Precious Metal Pd950/Pd500
GB 11887 · ISO 9202
Pd950 and Pd500 are standardized palladium fineness grades to GB 11887, used as a lighter, hypoallergenic white alternative to platinum and white gold.
Reference datasheet — Pd950/Pd500 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 Pd950-O condition
Pd950/Pd500 tempers and conditions
Pd950/Pd500 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. Pd950-O is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
990 | Choose the highest-purity annealed grade of GB/T 11887 for plain bands and investment pieces: best whiteness and tarnish resistance, but very soft and easily scratched. | 70 | 200 | 35 | 50 HV | 15.5 % IACS |
Pd950-ODefault Pd950 Annealed | Choose this annealed soft state, the most commonly stocked one, for sheet, wire and tube that must be bent, stone-set and hand-formed; yield is only 150 MPa. | 150 | 320 | 30 | 95 HB | 11 % IACS |
Pd950 As-Cast | Use for lost-wax cast ring and pendant blanks; cast under vacuum or inert atmosphere to avoid hydrogen pickup and oxidation, and accept elongation limited to 18%. | 160 | 300 | 18 | 105 HB | 11 % IACS |
Pd500 Annealed | Choose the annealed 50% palladium alloy for high-volume plain chain and findings at lower cost; tarnish resistance and whiteness are below the 950 grade. | 200 | 400 | 25 | 125 HV | 4.3 % IACS |
900 | Use this annealed Pd-Ru-Cu compromise between the 950 and 500 grades when settings must be harder and more durable, at slightly lower cost and 25% elongation. | 200 | 400 | 25 | 118 HB | 9 % IACS |
Pd500 As-Cast | Use for lost-wax blanks with intricate detail, where the lower melting point and better melt fluidity help filling; as-cast elongation is limited to 14%. | 220 | 380 | 14 | 128 HB | 8 % IACS |
Pd950 Cold Worked | Pick wire or sheet drawn or rolled to about 40–60% reduction for spring prongs, earring posts and rigid parts needing 540 MPa yield; elongation falls to 3%. | 540 | 600 | 3 | 10 HRC | 10.5 % IACS |
Pd500 Cold Worked | Pick cold-drawn hard wire or strip for chain and clasp components needing higher strength and wear resistance, at 680 MPa yield and only 3% elongation. | 680 | 750 | 3 | 19 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
What is Pd950/Pd500?
Pd950 and Pd500 are standardized palladium fineness grades to GB 11887, used as a lighter, hypoallergenic white alternative to platinum and white gold. They provide 320 MPa tensile strength at 30 % elongation and a corrosion resistance score of 92, and polish to a mirror without rhodium plating; forms include annealed and hard strip, wire, and lost-wax castings. Palladium work-hardens quickly (machinability 45) and picks up hydrogen and sulfur during torch welding, so laser or PUK welding is preferred. Pd500 benefits from an anti-tarnish treatment or a thin plated layer. Pd950/Pd500 has a density of 12 g/cm³ (0.434 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,550°C (2,822 °F). Pd950/Pd500 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — weaker than 68% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 120 GPa (17.4 Msi).
What is Pd950/Pd500 used for?
- Rings
- Wedding bands
- Lightweight fine jewelry
Advantages
- Stiff — 120 GPa (17.4 Msi), better than 79% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 79% of precious metal grades
- Readily welded — 75/100, better than 78% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 11 % IACS, worse than 75% of precious metal grades
Pd950/Pd500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Pd950/Pd500-Pd950-O; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
Pd950/Pd500 has a density of 12 g/cm³ (0.434 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,550°C (2,822 °F).
Mechanical13
Pd950/Pd500 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — weaker than 68% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 120 GPa (17.4 Msi).
Thermal6
Pd950/Pd500 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 60 W/m·K (34.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 72% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 11.8 µm/m·K (6.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pd950/Pd500 conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, worse than 75% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 73% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Pd950/Pd500 takes about 180,000 MJ of energy and emits 9,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 77% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
Pd950/Pd500's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (75/100); 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. Pd950/Pd500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Pd950/Pd500
Is Pd950/Pd500 easy to machine?
