Precious Metal 85Ag-15Ni
ASTM B427
85Ag-15Ni is the mid-composition silver–nickel contact material of the ASTM B427 family, balancing 78% IACS conductivity and 330 W/m·K thermal conductivity against resistance to arc erosion.
Reference datasheet — 85Ag-15Ni 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 O condition
85Ag-15Ni tempers and conditions
85Ag-15Ni is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. O is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Standard stock condition for contact rivets, buttons and strip that must be headed, coined or clad-bonded. | 95 | 230 | 25 | 57 HB | 78 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Choose when a slightly stiffer strip is needed but rivet heading or deep coining is still required. | 190 | 270 | 13 | 71 HB | 77 % IACS |
Half hard | Compromise temper for stamped contact blades that need moderate stiffness plus some bend capability. | 250 | 305 | 7 | 83 HB | 77 % IACS |
Full hard | Maximum as-rolled hardness for wear-resistant sliding contacts and flat-blade parts that are only lightly formed. | 315 | 350 | 3 | 95 HB | 76 % IACS |
Spring hard | Highest strength condition for self-sprung contact fingers and wire forms where elastic deflection carries the contact force. | 380 | 420 | 2 | 115 HB | 75 % IACS |
What is 85Ag-15Ni?
85Ag-15Ni is the mid-composition silver–nickel contact material of the ASTM B427 family, balancing 78% IACS conductivity and 330 W/m·K thermal conductivity against resistance to arc erosion. It is used for general-purpose switching contacts and is supplied as powder-metallurgy strip, wire, rivets and clad tips in O through H08 tempers, with 95 MPa yield, 230 MPa tensile and 57 HB in the default condition. Maximum service temperature is 300 °C, machinability is poor (score 35) because the silver matrix smears, and the bulk alloy is not fusion welded. Choose 90Ag-10Ni for lower contact resistance or 70Ag-30Ni for heavier arcing duty. 85Ag-15Ni has a density of 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), lighter than 61% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F). 85Ag-15Ni has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) — weaker than 85% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 100 GPa (14.5 Msi).
What is 85Ag-15Ni used for?
- motor control switches
- appliance relays
- automotive relays
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 330 W/m·K (190.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of precious metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 78 % IACS, better than 79% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 95 MPa (13.8 ksi), worse than 85% of precious metal grades
85Ag-15Ni properties
Typical room-temperature values for 85Ag-15Ni-O; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
85Ag-15Ni has a density of 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), lighter than 61% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F).
Mechanical11
85Ag-15Ni has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) — weaker than 85% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 100 GPa (14.5 Msi).
Thermal6
85Ag-15Ni is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 330 W/m·K (190.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
85Ag-15Ni conducts electricity at 78 % IACS, better than 79% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 53% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 85Ag-15Ni takes about 1,300 MJ of energy and emits 110 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability8
85Ag-15Ni's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 73% of precious metal grades); weldability good (55/100); formability excellent (85/100).
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. 85Ag-15Ni is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 85Ag-15Ni
Is 85Ag-15Ni easy to machine?
Machinable but gummy — use sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS tooling, high speed, light feed and generous coolant; collect all chips for silver reclaim.
Can 85Ag-15Ni be welded?
Not fusion-welded as a bulk alloy; contacts are resistance-, laser- or ultrasonically welded, or silver-brazed/clad to Cu, CuZn or steel carriers.
Can 85Ag-15Ni be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by powder metallurgy (press–sinter–extrude) then rolled/drawn; anneal at ~600–700 °C in reducing or inert atmosphere between heavy cold-work steps for rivet heading and profile rolling.
85Ag-15Ni 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nifinely dispersed metallic Ni phase (PM or internally dispersed) | 14 – 16 | 15 |
| Other (total impurities)Cu, Fe, Pb, Bi etc. per contact-material spec | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Agmatrix; Ag + Ni ≥ 99.85 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on 85Ag-15Ni?
Used bare or lightly polished; hard-silver, Ni-barrier or thin Au flash is applied for dry-circuit/signal contacts and anti-tarnish protection; no anodising.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal 85Ag-15Ni in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B427
- Also called
- AgNi15
How much does 85Ag-15Ni cost?
85Ag-15Ni 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.
85Ag-15Ni — frequently asked
What is 85Ag-15Ni used for?
85Ag-15Ni is typically used for motor control switches, appliance relays and automotive relays. In short: balanced Ag-Ni workhorse; cadmium-free relay contact; higher service temperature than 90Ag-10Ni.
What is the yield strength of 85Ag-15Ni?
85Ag-15Ni has a typical yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) — weaker than 85% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 85Ag-15Ni easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 73% of precious metal grades). Machinable but gummy — use sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS tooling, high speed, light feed and generous coolant; collect all chips for silver reclaim.
Can 85Ag-15Ni be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Not fusion-welded as a bulk alloy; contacts are resistance-, laser- or ultrasonically welded, or silver-brazed/clad to Cu, CuZn or steel carriers.
What surface finishes work on 85Ag-15Ni?
Used bare or lightly polished; hard-silver, Ni-barrier or thin Au flash is applied for dry-circuit/signal contacts and anti-tarnish protection; no anodising.
Can 85Ag-15Ni be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by powder metallurgy (press–sinter–extrude) then rolled/drawn; anneal at ~600–700 °C in reducing or inert atmosphere between heavy cold-work steps for rivet heading and profile rolling.
What is the maximum service temperature of 85Ag-15Ni?
85Ag-15Ni is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 85Ag-15Ni-O and 85Ag-15Ni-H08?
O is the default condition — standard stock condition for contact rivets, buttons and strip that must be headed, coined or clad-bonded. H08: highest strength condition for self-sprung contact fingers and wire forms where elastic deflection carries the contact force. Yield strength is 95 MPa in O versus 380 MPa in H08.
How much does 85Ag-15Ni cost?
85Ag-15Ni 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 B693 — Silver-Nickel Electrical Contact Material — ASTM International (2017)
- Electrical contact materials — AgNi series data — Doduco / Metalor Technologies (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Electrical Contact Materials) — ASM International (1990)
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.