Precious Metal 90Ag-10Ni-H04
Supply condition
ASTM B427
H04 = full hard
Maximum standard cold-worked strength for wear-resistant contact rivets and sliding contacts; very limited bending.
Values for the H04 condition
Other 90Ag-10Ni tempers and conditions
90Ag-10Ni is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at 90Ag-10Ni.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Default stock condition for stamped rivets, buttons and clad strip where maximum ductility and lowest resistivity are wanted. | 75 | 235 | 30 | 50 HB | 86 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for stamped contact tips that need a little more stiffness while still bending or riveting without cracking. | 200 | 275 | 12 | 67 HB | 85 % IACS |
Half hard | Balanced strength/ductility temper for progressive-die contact parts and profiled strip. | 265 | 310 | 6 | 45 HRB | 85 % IACS |
H04This page Full hard | Maximum standard cold-worked strength for wear-resistant contact rivets and sliding contacts; very limited bending. | 320 | 355 | 3 | 57 HRB | 84 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring-hard strip/wire for self-sprung contact blades and moving contact arms that must supply their own contact force. | 420 | 480 | 2 | 118 HB | 85 % IACS |
What is 90Ag-10Ni-H04?
90Ag-10Ni-H04 is 90Ag-10Ni supplied in the H04 condition — maximum standard cold-worked strength for wear-resistant contact rivets and sliding contacts; very limited bending. 90Ag-10Ni-H04 has a yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 355 MPa (51.5 ksi) — stronger than 93% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 88 GPa (12.8 Msi). 90Ag-10Ni-H04 has a density of 10.3 g/cm³ (0.372 lb/in³), lighter than 54% of precious metal grades. It melts at 960°C (1,760 °F). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; H04 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 60/100, better than 97% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 320 MPa (46.4 ksi), better than 93% of precious metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 84 % IACS, better than 87% of precious metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 330 W/m·K (190.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 95% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 40/100, worse than 91% of precious metal grades
90Ag-10Ni-H04 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 90Ag-10Ni-H04; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 90Ag-10Ni reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
90Ag-10Ni-H04 has a density of 10.3 g/cm³ (0.372 lb/in³), lighter than 54% of precious metal grades. It melts at 960°C (1,760 °F).
Mechanical12
90Ag-10Ni-H04 has a yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 355 MPa (51.5 ksi) — stronger than 93% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 88 GPa (12.8 Msi).
Thermal6
90Ag-10Ni-H04 is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °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 19 µm/m·K (10.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
90Ag-10Ni-H04 conducts electricity at 84 % IACS, better than 87% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 61% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of 90Ag-10Ni-H04 takes about 1,400 MJ of energy and emits 130 kg of CO₂ — less than 57% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability7
90Ag-10Ni-H04's machinability is good (60/100, better than 97% of precious metal grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 90Ag-10Ni-H04
Is 90Ag-10Ni easy to machine?
Machines like fine silver — gummy with strong built-up edge; use sharp polished-flute carbide tools, high speed, light feed and generous coolant, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 90Ag-10Ni be welded?
Not fusion welded; contact tips are resistance/projection welded or brazed with Ag-Cu-Zn or Ag-Cu-P fillers onto Cu or brass carriers, or supplied as Ag-Ni/Ag clad strip.
Can 90Ag-10Ni be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (press-sinter-extrude) or internal-oxidation-free co-extrusion, then drawn/rolled; annealed material stamps, deep draws and cold-heads well, hard tempers need generous bend radii and interstage anneals around 550–650 °C.
What surface finishes work on 90Ag-10Ni?
No anodizing; usually used bare or with a thin Ag or Au flash on the mating face, and lightly polished/burnished — protect finished contacts from sulphur atmospheres to avoid tarnish.
90Ag-10Ni 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, insoluble in Ag | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| Other, totalimpurities (Cu, Fe, Pb, Bi) per contact-material specs | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Ag≥ 89.5 % typical, balance | balance | — |
90Ag-10Ni-H04 — frequently asked
What is 90Ag-10Ni-H04 used for?
90Ag-10Ni-H04 is typically used for low-voltage switches, relays and thermostats. In short: highest conductivity Ag-Ni grade; lowest contact resistance in family; most formable Ag-Ni.
What is the yield strength of 90Ag-10Ni-H04?
90Ag-10Ni-H04 has a typical yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 355 MPa (51.5 ksi) — stronger than 93% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 90Ag-10Ni-H04 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 97% of precious metal grades). Machines like fine silver — gummy with strong built-up edge; use sharp polished-flute carbide tools, high speed, light feed and generous coolant, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 90Ag-10Ni-H04 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Not fusion welded; contact tips are resistance/projection welded or brazed with Ag-Cu-Zn or Ag-Cu-P fillers onto Cu or brass carriers, or supplied as Ag-Ni/Ag clad strip.
What surface finishes work on 90Ag-10Ni-H04?
No anodizing; usually used bare or with a thin Ag or Au flash on the mating face, and lightly polished/burnished — protect finished contacts from sulphur atmospheres to avoid tarnish.
Can 90Ag-10Ni-H04 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (press-sinter-extrude) or internal-oxidation-free co-extrusion, then drawn/rolled; annealed material stamps, deep draws and cold-heads well, hard tempers need generous bend radii and interstage anneals around 550–650 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 90Ag-10Ni-H04?
90Ag-10Ni-H04 is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 90Ag-10Ni-O and 90Ag-10Ni-H08?
O is the default condition — default stock condition for stamped rivets, buttons and clad strip where maximum ductility and lowest resistivity are wanted. H08: spring-hard strip/wire for self-sprung contact blades and moving contact arms that must supply their own contact force. Yield strength is 75 MPa in O versus 420 MPa in H08.
Sources
- ASTM B427 — Silver-Nickel Electrical Contact Material — ASTM International (2020)
- Doduco Data Book of Electrical Contacts — Doduco / Stefan Hesse (2012)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Silver-nickel contact material technical data (AgNi10) — electrical contact material producers (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.