Precious Metal 90Pt-10Ir
90Pt-10Ir is a platinum alloy with 10% iridium, softer and more ductile than the 85-15 grade, available in ANN, 1/2H and H tempers.
Reference datasheet — 90Pt-10Ir 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 ANN condition
90Pt-10Ir tempers and conditions
90Pt-10Ir is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Default stock condition for wire, strip and contact rivets that must be drawn, coined, bent or welded before use. | 205 | 415 | 28 | 125 HB | 7 % IACS |
Half hard | Compromise condition for contact springs and slip-ring wire needing stiffness while retaining some bending ductility. | 480 | 620 | 8 | 190 HV | 6.9 % IACS |
Hardened | Choose for spring contacts, probe needles and wear surfaces where maximum hardness and elastic stiffness matter more than formability. | 690 | 830 | 2 | 23 HRC | 6.8 % IACS |
What is 90Pt-10Ir?
90Pt-10Ir is a platinum alloy with 10% iridium, softer and more ductile than the 85-15 grade, available in ANN, 1/2H and H tempers. It is specified for fine precision contacts, low-wear slip rings and drawn electrode wire, with 415 MPa tensile strength, 28% elongation, 125 HB and 190 GPa modulus, and it stays tarnish-free in service to 1200 °C. Conductivity is 7% IACS with 31 W/m·K, limiting it to low-current circuits, and material cost is high. Choose 85Pt-15Ir when higher hardness and wear resistance are needed instead of formability. 90Pt-10Ir has a density of 21.55 g/cm³ (0.779 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,780°C (3,236 °F). 90Pt-10Ir has a yield strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 57% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
What is 90Pt-10Ir used for?
- precision relay contacts
- slip rings
- electrode tips
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 100/100, better than 98% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 1,200°C (2,192 °F), better than 97% of precious metal grades
- Stiff — 190 GPa (27.6 Msi), better than 94% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 21.55 g/cm³ (0.779 lb/in³), worse than 99% of precious metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 31 W/m·K (17.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 92% of precious metal grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 7 % IACS, worse than 89% of precious metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 86% of precious metal grades
- High embodied carbon — 13,500 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of precious metal grades
90Pt-10Ir properties
Typical room-temperature values for 90Pt-10Ir-ANN; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
90Pt-10Ir has a density of 21.55 g/cm³ (0.779 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,780°C (3,236 °F).
Mechanical12
90Pt-10Ir has a yield strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 57% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
Thermal6
90Pt-10Ir is rated for continuous service to 1,200°C (2,192 °F). It conducts heat at 31 W/m·K (17.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 92% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 8.8 µm/m·K (4.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
90Pt-10Ir conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 89% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (100/100), better than 98% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 90Pt-10Ir takes about 245,000 MJ of energy and emits 13,500 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
90Pt-10Ir's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 86% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability excellent (90/100).
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. 90Pt-10Ir is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 90Pt-10Ir
Is 90Pt-10Ir easy to machine?
Gummy and strongly work-hardening — use sharp carbide or diamond tools, light positive-rake cuts, high speed with copious coolant, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 90Pt-10Ir be welded?
Excellent for resistance, micro-TIG and laser welding of contacts to Cu/Ni carriers; avoid contamination by Pb/Bi/Si and reducing melts that embrittle PGMs.
Can 90Pt-10Ir be formed, bent or molded?
Anneal at 900–1100 °C in air and cold draw/roll in 30–50 % steps; the 10 % Ir grade takes deeper draws and tighter bends than 85Pt-15Ir before intermediate anneals.
90Pt-10Ir 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Irsolid-solution strengthener | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10 |
| Other PGM + impuritiestotal, Rh/Pd/Ru/Fe/Cu traces | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Pt | ≥ 89.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on 90Pt-10Ir?
Takes a permanent mirror polish with no plating or passivation needed; ultrasonic clean and avoid halide residues on switching surfaces.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal 90Pt-10Ir in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Pt90-Ir10
How much does 90Pt-10Ir cost?
90Pt-10Ir 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.
90Pt-10Ir — frequently asked
What is 90Pt-10Ir used for?
90Pt-10Ir is typically used for precision relay contacts, slip rings and electrode tips. In short: most ductile Pt-Ir grade; stable to 1200 °C; fine-wire drawing grade.
What is the yield strength of 90Pt-10Ir?
90Pt-10Ir has a typical yield strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 57% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 90Pt-10Ir easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 86% of precious metal grades). Gummy and strongly work-hardening — use sharp carbide or diamond tools, light positive-rake cuts, high speed with copious coolant, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 90Pt-10Ir be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent for resistance, micro-TIG and laser welding of contacts to Cu/Ni carriers; avoid contamination by Pb/Bi/Si and reducing melts that embrittle PGMs.
What surface finishes work on 90Pt-10Ir?
Takes a permanent mirror polish with no plating or passivation needed; ultrasonic clean and avoid halide residues on switching surfaces.
Can 90Pt-10Ir be formed, bent or molded?
Anneal at 900–1100 °C in air and cold draw/roll in 30–50 % steps; the 10 % Ir grade takes deeper draws and tighter bends than 85Pt-15Ir before intermediate anneals.
What is the maximum service temperature of 90Pt-10Ir?
90Pt-10Ir is rated for continuous use to about 1,200°C (2,192 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 90Pt-10Ir-ANN and 90Pt-10Ir-H?
ANN is the default condition — default stock condition for wire, strip and contact rivets that must be drawn, coined, bent or welded before use. H: choose for spring contacts, probe needles and wear surfaces where maximum hardness and elastic stiffness matter more than formability. Yield strength is 205 MPa in ANN versus 690 MPa in H.
How much does 90Pt-10Ir cost?
90Pt-10Ir 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 B684 — Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Material — ASTM International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- Platinum-Iridium alloy property tables — Johnson Matthey / Heraeus (2022)
- PGM physical and electrical property compilation — International Platinum Group Metals Association (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.