Precious Metal Pt87Rh13
ASTM E230 Type R · EN PtRh13
Pt87Rh13 is a platinum–13 % rhodium alloy standardised in ASTM E230 as the positive leg of the Type R thermocouple, stocked annealed, half-hard, hard-drawn and as annealed sheet in IEC Class 1 and Class 2 tolerances.
Reference datasheet — Pt87Rh13 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
Pt87Rh13 tempers and conditions
Pt87Rh13 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft, fully recrystallized thermocouple wire | Pick this soft, fully recrystallized wire for Type R thermocouple positive legs, glass-fibre bushings and crucible liners needing ductility and stable EMF up to 1400 °C. | 190 | 380 | 32 | 90 HV | 8.8 % IACS |
Half hard | Choose partially cold-worked wire or strip when parts need stiffness yet must still be bent; the 450 MPa yield comes with elongation cut to 8%. | 450 | 600 | 8 | 150 HB | 8.7 % IACS |
fully cold-drawn (spring) wire | Use fully cold-drawn spring wire for probes, elastic contacts and grids needing 700 MPa yield; elongation falls to 2%, service limit to 1000 °C, and annealing is required for stable EMF. | 700 | 820 | 2 | 19 HRC | 8.6 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Pt87Rh13 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
AnnealedSheet | Annealed Sheet / Foil | Surface finish |
IEC-Class1 | IEC 60584-1 Class 1 (Type R) calibrated thermocouple leg | Certification |
IEC-Class2 | IEC 60584-1 Class 2 (Type R) standard-tolerance leg | Certification |
What is Pt87Rh13?
Pt87Rh13 is a platinum–13 % rhodium alloy standardised in ASTM E230 as the positive leg of the Type R thermocouple, stocked annealed, half-hard, hard-drawn and as annealed sheet in IEC Class 1 and Class 2 tolerances. The higher rhodium content improves thermal EMF stability relative to Type S, so it is specified for demanding industrial measurement to 1400 °C. Annealed values are 190 MPa yield, 380 MPa tensile, 32 % elongation and 8.8 % IACS, with machinability 35, weldability 80 and formability 90. Cost follows the PGM market and iron, silicon or oil contamination shifts the calibration; Type S is the lower-output alternative. Pt87Rh13 has a density of 19.6 g/cm³ (0.708 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,860°C (3,380 °F). Pt87Rh13 has a yield strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is Pt87Rh13 used for?
- Type R thermocouples
- Glass/steel industry sensors
- Lab furnaces
Advantages
- Stiff — 205 GPa (29.7 Msi), better than 98% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 1,400°C (2,552 °F), better than 98% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 99/100, better than 93% of precious metal grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 87% of precious metal grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 32%, better than 75% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 22,000 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of precious metal grades
- Heavy — 19.6 g/cm³ (0.708 lb/in³), worse than 92% 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 — 8.8 % IACS, worse than 85% of precious metal grades
Pt87Rh13 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Pt87Rh13-Annealed; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
Pt87Rh13 has a density of 19.6 g/cm³ (0.708 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,860°C (3,380 °F).
Mechanical10
Pt87Rh13 has a yield strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
Pt87Rh13 is rated for continuous service to 1,400°C (2,552 °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 8.9 µm/m·K (4.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pt87Rh13 conducts electricity at 8.8 % IACS, worse than 85% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (99/100), better than 93% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Pt87Rh13 takes about 300,000 MJ of energy and emits 22,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 99% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability7
Pt87Rh13's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 73% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (80/100); 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. Pt87Rh13 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Pt87Rh13
Is Pt87Rh13 easy to machine?
Very soft and prone to smearing; use sharp diamond or carbide tooling with shallow depth of cut and high spindle speed. All precious-metal chips must be collected for refining.
Can Pt87Rh13 be welded?
Hot junctions are usually made with an oxy-hydrogen flame, micro-TIG or laser butt welding. Clean thoroughly beforehand — iron, silicon and oil contamination cause thermal EMF drift.
Can Pt87Rh13 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed material cold-works readily, drawing to wire below 0.05 mm or rolling to foil. Anneal between passes at 1000–1200 °C and apply a stabilizing anneal after forming to restore the calibration curve.
Pt87Rh13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rhnominal 13% rhodium | 12.5 – 13.5 | 13 |
| Ptbalance; Pt+Rh usually ≥99.95%, Fe/Si/Pd/Ir tightly controlled | balance |
What surface finishes work on Pt87Rh13?
No plating or anodizing is used. Contaminated material can be cleaned in dilute hydrochloric acid or aqua regia and restored by ignition at 1100–1200 °C in air; polishing gives a mirror surface.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal Pt87Rh13 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- E230 Type R
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- PtRh13
How much does Pt87Rh13 cost?
Pt87Rh13 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.
Pt87Rh13 — frequently asked
What is Pt87Rh13 used for?
Pt87Rh13 is typically used for type R thermocouples, glass/steel industry sensors and lab furnaces. In short: more stable EMF than Type S; industrial sensing to 1400 °C; draws to sub-0.05 mm wire.
What is the yield strength of Pt87Rh13?
Pt87Rh13 has a typical yield strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Pt87Rh13 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 73% of precious metal grades). Very soft and prone to smearing; use sharp diamond or carbide tooling with shallow depth of cut and high spindle speed. All precious-metal chips must be collected for refining.
Can Pt87Rh13 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Hot junctions are usually made with an oxy-hydrogen flame, micro-TIG or laser butt welding. Clean thoroughly beforehand — iron, silicon and oil contamination cause thermal EMF drift.
What surface finishes work on Pt87Rh13?
No plating or anodizing is used. Contaminated material can be cleaned in dilute hydrochloric acid or aqua regia and restored by ignition at 1100–1200 °C in air; polishing gives a mirror surface.
Can Pt87Rh13 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed material cold-works readily, drawing to wire below 0.05 mm or rolling to foil. Anneal between passes at 1000–1200 °C and apply a stabilizing anneal after forming to restore the calibration curve.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pt87Rh13?
Pt87Rh13 is rated for continuous use to about 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Pt87Rh13 cost?
Pt87Rh13 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
- IEC 60584-1 Thermocouples — EMF specifications and tolerances (Type R) — IEC (2013)
- ASTM E230/E230M Standard Specification for Temperature-EMF Tables for Standardized Thermocouples — ASTM (2017)
- ASTM E1159 Standard Specification for Thermocouple Materials, Platinum-Rhodium Alloys and Platinum — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Precious Metals and Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Platinum-rhodium alloy technical data — Johnson Matthey / Heraeus (2022)
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.