Precious Metal Pt90Ir10 Annealed
Temper · default condition
ASTM B562 · EN PtIr10
Standard stocked condition for wire, ribbon, sheet and tubing that must be formed, coiled, swaged or welded.
Values for the Annealed condition
Other Pt90Ir10 tempers and conditions
Pt90Ir10 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Pt90Ir10.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefaultThis page 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 Annealed?
Pt90Ir10 Annealed is Pt90Ir10 in the Annealed temper — standard stocked condition for wire, ribbon, sheet and tubing that must be formed, coiled, swaged or welded. Pt90Ir10 Annealed 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). Pt90Ir10 Annealed 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).
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 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for Pt90Ir10 Annealed; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Pt90Ir10 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
Pt90Ir10 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Pt90Ir10 Annealed
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.
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.
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) | — |
Pt90Ir10 Annealed — frequently asked
What is Pt90Ir10 Annealed used for?
Pt90Ir10 Annealed 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 Annealed?
Pt90Ir10 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed 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 Annealed?
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 Annealed 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 Annealed?
Pt90Ir10 Annealed 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.