Precious Metal 90Ag-10CdO
ASTM B268
90Ag-10CdO is a silver-cadmium oxide contact composite, 90% silver with about 10% CdO dispersed by internal oxidation or powder metallurgy, covered by ASTM B268 and stocked in O, H01, H02, H04 and PM conditions.
Reference datasheet — 90Ag-10CdO 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
90Ag-10CdO tempers and conditions
90Ag-10CdO 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 | Pick the annealed soft state for riveting, deep-drawn contact strip and assemblies that need plastic deformation, accepting the lowest yield strength of 90 MPa. | 90 | 230 | 28 | 55 HB | 82 % IACS |
As-sintered / extruded powder-metallurgy stock | Choose sintered or extruded powder-metallurgy stock when the most uniform CdO distribution is needed for thick contact blocks and high-current breaking parts; 79 % IACS. | 110 | 215 | 14 | 60 HB | 79 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Choose quarter-hard strip, cold reduced about 11 %, when spring-type contacts need some stiffness yet must still take secondary forming; 180 MPa yield at 15 % elongation. | 180 | 270 | 15 | 70 HB | 81 % IACS |
Half hard | Use half-hard strip (≈21 % cold reduction) for contact bridges and sliding parts that are blanked and then essentially not bent again; 235 MPa yield, elongation down to 8 %. | 235 | 300 | 8 | 82 HB | 80.5 % IACS |
Full hard | Pick full-hard strip or wire (≈37 % cold reduction) for wear-resistant sliding contacts and fine-blanked parts needing no further forming; 3 % elongation rules out bending. | 300 | 340 | 3 | 95 HB | 80 % IACS |
What is 90Ag-10CdO?
90Ag-10CdO is a silver-cadmium oxide contact composite, 90% silver with about 10% CdO dispersed by internal oxidation or powder metallurgy, covered by ASTM B268 and stocked in O, H01, H02, H04 and PM conditions. It is chosen for light- to medium-duty switching because the oxide dispersion limits arc erosion and contact welding while conductivity stays at 82% IACS and thermal conductivity at 320 W/m·K; forms include strip, wire, contact rivets and silver-backed bimetal tape. Tensile strength is 230 MPa with 28% elongation at 55 HB and service is limited to 250 °C. Cadmium content restricts use in many markets, where 88Ag-12SnO2 is the usual substitute. 90Ag-10CdO has a density of 10.2 g/cm³ (0.368 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of precious metal grades. It melts at 960°C (1,760 °F). 90Ag-10CdO has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) — weaker than 86% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 80 GPa (11.6 Msi).
What is 90Ag-10CdO used for?
- small relays
- switches
- low-current contactors
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 82 % IACS, better than 85% of precious metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 320 W/m·K (184.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), worse than 86% of precious metal grades
90Ag-10CdO properties
Typical room-temperature values for 90Ag-10CdO-O; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
90Ag-10CdO has a density of 10.2 g/cm³ (0.368 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of precious metal grades. It melts at 960°C (1,760 °F).
Mechanical11
90Ag-10CdO has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) — weaker than 86% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 80 GPa (11.6 Msi).
Thermal6
90Ag-10CdO is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 320 W/m·K (184.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 19 µm/m·K (10.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
90Ag-10CdO conducts electricity at 82 % IACS, better than 85% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 61% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 90Ag-10CdO takes about 1,500 MJ of energy and emits 115 kg of CO₂ — more than 51% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
90Ag-10CdO's machinability is good (55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades); weldability fair (45/100); 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. 90Ag-10CdO is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 90Ag-10CdO
Is 90Ag-10CdO easy to machine?
Soft and gummy, so use sharp carbide tools with large positive rake, high speed, light cuts and generous coolant. Cadmium-bearing chips and dust must be captured in a closed collection system for refining; do not dry grind.
Can 90Ag-10CdO be welded?
Not fusion welded. Contacts are attached by resistance welding, brazing with BAg fillers, or roll-bonded silver-copper clad backing to the carrier, with joining temperature kept below the CdO coarsening temperature.
Can 90Ag-10CdO be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed material is ductile enough for blanking, deep drawing, cold-headed rivets and wire drawing. Use intermediate anneals at about 550-650 °C in a protective atmosphere when cold work is heavy.
90Ag-10CdO 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CdOdispersed CdO phase (internal oxidation or powder blending) | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| impurities (total)total Cu, Fe, Pb and other impurities, per supply standard | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Agbalance, about 90 wt% | balance |
What surface finishes work on 90Ag-10CdO?
No anodizing. Light polishing or barrel burnishing gives a low contact-resistance surface; pack with anti-tarnish materials to prevent Ag2S darkening, and silver or gold plate if extra sulfide resistance is needed.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal 90Ag-10CdO in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B268
- Also called
- AgCdO10
How much does 90Ag-10CdO cost?
90Ag-10CdO 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.
90Ag-10CdO — frequently asked
What is 90Ag-10CdO used for?
90Ag-10CdO is typically used for small relays, switches and low-current contactors. In short: legacy AgCdO contact benchmark; low, stable contact resistance; cadmium use restricted.
What is the yield strength of 90Ag-10CdO?
90Ag-10CdO has a typical yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) — weaker than 86% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 90Ag-10CdO easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades). Soft and gummy, so use sharp carbide tools with large positive rake, high speed, light cuts and generous coolant. Cadmium-bearing chips and dust must be captured in a closed collection system for refining; do not dry grind.
Can 90Ag-10CdO be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Not fusion welded. Contacts are attached by resistance welding, brazing with BAg fillers, or roll-bonded silver-copper clad backing to the carrier, with joining temperature kept below the CdO coarsening temperature.
What surface finishes work on 90Ag-10CdO?
No anodizing. Light polishing or barrel burnishing gives a low contact-resistance surface; pack with anti-tarnish materials to prevent Ag2S darkening, and silver or gold plate if extra sulfide resistance is needed.
Can 90Ag-10CdO be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed material is ductile enough for blanking, deep drawing, cold-headed rivets and wire drawing. Use intermediate anneals at about 550-650 °C in a protective atmosphere when cold work is heavy.
What is the maximum service temperature of 90Ag-10CdO?
90Ag-10CdO 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 90Ag-10CdO-O and 90Ag-10CdO-H04?
O is the default condition — pick the annealed soft state for riveting, deep-drawn contact strip and assemblies that need plastic deformation, accepting the lowest yield strength of 90 MPa. H04: pick full-hard strip or wire (≈37 % cold reduction) for wear-resistant sliding contacts and fine-blanked parts needing no further forming; 3 % elongation rules out bending. Yield strength is 90 MPa in O versus 300 MPa in H04.
How much does 90Ag-10CdO cost?
90Ag-10CdO 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
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Electrical Contact Materials) — ASM International (1990)
- Silver–cadmium oxide contact material (AgCdO10) technical data (2022)
- Silver alloys property data (Ag base, CdO dispersion) (2021)
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.