Precious Metal Pt90Ir10
ASTM B562 · EN PtIr10
Pt90Ir10 is a solid-solution-hardened platinum–10 % iridium alloy supplied to ASTM B562 (PtIr10) in annealed, H01, H02, H04, spring and stress-relieved conditions.
Reference datasheet — Pt90Ir10 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
Pt90Ir10 tempers and conditions
Pt90Ir10 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 fully softened (≈1000–1200 °C, air or H2) | Standard stocked condition for wire, ribbon, sheet and tubing that must be formed, coiled, swaged or welded. | 210 | 380 | 27 | 105 HB | — |
Quarter hard | Pick when parts still need mild bending but require more spring-back control and handling stiffness than soft temper. | 420 | 550 | 12 | 143 HB | 6.8 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Used to stabilise dimensions and reduce spring-back in formed electrodes/standards while retaining most cold-work strength. | 480 | 620 | 10 | 166 HB | 6.9 % IACS |
Half hard | Compromise temper for marker bands, contacts and stamped parts needing strength with some residual ductility. | 570 | 700 | 6 | 180 HB | 6.7 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose for stiff guidewires, probe tips, pen nib tipping stock and electrodes needing maximum strength and wear resistance. | 830 | 950 | 2.5 | 23 HRC | 6.6 % IACS |
Spring hard | Fine wire for springs, coils and stylus/contact elements where elastic limit matters more than ductility. | 930 | 1,050 | 1.5 | 28 HRC | 6.5 % IACS |
What is Pt90Ir10?
Pt90Ir10 is a solid-solution-hardened platinum–10 % iridium alloy supplied to ASTM B562 (PtIr10) in annealed, H01, H02, H04, spring and stress-relieved conditions. Engineers choose it for extreme corrosion resistance combined with hardness — 210 MPa yield, 380 MPa tensile, 27 % elongation, 105 HB and service to 1200 °C — normally as fine wire, ribbon, foil and tipping stock. It was the historic material for length and mass standards and is still used for fountain-pen nibs and spark electrodes. Machinability is low (22) and metal cost is high; Pt95Ir5 is the nearest alternative when softer, more formable material is acceptable. Pt90Ir10 has a density of 21.54 g/cm³ (0.778 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,780°C (3,236 °F). Pt90Ir10 has a yield strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 61% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 27% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is Pt90Ir10 used for?
- Fountain pen nib tipping
- Spark plug electrodes
- Surgical wire
- Reference standards
Advantages
- Stiff — 200 GPa (29 Msi), better than 97% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 1,200°C (2,192 °F), better than 97% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 99/100, better than 93% of precious metal grades
- Readily welded — 75/100, better than 78% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 21.54 g/cm³ (0.778 lb/in³), worse than 99% of precious metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 98% of precious metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 31 W/m·K (17.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 92% of precious metal grades
- High embodied carbon — 14,500 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 92% of precious metal grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 6.9 % IACS, worse than 90% of precious metal grades
Pt90Ir10 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Pt90Ir10-Annealed; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
Pt90Ir10 has a density of 21.54 g/cm³ (0.778 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,780°C (3,236 °F).
Mechanical11
Pt90Ir10 has a yield strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 61% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 27% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
Pt90Ir10 is rated for continuous service to 1,200°C (2,192 °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 8.8 µm/m·K (4.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pt90Ir10 conducts electricity at 6.9 % IACS, worse than 90% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (99/100), better than 93% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Pt90Ir10 takes about 250,000 MJ of energy and emits 14,500 kg of CO₂ — more than 95% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
Pt90Ir10's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 98% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability very good (80/100).
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. Pt90Ir10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Pt90Ir10
Is Pt90Ir10 easy to machine?
Very gummy and rapidly work-hardening: use sharp, high-positive-rake carbide or PCD tools, light-but-positive feeds, flood coolant, and collect all swarf/coolant for refining.
Can Pt90Ir10 be welded?
Excellent for resistance, laser and micro-TIG welding autogenously in argon; keep the joint clean of sulphur, lead, silicon and carbon contamination which cause hot cracking.
Can Pt90Ir10 be formed, bent or molded?
Highly ductile when annealed — cold drawn to <25 µm wire and rolled to thin foil, with interstage anneals near 1000–1100 °C after roughly 60–75 % reduction.
Pt90Ir10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Irsolid-solution hardener | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10 |
| Other PGM + base metals (total)Rh, Pd, Ru, Fe, Cu, Ni impurities; high-purity grades ≤0.05 % | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Pt | ≥ 89.4 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Pt90Ir10?
Polishes to a durable mirror without tarnish or plating; electropolishing, Pt-black deposition or laser texturing are used on electrode surfaces; no anodizing or protective coating needed.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal Pt90Ir10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B562
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- PtIr10
How much does Pt90Ir10 cost?
Pt90Ir10 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.
Pt90Ir10 — frequently asked
What is Pt90Ir10 used for?
Pt90Ir10 is typically used for fountain pen nib tipping, spark plug electrodes, surgical wire and reference standards. In short: hardest common Pt-Ir grade; tarnish-free to 1200 °C; reference-standard platinum alloy.
What is the yield strength of Pt90Ir10?
Pt90Ir10 has a typical yield strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 61% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Pt90Ir10 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 98% of precious metal grades). Very gummy and rapidly work-hardening: use sharp, high-positive-rake carbide or PCD tools, light-but-positive feeds, flood coolant, and collect all swarf/coolant for refining.
Can Pt90Ir10 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Excellent for resistance, laser and micro-TIG welding autogenously in argon; keep the joint clean of sulphur, lead, silicon and carbon contamination which cause hot cracking.
What surface finishes work on Pt90Ir10?
Polishes to a durable mirror without tarnish or plating; electropolishing, Pt-black deposition or laser texturing are used on electrode surfaces; no anodizing or protective coating needed.
Can Pt90Ir10 be formed, bent or molded?
Highly ductile when annealed — cold drawn to <25 µm wire and rolled to thin foil, with interstage anneals near 1000–1100 °C after roughly 60–75 % reduction.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pt90Ir10?
Pt90Ir10 is rated for continuous use to about 1,200°C (2,192 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Pt90Ir10 Annealed and Pt90Ir10 Spring?
Annealed is the default condition — standard stocked condition for wire, ribbon, sheet and tubing that must be formed, coiled, swaged or welded. Spring: fine wire for springs, coils and stylus/contact elements where elastic limit matters more than ductility. Yield strength is 210 MPa in Annealed versus 930 MPa in Spring.
How much does Pt90Ir10 cost?
Pt90Ir10 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 B562 — Refined Platinum — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM F2181 / F560-family specifications for implantable precious-metal wire — ASTM International (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- Platinum-Iridium alloy technical data — Johnson Matthey Noble Metals (2022)
- Precious metal alloys for medical and electrical applications — Heraeus / Deringer-Ney (2023)
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.