Use sharp positive-rake tools at high speed and low feed with generous lubrication. The metal is sticky and work-hardens noticeably, so take finish turning or milling cuts to size in as few passes as possible.
Can Pd950/Pd500 be welded?
Laser spot welding and PUK micro-welding give the best results; argon-shielded TIG also works. High-temperature torch welding must avoid hydrogen pickup and sulfur contamination, and parts should be annealed after welding to remove embrittlement.
Can Pd950/Pd500 be formed, bent or molded?
Ductility in the annealed state is good for drawing, rolling and stamping; anneal at 800–950 °C in a protective atmosphere after every 40–50 % deformation. Lost-wax casting requires a vacuum or inert atmosphere and a high-temperature ceramic shell.
Pd950/Pd500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| PdPd950 minimum per GB/T 11887; Pd500 requires ≥50.0% | 95 – 96 | 95 |
| Rucommon grain refiner/hardener in Pd950Ru | 3 – 5 | 4.5 |
| Cusmall amount in Pd950; about 5–15% in Pd500 | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| Agmain alloying element in Pd500, about 30–40% | 0 – 1 | 0 |
| Gadeoxidizer/melting-point depressant in casting grades | 0 – 1 | 0.2 |
| (Ir/Ni/Zn )balance of minor alloying and impurities, total per GB/T 11887 | balance |
What surface finishes work on Pd950/Pd500?
The natural white colour polishes directly to a mirror with no rhodium plating; blasting, brushing and micro-arc texturing all work. Pd500 should be given an anti-tarnish treatment or a thin plated layer.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal Pd950/Pd500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 9202
- GB (China)
- 11887
How much does Pd950/Pd500 cost?
Pd950/Pd500 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.
Pd950/Pd500 — frequently asked
What is Pd950/Pd500 used for?
Pd950/Pd500 is typically used for rings, wedding bands and lightweight fine jewelry. In short: lighter than platinum; white, no rhodium plating; hypoallergenic jewelry metal.
What is the yield strength of Pd950/Pd500?
Pd950/Pd500 has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — weaker than 68% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Pd950/Pd500 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades). Use sharp positive-rake tools at high speed and low feed with generous lubrication. The metal is sticky and work-hardens noticeably, so take finish turning or milling cuts to size in as few passes as possible.
Can Pd950/Pd500 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Laser spot welding and PUK micro-welding give the best results; argon-shielded TIG also works. High-temperature torch welding must avoid hydrogen pickup and sulfur contamination, and parts should be annealed after welding to remove embrittlement.
What surface finishes work on Pd950/Pd500?
The natural white colour polishes directly to a mirror with no rhodium plating; blasting, brushing and micro-arc texturing all work. Pd500 should be given an anti-tarnish treatment or a thin plated layer.
Can Pd950/Pd500 be formed, bent or molded?
Ductility in the annealed state is good for drawing, rolling and stamping; anneal at 800–950 °C in a protective atmosphere after every 40–50 % deformation. Lost-wax casting requires a vacuum or inert atmosphere and a high-temperature ceramic shell.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pd950/Pd500?
Pd950/Pd500 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Pd950/Pd500 Pd950-O and Pd950/Pd500 Pd500-H?
Pd950-O is the default condition — choose this annealed soft state, the most commonly stocked one, for sheet, wire and tube that must be bent, stone-set and hand-formed; yield is only 150 MPa. Pd500-H: pick cold-drawn hard wire or strip for chain and clasp components needing higher strength and wear resistance, at 680 MPa yield and only 3% elongation. Yield strength is 150 MPa in Pd950-O versus 680 MPa in Pd500-H.
How much does Pd950/Pd500 cost?
Pd950/Pd500 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 (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- Palladium jewellery alloy technical data — Johnson Matthey / (2020)
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.