Abstract

This specification covers wrought gold-copper alloy in the form of wire, rod, strip, and tubing to be used for electrical contacts. Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that the finished product (produced by cold working, heat treating, annealing, turning, grinding, and/or pickling as required) will have the properties and characteristics prescribed in this specification. The material shall meet the requirements of chemical composition specified for gold, copper, noble metal impurities, and other impurities. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation, microhardness (Knoop or Vickers), hardness (Rockwell or Rockwell Superficial), or a combination of these mechanical properties may be specified as the temper criterion. Annealed and hard drawn wires, strips, and tubings, within the prescribed diameter or thickness, shall conform to the specified tensile strength, elongation, and hardness. The following tests shall be performed: Knoop hardness test, tension test, chemical analysis such as spectrochemical or wet analysis, and stress corrosion crack test by immersion test, compression, and bending.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. 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 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 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 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.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials

E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

E384 Test Method for Knoop and Vickers Hardness of Materials

Keywords

coin gold; contacts; electrical contacts; gold alloy; low contact resistance; low energy contact; non arcing contact ; Electrical contact materials (gold alloy); Gold alloy--electrical contact materials; Gold metal/alloys--specifications; UNS P00901 (gold electrical contact alloy)

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 77.120.99 (Other non-ferrous metals and their alloys)

DOI: 10.1520/B0596-89R12

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM B596