Precious Metal AgW50-PS
Heat-treated state
PS = mixed-powder pressed and sintered
Use mixed-powder pressed and sintered tips for lower-cost small contacts at moderate breaking duty, accepting 13.3 g/cm³ density and 52 % IACS conductivity.
Values for the PS condition
Other AgW50 tempers and conditions
AgW50 is listed in 2 conditions; see the grade overview at AgW50.
- PSR
- PS
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pressed, sintered and repressed/resintered | Choose pressed, sintered then repressed and resintered stock when density must exceed plain sintering: 13.6 g/cm³ and 55 % IACS, between pressed-sintered and infiltrated. | 265 | 400 | 3 | 115 HB | 55 % IACS |
PSThis page Mixed-powder pressed and sintered | Use mixed-powder pressed and sintered tips for lower-cost small contacts at moderate breaking duty, accepting 13.3 g/cm³ density and 52 % IACS conductivity. | — | 350 | 2 | 105 HB | 52 % IACS |
What is AgW50-PS?
AgW50-PS is AgW50 heat treated to PS — use mixed-powder pressed and sintered tips for lower-cost small contacts at moderate breaking duty, accepting 13.3 g/cm³ density and 52 % IACS conductivity. AgW50-PS has a yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — stronger than 88% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 180 GPa (26.1 Msi). AgW50-PS has a density of 13.3 g/cm³ (0.48 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F).
Advantages
- Stiff — 180 GPa (26.1 Msi), better than 92% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 280 MPa (40.6 ksi), better than 88% of precious metal grades
- Low embodied carbon — 65 kg CO₂/kg, better than 78% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 99% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 98% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 97% of precious metal grades
- Hard to polish — 55/100, worse than 97% of precious metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 33/100, worse than 79% of precious metal grades
AgW50-PS properties
Typical room-temperature values for AgW50-PS; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are AgW50 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
AgW50-PS has a density of 13.3 g/cm³ (0.48 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of precious metal grades. It melts at 961°C (1,762 °F).
Mechanical10
AgW50-PS has a yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — stronger than 88% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 180 GPa (26.1 Msi).
Thermal5
AgW50-PS is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °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 11 µm/m·K (6.11 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AgW50-PS conducts electricity at 52 % IACS, better than 72% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 61% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AgW50-PS takes about 950 MJ of energy and emits 65 kg of CO₂ — less than 77% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability5
AgW50-PS's machinability is poor (33/100, worse than 79% of precious metal grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with AgW50-PS
Is AgW50 easy to machine?
Work primarily by grinding, EDM and wire EDM. If turning or milling, use diamond or fine-grain carbide tooling at low feed rates; the tungsten phase is strongly abrasive to cutting edges.
Can AgW50 be welded?
Not fusion weldable. Braze to copper current-carrying parts with silver brazing filler, or resistance weld through a silver-clad backing layer; nickel plating before brazing is common to improve wetting.
Can AgW50 be formed, bent or molded?
Made net shape: tungsten powder is pressed and sintered to a skeleton then silver infiltrated, or mixed powders are pressed, sintered and re-pressed. The finished material has essentially no scope for plastic forming.
What surface finishes work on AgW50?
Finish-grind or lightly polish the working face to control contact resistance. Non-working surfaces can be silver or nickel plated to prevent tungsten oxidation; do not use strong acid chemical polishing.
AgW50 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agsilver phase, introduced by infiltration or powder blending | 48.5 – 51.5 | 50 |
| Other (Fe, Ni, Mo, C, O )per GB/T 8320 impurity limits | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Wtungsten skeleton or tungsten powder | balance | — |
AgW50-PS — frequently asked
What is AgW50-PS used for?
AgW50-PS is typically used for circuit breakers, disconnect switches and load-break switches. In short: high arc-erosion resistance; braze-only attachment; ground or EDM to shape.
What is the yield strength of AgW50-PS?
AgW50-PS has a typical yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — stronger than 88% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is AgW50-PS easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (33/100, worse than 79% of precious metal grades). Work primarily by grinding, EDM and wire EDM. If turning or milling, use diamond or fine-grain carbide tooling at low feed rates; the tungsten phase is strongly abrasive to cutting edges.
Can AgW50-PS be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not fusion weldable. Braze to copper current-carrying parts with silver brazing filler, or resistance weld through a silver-clad backing layer; nickel plating before brazing is common to improve wetting.
What surface finishes work on AgW50-PS?
Finish-grind or lightly polish the working face to control contact resistance. Non-working surfaces can be silver or nickel plated to prevent tungsten oxidation; do not use strong acid chemical polishing.
Can AgW50-PS be formed, bent or molded?
Made net shape: tungsten powder is pressed and sintered to a skeleton then silver infiltrated, or mixed powders are pressed, sintered and re-pressed. The finished material has essentially no scope for plastic forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of AgW50-PS?
AgW50-PS is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Electrical Contact Materials — ASM International (1990)
- Silver–Tungsten (AgW) contact material data — AMETEK / Metalor / (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.