Precious Metal 22K Cast
Grade
GB Au916 · ISO 9202
Cast = as cast
Condition of lost-wax cast jewelry bodies before finishing; coarse grain gives lower strength and some porosity.
Values for the Cast condition
Other 22K tempers and conditions
22K is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 22K.
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 |
CastThis page 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 Cast?
22K Cast is 22K in the Cast grade — condition of lost-wax cast jewelry bodies before finishing; coarse grain gives lower strength and some porosity. 22K Cast has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 88% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi). 22K Cast 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). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cast is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Readily welded — 82/100, better than 89% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 97/100, better than 88% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 76 GPa (11 Msi), worse than 96% of precious metal grades
- Low strength — 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), worse than 88% 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 Cast properties
Typical room-temperature values for 22K Cast; 20 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 22K reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
22K Cast 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 Cast has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 88% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 22% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
Thermal6
22K Cast is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 205 W/m·K (118.4 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 Cast conducts electricity at 45 % 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 Cast 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 Cast's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 78% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (82/100); formability very good (75/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 22K Cast
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.
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.
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) | — |
22K Cast — frequently asked
What is 22K Cast used for?
22K Cast 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 Cast?
22K Cast has a typical yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 88% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 22K Cast easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 78% 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 Cast be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (82/100). 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 Cast?
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 Cast 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 Cast?
22K Cast 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.