Precious Metal AgC10-PSR
Other · default condition
PSR = pressed, sintered and repressed
Standard stocked PM condition for rivets, tips and buttons where isotropic properties and low cost are wanted.
Values for the PSR condition
Other AgC10 tempers and conditions
AgC10 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at AgC10.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition, used when the contact must be riveted, staked or coined into a carrier without cracking. | 45 | 95 | 8 | 25 HB | 50 % IACS |
Sintered | Lower-density economy condition for low-duty contacts; softer and slightly more resistive due to residual porosity. | 48 | 75 | 3 | 23 HB | 42 % IACS |
PSRDefaultThis page Pressed, sintered and repressed | Standard stocked PM condition for rivets, tips and buttons where isotropic properties and low cost are wanted. | 70 | 110 | 4 | 30 HB | 48 % IACS |
Hot pressed / hot repressed | Near-full-density condition for large contact blocks where uniform properties and minimum porosity are required. | 85 | 125 | 5 | 33 HB | 50 % IACS |
What is AgC10-PSR?
AgC10-PSR is AgC10 in the PSR condition — standard stocked PM condition for rivets, tips and buttons where isotropic properties and low cost are wanted. AgC10-PSR has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 90% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 55 GPa (7.98 Msi). AgC10-PSR has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F).
Advantages
- Lightweight — 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), better than 100% of precious metal grades
- Easy to machine — 55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 55 GPa (7.98 Msi), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 96% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 30/100, worse than 94% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 4%, worse than 93% of precious metal grades
AgC10-PSR properties
Typical room-temperature values for AgC10-PSR; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are AgC10 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
AgC10-PSR has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F).
Mechanical7
AgC10-PSR has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 90% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 55 GPa (7.98 Msi).
Thermal6
AgC10-PSR is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 200 W/m·K (115.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 69% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AgC10-PSR conducts electricity at 48 % IACS, better than 70% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 53% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of AgC10-PSR takes about 1,300 MJ of energy and emits 90 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability6
AgC10-PSR's machinability is good (55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (30/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with AgC10-PSR
Is AgC10 easy to machine?
Machines easily with sharp, polished-flute carbide or HSS tools at high speed and light feed; graphite provides self-lubrication so cut dry or with mist and collect all swarf for silver reclaim.
Can AgC10 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — the graphite prevents wetting; join by resistance welding, riveting or brazing through a silver or copper backing layer.
Can AgC10 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (press–sinter–repress, hot press or extrusion of sintered billet); finished parts tolerate only light coining/riveting, so avoid sharp bends and heavy cold work.
What surface finishes work on AgC10?
Surfaces are used as-machined or lightly lapped; avoid abrasive blasting (graphite smearing) and keep parts in sulfur-free packaging to limit tarnish, no plating of the working face.
AgC10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cgraphite, dispersed; ~30–35 vol% | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| impurities (total)Fe, Cu, Pb, Bi etc. combined | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Ag≥89.8 % Ag matrix | balance | — |
AgC10-PSR — frequently asked
What is AgC10-PSR used for?
AgC10-PSR is typically used for low-voltage switchgear, circuit breaker contacts, sliding/brush contacts and relay contacts. In short: strongest anti-weld silver contact; self-lubricating contact material; low arc-erosion life.
What is the yield strength of AgC10-PSR?
AgC10-PSR has a typical yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 90% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is AgC10-PSR easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades). Machines easily with sharp, polished-flute carbide or HSS tools at high speed and light feed; graphite provides self-lubrication so cut dry or with mist and collect all swarf for silver reclaim.
Can AgC10-PSR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not fusion weldable — the graphite prevents wetting; join by resistance welding, riveting or brazing through a silver or copper backing layer.
What surface finishes work on AgC10-PSR?
Surfaces are used as-machined or lightly lapped; avoid abrasive blasting (graphite smearing) and keep parts in sulfur-free packaging to limit tarnish, no plating of the working face.
Can AgC10-PSR be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder metallurgy (press–sinter–repress, hot press or extrusion of sintered billet); finished parts tolerate only light coining/riveting, so avoid sharp bends and heavy cold work.
What is the maximum service temperature of AgC10-PSR?
AgC10-PSR 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 AgC10-PSR and AgC10-ANN?
PSR is the default condition — standard stocked PM condition for rivets, tips and buttons where isotropic properties and low cost are wanted. ANN: softest condition, used when the contact must be riveted, staked or coined into a carrier without cracking. Yield strength is 70 MPa in PSR versus 45 MPa in ANN.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (electrical contact materials) — ASM International (1990)
- Electrical Contacts: Principles and Applications — CRC Press (2014)
- Silver-graphite (AgC) contact material data — Doduco / AMI Doduco (2022)
- Silver and silver alloy property data — Copper/Precious metal alloy databases (CES-type) (2021)
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.