Precious Metal 22K
GB Au916 · ISO 9202
22K (Au916) is a 91.6 % gold alloy, slightly hardened by its small silver/copper addition but still a soft, highly ductile metal at 75 MPa yield, 220 MPa tensile and 35 % elongation.
Reference datasheet — 22K is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the ANN condition
22K tempers and conditions
22K is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Default mill condition for hand fabrication, bending, chain making and stone setting. | 75 | 220 | 35 | 52 HB | 46 % IACS |
As cast | Condition of lost-wax cast jewelry bodies before finishing; coarse grain gives lower strength and some porosity. | 80 | 200 | 22 | 55 HB | 45 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Slight stiffening for sheet blanks that must hold shape yet still be formed by hand. | 180 | 275 | 18 | 76 HB | 45 % IACS |
Grain-refined / micro-alloyed 916 hard gold | Choose for lightweight hollow and stamped 916 jewelry where roughly double the annealed hardness is needed without lowering karatage. | 180 | 300 | 15 | 100 HB | 42 % IACS |
Half hard | Standard condition for bangles, tube stock and machined components needing better dent resistance. | 250 | 320 | 8 | 95 HB | 44 % IACS |
Full hard | Maximum strength condition for fine drawn wire, chain links and springy clasps; must be annealed before heavy forming. | 320 | 380 | 4 | 114 HB | 43 % IACS |
What is 22K?
22K (Au916) is a 91.6 % gold alloy, slightly hardened by its small silver/copper addition but still a soft, highly ductile metal at 75 MPa yield, 220 MPa tensile and 35 % elongation. It is chosen where high gold content must be visible and workable, and it is supplied as cast blanks, sheet, foil, tube and fine drawn wire for the South Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry markets. Electrical conductivity drops to 46 % IACS versus pure gold, and the alloy still marks easily; 18K is the usual step up when scratch and wear resistance matter. 22K has a density of 17.8 g/cm³ (0.643 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of precious metal grades. It melts at 940°C (1,724 °F). 22K has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) — weaker than 89% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi).
What is 22K used for?
- traditional jewelry
- bangles
- coins
- religious ornaments
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 96/100, better than 95% of precious metal grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 93% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 97/100, better than 88% of precious metal grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 35%, better than 83% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 78 GPa (11.3 Msi), worse than 90% of precious metal grades
- Low strength — 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), worse than 89% of precious metal grades
- High embodied carbon — 14,000 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 88% of precious metal grades
- Heavy — 17.8 g/cm³ (0.643 lb/in³), worse than 87% of precious metal grades
22K properties
Typical room-temperature values for 22K-ANN; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
22K has a density of 17.8 g/cm³ (0.643 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of precious metal grades. It melts at 940°C (1,724 °F).
Mechanical12
22K has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) — weaker than 89% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi).
Thermal6
22K is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 210 W/m·K (121.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 70% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 14.6 µm/m·K (8.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
22K conducts electricity at 46 % IACS, better than 69% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (97/100), better than 88% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 22K takes about 200,000 MJ of energy and emits 14,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 85% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
22K's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 74% of precious metal grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability excellent (96/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the precious metal family
Yield strength against density for every precious metal grade FabDigit runs. 22K is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 22K
Is 22K easy to machine?
Gummy and smearing — use razor-sharp carbide or diamond tools, high speed, light feed, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 22K be welded?
Excellent with laser/PUK welding and oxy-hydrogen torch; use matched 22K karat solders (easy/medium/hard) and borax-type flux, avoid Cd-bearing filler.
Can 22K be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability — rolls to foil and draws to fine wire; interstage anneal at 600–700 °C with rapid quench every 50–60% reduction.
22K chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Au916‰ minimum fineness per ISO 9202 / GB 11887 | 91.6 – 92.5 | 91.7 |
| Agraises ductility, shifts colour greener | 2 – 6 | 5 |
| Zndeoxidiser/fluidity aid in casting alloys | 0 – 1 | 0.4 |
| Ti+Ir+Ru (grain refiner)only in hard/grain-refined 916 variants | 0 – 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Cubalance of alloying addition; deepens the yellow-red colour and hardens | ≥ 1.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on 22K?
Polishes to a deep-yellow mirror easily but is soft and scratch-prone; depletion gilding/acid bombing brightens cast surfaces, rhodium or hard-gold plating adds wear resistance.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal 22K in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 9202
- GB (China)
- Au916
How much does 22K cost?
22K is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
22K — frequently asked
What is 22K used for?
22K is typically used for traditional jewelry, bangles, coins and religious ornaments. In short: high gold content, workable; softer than 18K; fine-wire drawing grade.
What is the yield strength of 22K?
22K has a typical yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) — weaker than 89% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 22K easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 74% of precious metal grades). Gummy and smearing — use razor-sharp carbide or diamond tools, high speed, light feed, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 22K be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Excellent with laser/PUK welding and oxy-hydrogen torch; use matched 22K karat solders (easy/medium/hard) and borax-type flux, avoid Cd-bearing filler.
What surface finishes work on 22K?
Polishes to a deep-yellow mirror easily but is soft and scratch-prone; depletion gilding/acid bombing brightens cast surfaces, rhodium or hard-gold plating adds wear resistance.
Can 22K be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability — rolls to foil and draws to fine wire; interstage anneal at 600–700 °C with rapid quench every 50–60% reduction.
What is the maximum service temperature of 22K?
22K is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 22K-ANN and 22K-H04?
ANN is the default condition — default mill condition for hand fabrication, bending, chain making and stone setting. H04: maximum strength condition for fine drawn wire, chain links and springy clasps; must be annealed before heavy forming. Yield strength is 75 MPa in ANN versus 320 MPa in H04.
How much does 22K cost?
22K is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ISO 9202 — Jewellery: Fineness of precious metal alloys — ISO (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials (Noble Metals) — ASM International (2005)
- Karat gold jewelry alloy datasheets (sheet/wire/casting grain) — Precious-metal refiners (2023)
- Gold mining life-cycle inventory summaries — World Gold Council (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.