Precious Metal PdRu5
PdRu5 is a palladium base alloy hardened with about 5% ruthenium, part of the precious-metal contact family alongside Ag-CdO, Ag-Ni and Au-Ni.
Reference datasheet — PdRu5 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 Annealed condition
PdRu5 tempers and conditions
PdRu5 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft, fully recrystallized strip/wire | Choose for deep drawing, heavy forming, rivet heading and clad-strip bonding operations. | 210 | 450 | 25 | 114 HB | 9.6 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light temper for stamped contacts still needing moderate bending without cracking. | 450 | 600 | 12 | 152 HB | 9.3 % IACS |
Half hard | General-purpose temper balancing spring force and formability for connector contacts. | 600 | 720 | 6 | 9 HRC | 9.2 % IACS |
cold worked + low-temperature stabilization anneal | Pick when formed springs must keep dimensional stability and resist stress relaxation in service. | 790 | 860 | 3 | 18 HRC | 9.4 % IACS |
Full hard | Standard temper for wear-resistant sliding contacts, brushes and slip-ring wire. | 800 | 900 | 2.5 | 20 HRC | — |
Spring hard | Maximum hardness and contact force retention for reed/relay springs and fine probe wire. | 960 | 1,050 | 1.5 | 25 HRC | 9 % IACS |
What is PdRu5?
PdRu5 is a palladium base alloy hardened with about 5% ruthenium, part of the precious-metal contact family alongside Ag-CdO, Ag-Ni and Au-Ni. In the annealed condition it runs roughly 210 MPa yield, 450 MPa tensile, 25% elongation and 68 HRB, and is supplied as strip, fine wire, stampings and clad inlay or overlay on copper-alloy carriers for connectors and low-load relays. It gives higher hardness and wear resistance than pure palladium at lower cost than platinum-group substitutes, but machinability is poor (score 25) and it is not intended for heavy arcing duty; Pd-Ag or hard gold is the nearest alternative. PdRu5 has a density of 12.05 g/cm³ (0.435 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,575°C (2,867 °F). PdRu5 has a yield strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 61% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 135 GPa (19.6 Msi).
What is PdRu5 used for?
- telecom connectors
- reed relay contacts
- low-power switch contacts
- sliding contacts
Advantages
- Stiff — 135 GPa (19.6 Msi), better than 84% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 79% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 94% of precious metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 45 W/m·K (26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 82% of precious metal grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 9.6 % IACS, worse than 81% of precious metal grades
PdRu5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PdRu5-Annealed; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
PdRu5 has a density of 12.05 g/cm³ (0.435 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,575°C (2,867 °F).
Mechanical13
PdRu5 has a yield strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 61% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 135 GPa (19.6 Msi).
Thermal6
PdRu5 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 45 W/m·K (26 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 82% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
PdRu5 conducts electricity at 9.6 % IACS, worse than 81% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 73% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PdRu5 takes about 95,000 MJ of energy and emits 3,800 kg of CO₂ — more than 68% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability8
PdRu5's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 94% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (70/100); 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. PdRu5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PdRu5
Is PdRu5 easy to machine?
Gummy and abrasion-prone — use sharp carbide/diamond tools, high speed, light feed and copious lubricant; swarf must be collected for refining.
Can PdRu5 be welded?
Readily resistance-, laser- and micro-TIG-welded to Cu, CuNi and Ni carriers; braze with Ag-Cu or Au-based fillers under inert cover.
Can PdRu5 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability when annealed (stamping, deep drawing, fine wire drawing); interanneal ~850–950 °C in H₂/inert atmosphere after ~50 % reduction.
PdRu5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rusolid-solution hardener | 4.5 – 5.5 | 5 |
| Other (total impurities)Pt, Ir, Rh, Fe, Cu, Ni residuals | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Pd | ≥ 94.3 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PdRu5?
Takes a high mirror polish and needs no plating; commonly supplied as inlay or overlay clad on copper-alloy strip to minimize precious-metal usage.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal PdRu5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- 95Pd-5Ru
How much does PdRu5 cost?
PdRu5 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.
PdRu5 — frequently asked
What is PdRu5 used for?
PdRu5 is typically used for telecom connectors, reed relay contacts, low-power switch contacts and sliding contacts. In short: harder than pure palladium; cheaper than platinum contacts; excellent cold formability.
What is the yield strength of PdRu5?
PdRu5 has a typical yield strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 61% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PdRu5 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 94% of precious metal grades). Gummy and abrasion-prone — use sharp carbide/diamond tools, high speed, light feed and copious lubricant; swarf must be collected for refining.
Can PdRu5 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily resistance-, laser- and micro-TIG-welded to Cu, CuNi and Ni carriers; braze with Ag-Cu or Au-based fillers under inert cover.
What surface finishes work on PdRu5?
Takes a high mirror polish and needs no plating; commonly supplied as inlay or overlay clad on copper-alloy strip to minimize precious-metal usage.
Can PdRu5 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability when annealed (stamping, deep drawing, fine wire drawing); interanneal ~850–950 °C in H₂/inert atmosphere after ~50 % reduction.
What is the maximum service temperature of PdRu5?
PdRu5 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 PdRu5 Annealed and PdRu5 Spring?
Annealed is the default condition — choose for deep drawing, heavy forming, rivet heading and clad-strip bonding operations. Spring: maximum hardness and contact force retention for reed/relay springs and fine probe wire. Yield strength is 210 MPa in Annealed versus 960 MPa in Spring.
How much does PdRu5 cost?
PdRu5 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 B540 — Standard Specification for Palladium Electrical Contact Material — ASTM International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 3 — Alloy Phase Diagrams (Pd-Ru system) — ASM International (1992)
- Precious-metal electrical contact alloy datasheets (Pd-Ru grades) — Deringer-Ney / Johnson Matthey / Heraeus (2023)
- PGM physical property data (palladium and its alloys) — Johnson Matthey PGM Market Report / IPMI (2024)
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.