ASTM B1002-16(2020)

Standard Specification for Refined Indium

ABSTRACT
This specification covers requirements for refined indium as ingot in six grades, namely: Grade 99.9 or 3N grade (indium with a purity of 99.90%); Grade 99.99 or 4N grade (indium with a purity of 99.99%); Grade 99.995 or 4N5 grade (indium with a purity of 99.995%); Grade 99.999 or 5N grade (indium with a purity of 99.999%); Grade 99.9999 or 6N grade (indium with a purity of 99.9999%); and Grade 99.99995 or 6N5 grade (indium with a purity of 99.99995%). Indium metal from ingot can be fabricated into shot, spheres, wire, sheet, foil, tubing, and other customized fabrications with purities up to and including Grade 99.999. Grades 99.9999 and 99.99995 are available in ingot form only.
This specification specifies the requirements for the manufacturing process; sampling; product marking; and maximum total metallic impurities for indium grades.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers refined indium as ingot in six grades as follows:  
1.1.1 Grade 99.9—Indium having a purity of 99.90 %, also known as 3N grade,  
1.1.2 Grade 99.99—Indium having a purity of 99.99 %, also known as 4N grade,  
1.1.3 Grade 99.995—Indium having a purity of 99.995 %, also known as 4N5 grade,  
1.1.4 Grade 99.999—Indium having a purity of 99.999 %, also known as 5N grade,  
1.1.5 Grade 99.9999—Indium having a purity of 99.9999 %, also known as 6N grade, and  
1.1.6 Grade 99.99995—Indium having a purity of 99.99995 %, also known as 6N5 grade.  
1.2 Indium metal from ingot can be fabricated into shot, spheres, wire, sheet, foil, tubing, and other customized fabrications with purities up to and including Grade 99.999. Grades 99.9999 and 99.99995 are available in ingot form only.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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: 30-Sep-2020
• 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

• Refers: ASTM E29-08 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E29-06b - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2006
• Refers: ASTM E29-06a - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2006
• Refers: ASTM E29-06 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-May-2006
• Refers: ASTM E29-04 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2004
• Refers: ASTM E29-02e1 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002
• Refers: ASTM E29-93a(1999) - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 10-May-1999

Overview

ASTM B1002-16(2020), Standard Specification for Refined Indium, sets forth requirements for refined indium metal in ingot form, classified into six distinct purity grades. Developed by ASTM International, this standard supports industries that demand high-purity indium, ensuring consistent quality through strict impurity limits and standardized testing. Indium produced under this specification is widely used in electronics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

This specification details the manufacturing processes, chemical composition limits, sampling protocols, and product marking to guarantee the quality and traceability of refined indium. The standard aligns with internationally recognized principles and promotes best practices in nonferrous metals and alloys.

Key Topics

• Indium Purity Grades:
  The specification defines six grades of indium based on purity, each with maximum allowable total metallic impurities:

  • 3N (99.9%)
  • 4N (99.99%)
  • 4N5 (99.995%)
  • 5N (99.999%)
  • 6N (99.9999%)
  • 6N5 (99.99995%)

• Forms of Indium:

  • Ingot: All grades are available as ingots.
  • Fabricated Forms: Up to Grade 5N (99.999%) can be processed into shot, spheres, wire, sheet, foil, tubing, and customized products. Grades 6N and 6N5 are available in ingot form only.

• Manufacturing & Sampling:

  • Manufacturing is valid by any refining method that meets the specified chemical requirements.
  • Rigorous, agreed-upon sampling procedures ensure reliable testing and accurate representation of product batches.

• Chemical Composition:

  • Strict limits on metallic impurities such as bismuth, cadmium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, tin, and thallium.
  • Analysis must be performed using standard or mutually agreed laboratory methods for verification.

• Product Marking and Traceability:

  • Each shipment must be clearly labeled with indium grade, lot number, and weight to ensure complete traceability.

Applications

Refined indium covered by ASTM B1002-16(2020) is essential for sectors requiring consistent, high-purity material performance, including:

• Electronics Manufacturing: Indium’s electrical conductivity makes it crucial for semiconductors, transistors, and thin-film coatings.
• Solder and Alloy Production: High-purity indium ensures the reliability of solders used in electronics, especially where low melting points are needed.
• Displays and Optoelectronics: Used in indium tin oxide (ITO) for touch screens, LCD panels, and photovoltaic applications.
• Research and Development: Laboratories rely on ultra-high purity grades for experimental accuracy and advanced materials science projects.

The specification’s clear guidelines also support international trade by ensuring uniformity in product purity and testing methods.

Related Standards

For comprehensive material specification and compatibility, the following standards are often referenced in conjunction with ASTM B1002-16(2020):

• ASTM E29 – Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Other ASTM B02 Series Standards – Covering nonferrous metals and electrical contact materials
• International Guidelines – Such as those from the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO TBT) Committee

These standards help ensure quality management and global compliance for refined indium and related nonferrous metal products.

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Key SEO terms: ASTM B1002-16(2020), refined indium specification, indium purity grades, indium ingot standard, high-purity indium, ASTM indium standard, indium applications, metallic impurities indium, nonferrous metals standards, ASTM International.

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: B1002 −16 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Specification for
Refined Indium
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B1002; 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.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification covers refined indium as ingot in six 2.1 ASTM Standards:
grades as follows: E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
1.1.1 Grade 99.9—Indium having a purity of 99.90 %, also Determine Conformance with Specifications
known as 3N grade,
3. Manufacture
1.1.2 Grade 99.99—Indiumhavingapurityof99.99 %,also
known as 4N grade, 3.1 The material may be produced by any refining process
1.1.3 Grade 99.995—Indium having a purity of 99.995 %,
that yields a product capable of meeting the chemical require-
also known as 4N5 grade, ments of this specification. The purchaser, upon request, shall
1.1.4 Grade 99.999—Indium having a purity of 99.999 %,
be informed of the refining process used.
also known as 5N grade,
4. Chemical Requirements
1.1.5 Grade 99.9999—Indium having a purity of
99.9999 %, also known as 6N grade, and
4.1 The material should conform to the requirements for
1.1.6 Grade 99.99995—Indium having a purity of
chemical composition as prescribed in Table 1.
99.99995 %, also known as 6N5 grade.
4.2 Analysis shall be made using the manufacturer’s stan-
1.2 Indium metal from ingot can be fabricated into shot,
dard methods. In the event of disagreement as to the chemical
spheres, wire, sheet, foil, tubing, and other customized fabri-
composition of the metal, methods of chemical analysis for
cations with purities up to and including Grade 99.999. Grades
reference purposes shall be determined by a mutually accept-
99.9999 and 99.99995 are available in ingot form only.
able laboratory.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
5. Sampling
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
5.1 The value of this material is such that special attention
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
must be paid to sampling procedures. The purchaser and
and are not considered standard.
manufacturer shall agree upon sampling procedures used.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.2 Lot Size—Sampling lots shall consist of the following:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.2.1 Ingot—A single refining lot and
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
5.2.2 Other Fabricated Forms—A single refining lot.
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
6. Rejection and Rehearing
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
6.1 Material that fails to conform to the requirements of this
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability
of regulatory limitations prior to use. specification may be rejected. Rejection should be reported to
the producer or supplier promptly and in writing. In case of
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- dissatisfaction with the results of the test, the producer or
supplier may make claim for a rehearing.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
6.2 Investigation of Claims—In a question of chemical
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
composition, a new sample shall be drawn by representatives
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
of both parties in accordance with Section 5. The properly
mixed and quartered sample shall be separated into three parts,
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. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published October 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved
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