior to use. 5.3 The material shall be free of stress corrosion (as tested)
in accordance with 7.3.
1.4 It is the responsibility of the user to become familiar
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
6. General Requirements
Material Safety Data Sheet for this product/material as pro-
6.1 SpecificationB 476shallapplytoallmaterialsproduced
duced by the manufacturer.
to this specification.
2. Referenced Documents
7. Test Methods
2.1 ASTM Standards:
7.1 Test methods shall be in accordance with Specification
B 476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
B 476.
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
7.1.1 Knoop hardness tests shall be in accordance with Test
E 8 Test Methods of Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
Method E 384. Material 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) in thickness (or
E 384 Test Method for Microhardness of Materials
diameter)andlargershallbetestedusinga100-gindenterload.
3. Materials and Manufacture
A minimum of five hardness indentations shall be made on
each specimen. The hardness value reported shall be the
3.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
the finished product will have the properties and characteristics average of the five indentations. Material less than 0.005 in. in
thickness (or diameter) shall be tested with a 50-g indenter
prescribed in this specification.
3.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold load.
7.1.2 All tension tests shall be in accordance with Method
working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, pickling)
as are required to produce the prescribed properties. E 8 and test specimens shall be full cross section, when
practical.
7.1.3 All tests shall be conducted at room temperature, 65 to
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-2 on
85°F (18 to 29°C).
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.2 Chemical analysis shall be performed by spectrochemi-
B02.09 on Electrical Contact Materials.
Current edition approved Sept. 29, 1989. Published November 1989. Originally
cal or wet analysis methods. Fire assay is an acceptable
published as B 596 – 74. Last previous edition B 596 – 84.
alternative method for gold analysis.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.04.
3 7.3 The stress corrosion test shall be performed as follows:
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
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B 596 – 89 (1999)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requi
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