Precious Metal 60Pd-40Ag Spring
Heat-treated state
Spring = spring hard
Highest strength and elastic limit; for self-loading spring contacts, connector fingers and fine spring wire, with essentially no bend formability.
Values for the Spring condition
Other 60Pd-40Ag tempers and conditions
60Pd-40Ag is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 60Pd-40Ag.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault fully softened strip/wire | Choose for deep drawing, rivet heading and cladding where maximum ductility is needed; contact face work-hardens in service. | 180 | 400 | 30 | 85 HV | 4.1 % IACS |
1/8 Hard | Pick when annealed material is too soft to handle in progressive dies but severe forming is still required. | 320 | 470 | 18 | 110 HV | 4.1 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Balanced temper for stamped contact blanks that still need moderate bending. | 400 | 520 | 12 | 125 HV | 4 % IACS |
Half hard | Standard temper for flat spring contacts and blades needing stiffness with limited forming. | 540 | 620 | 6 | 150 HV | 4 % IACS |
Full hard | Use for high-hardness sliding contacts, wipers and brushes where wear resistance dominates. | 700 | 750 | 2.5 | 180 HV | 3.9 % IACS |
SpringThis page Spring hard | Highest strength and elastic limit; for self-loading spring contacts, connector fingers and fine spring wire, with essentially no bend formability. | 760 | 810 | 1.5 | 195 HV | 3.9 % IACS |
What is 60Pd-40Ag Spring?
60Pd-40Ag Spring is 60Pd-40Ag heat treated to Spring — highest strength and elastic limit; for self-loading spring contacts, connector fingers and fine spring wire, with essentially no bend formability. 60Pd-40Ag Spring has a yield strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) and a tensile strength of 810 MPa (117 ksi) — stronger than 100% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 118 GPa (17.1 Msi). 60Pd-40Ag Spring has a density of 11.36 g/cm³ (0.41 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Spring is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 760 MPa (110 ksi), better than 100% of precious metal grades
- Stiff — 118 GPa (17.1 Msi), better than 79% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 3.9 % IACS, worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 1.5%, worse than 99% of precious metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 25/100, worse than 95% of precious metal grades
60Pd-40Ag Spring properties
Typical room-temperature values for 60Pd-40Ag Spring; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 60Pd-40Ag reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
60Pd-40Ag Spring has a density of 11.36 g/cm³ (0.41 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,290°C (2,354 °F).
Mechanical12
60Pd-40Ag Spring has a yield strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) and a tensile strength of 810 MPa (117 ksi) — stronger than 100% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 118 GPa (17.1 Msi).
Thermal6
60Pd-40Ag Spring is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 14.5 µm/m·K (8.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
60Pd-40Ag Spring conducts electricity at 3.9 % IACS, worse than 100% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 73% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 60Pd-40Ag Spring takes about 44,000 MJ of energy and emits 2,400 kg of CO₂ — more than 61% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
60Pd-40Ag Spring's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 78% of precious metal grades); weldability good (60/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 60Pd-40Ag Spring
Is 60Pd-40Ag easy to machine?
Soft and gummy in the annealed state — use sharp, highly polished carbide tools, high speed, light feed and continuous chip control; collect all swarf for refining.
Can 60Pd-40Ag be welded?
Readily resistance- and laser-welded to spring bases (Cu alloys, Ni, steel); commonly supplied as clad or brazed contact tips rather than fusion-welded structures.
Can 60Pd-40Ag be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability when annealed (deep drawing, rivet heading, fine wire drawing); intermediate anneals near 700–850 °C in clean or slightly reducing atmosphere restore ductility.
What surface finishes work on 60Pd-40Ag?
Not anodizable; polished to a bright noble surface or given a thin gold/rhodium flash for lowest and most stable contact resistance.
60Pd-40Ag 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pdpalladium content per contact-alloy trade spec | 59.5 – 60.5 | 60 |
| Curesidual | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Feresidual | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Pbresidual | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Other (total)total impurities | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Agbalance silver | ≥ 39.5 (balance) | — |
60Pd-40Ag Spring — frequently asked
What is 60Pd-40Ag Spring used for?
60Pd-40Ag Spring is typically used for telecom relay contacts, low-current control switches and instrument relays. In short: tarnish-resistant contact alloy; stable low-current resistance; low conductivity, high cost.
What is the yield strength of 60Pd-40Ag Spring?
60Pd-40Ag Spring has a typical yield strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) and a tensile strength of 810 MPa (117 ksi) — stronger than 100% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 60Pd-40Ag Spring easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 78% of precious metal grades). Soft and gummy in the annealed state — use sharp, highly polished carbide tools, high speed, light feed and continuous chip control; collect all swarf for refining.
Can 60Pd-40Ag Spring be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Readily resistance- and laser-welded to spring bases (Cu alloys, Ni, steel); commonly supplied as clad or brazed contact tips rather than fusion-welded structures.
What surface finishes work on 60Pd-40Ag Spring?
Not anodizable; polished to a bright noble surface or given a thin gold/rhodium flash for lowest and most stable contact resistance.
Can 60Pd-40Ag Spring be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability when annealed (deep drawing, rivet heading, fine wire drawing); intermediate anneals near 700–850 °C in clean or slightly reducing atmosphere restore ductility.
What is the maximum service temperature of 60Pd-40Ag Spring?
60Pd-40Ag Spring is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 60Pd-40Ag Annealed and 60Pd-40Ag Spring?
Annealed is the default condition — choose for deep drawing, rivet heading and cladding where maximum ductility is needed; contact face work-hardens in service. Spring: highest strength and elastic limit; for self-loading spring contacts, connector fingers and fine spring wire, with essentially no bend formability. Yield strength is 180 MPa in Annealed versus 760 MPa in Spring.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (precious metals & electrical contacts) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 3: Alloy Phase Diagrams (Ag-Pd system) — ASM International (1992)
- Palladium-silver electrical contact alloy strip and wire data — Precious-metal contact fabricators (Deringer-Ney / Heraeus type data) (2022)
- Life-cycle inventories of metals (CED and GWP for Pd and Ag) — Nuss & Eckelman, PLoS ONE (2014)
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.