Precious Metal 80Ag-20CdO
ASTM B268
80Ag-20CdO is a silver–cadmium oxide composite to ASTM B268 whose high 20% CdO loading gives strong arc-quenching and anti-welding behaviour for heavy-duty switching.
Reference datasheet — 80Ag-20CdO 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 A condition
80Ag-20CdO tempers and conditions
80Ag-20CdO is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Powder-metallurgical | Preferred for thick or large-section contacts where uniform CdO distribution through the full depth is required. | 125 | 260 | 14 | 68 HB | 70 % IACS |
ADefault Solution annealed | Default stock condition for cold-headed rivets, deep-drawn buttons and contacts brazed onto carriers. | 135 | 265 | 15 | 66 HB | 73 % IACS |
Internally oxidized | Use where the finest, gradient CdO dispersion and lowest contact resistance are wanted on small/medium contactor tips. | 150 | 285 | 10 | 75 HB | 74 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Pick when stamped contacts need extra stiffness and burr-free blanking but still some forming reserve. | 215 | 300 | 8 | 80 HB | 71 % IACS |
Half hard | Middle-ground strip temper for progressive-die contacts that also carry mild spring load. | 255 | 325 | 5 | 90 HB | 70 % IACS |
Hardened | Choose for maximum mechanical wear and deformation resistance on blade/knife contacts and thin stamped tips. | 300 | 355 | 3 | 102 HB | 69 % IACS |
What is 80Ag-20CdO?
80Ag-20CdO is a silver–cadmium oxide composite to ASTM B268 whose high 20% CdO loading gives strong arc-quenching and anti-welding behaviour for heavy-duty switching. It is the hardest and strongest grade in the Ag-CdO group (135 MPa yield, 265 MPa tensile, 66 HB, 85 GPa modulus) and is supplied internally oxidized (IO) or powder-metallurgy (PM) as strip, wire and contact tips in A through H tempers. Conductivity is 73% IACS with 305 W/m·K thermal conductivity and a 250 °C service limit; cadmium content brings handling and regulatory restrictions, so Ag-Ni or Ag-SnO2 grades are the usual cadmium-free substitutes. 80Ag-20CdO has a density of 9.9 g/cm³ (0.358 lb/in³), lighter than 70% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F). 80Ag-20CdO has a yield strength of 135 MPa (19.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) — weaker than 69% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
What is 80Ag-20CdO used for?
- contactor contacts
- circuit breaker contacts
- motor starter contacts
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 73 % IACS, better than 77% of precious metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 305 W/m·K (176.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 15%, worse than 86% of precious metal grades
- Hard to polish — 70/100, worse than 76% of precious metal grades
80Ag-20CdO properties
Typical room-temperature values for 80Ag-20CdO-A; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
80Ag-20CdO has a density of 9.9 g/cm³ (0.358 lb/in³), lighter than 70% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F).
Mechanical11
80Ag-20CdO has a yield strength of 135 MPa (19.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) — weaker than 69% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
Thermal6
80Ag-20CdO is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 305 W/m·K (176.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 18 µm/m·K (10 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
80Ag-20CdO conducts electricity at 73 % IACS, better than 77% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 61% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of 80Ag-20CdO takes about 1,450 MJ of energy and emits 130 kg of CO₂ — less than 54% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
80Ag-20CdO's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability very good (78/100).
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. 80Ag-20CdO is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 80Ag-20CdO
Is 80Ag-20CdO easy to machine?
Turns and blanks readily but the silver matrix smears — use sharp carbide, high speed, light feed and generous coolant; capture all CdO-bearing swarf as toxic waste.
Can 80Ag-20CdO be welded?
Not fusion welded as a joint material; contacts are resistance-welded or induction/torch brazed to Cu or CuZn carriers, ideally through a fine-silver or AgCu backing layer.
Can 80Ag-20CdO be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied soft it cold-heads, deep-draws and stamps well; work-hardened tempers need an intermediate anneal at 500–600 °C in a neutral atmosphere to avoid cracking.
80Ag-20CdO 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CdOcadmium oxide dispersoid; equivalent to ≈17.5 % Cd + 2.5 % O | 18.5 – 21.5 | 20 |
| Other (total impurities)Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni etc. per ASTM B692 | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Agsilver matrix, 99.95 % min purity before oxidation | ≥ 78.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on 80Ag-20CdO?
No anodizing; contact faces are usually left as-machined or lightly polished, backs may be Ag- or AgCu-clad for brazing, and sulfur-bearing packaging/rubbers must be avoided to prevent tarnish.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal 80Ag-20CdO in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B268
- Also called
- AgCdO20
How much does 80Ag-20CdO cost?
80Ag-20CdO 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.
80Ag-20CdO — frequently asked
What is 80Ag-20CdO used for?
80Ag-20CdO is typically used for contactor contacts, circuit breaker contacts and motor starter contacts. In short: highest CdO loading offered; strongest Ag-CdO grade; best arc-quenching in family.
What is the yield strength of 80Ag-20CdO?
80Ag-20CdO has a typical yield strength of 135 MPa (19.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 265 MPa (38.4 ksi) — weaker than 69% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 80Ag-20CdO easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades). Turns and blanks readily but the silver matrix smears — use sharp carbide, high speed, light feed and generous coolant; capture all CdO-bearing swarf as toxic waste.
Can 80Ag-20CdO be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Not fusion welded as a joint material; contacts are resistance-welded or induction/torch brazed to Cu or CuZn carriers, ideally through a fine-silver or AgCu backing layer.
What surface finishes work on 80Ag-20CdO?
No anodizing; contact faces are usually left as-machined or lightly polished, backs may be Ag- or AgCu-clad for brazing, and sulfur-bearing packaging/rubbers must be avoided to prevent tarnish.
Can 80Ag-20CdO be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied soft it cold-heads, deep-draws and stamps well; work-hardened tempers need an intermediate anneal at 500–600 °C in a neutral atmosphere to avoid cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of 80Ag-20CdO?
80Ag-20CdO 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 80Ag-20CdO-A and 80Ag-20CdO-H?
A is the default condition — default stock condition for cold-headed rivets, deep-drawn buttons and contacts brazed onto carriers. H: choose for maximum mechanical wear and deformation resistance on blade/knife contacts and thin stamped tips. Yield strength is 135 MPa in A versus 300 MPa in H.
How much does 80Ag-20CdO cost?
80Ag-20CdO 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
- ASTM B692 — Standard Specification for Silver-Cadmium Oxide Electrical Contact Material — ASTM International (2018)
- Data Book of Electrical Contacts — DODUCO / AMI DODUCO (2012)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Electrical Contact Materials) — ASM International (1990)
- Silver-metal-oxide contact material datasheets (AgCdO grades) — Metalor / Umicore Technical Materials (2022)
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.