Precious Metal PtRu10
PtRu10 is a platinum alloy hardened with 10 % ruthenium, used where a contact must combine hardness, wear resistance and chemical stability.
Reference datasheet — PtRu10 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
PtRu10 tempers and conditions
PtRu10 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AnnealedDefault soft, fully recrystallised strip/wire | Standard supply condition for deep-drawn contact rivets, formed spring blanks and further cold working. | 250 | 520 | 28 | 133 HB | 4 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light temper for parts needing better stiffness than soft while still allowing moderate bending. | 450 | 650 | 15 | 176 HB | 3.9 % IACS |
Half hard | Balanced temper for relay blades and slip-ring brush strip needing elastic response plus some formability. | 620 | 780 | 8 | 18 HRC | 3.9 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose for maximum wear resistance on sliding contacts and probe/brush wire where forming is minimal. | 820 | 930 | 3 | 24 HRC | 3.9 % IACS |
Spring hard | Highest-strength temper for fine spring contact wire, probe tips and potentiometer brushes. | 950 | 1,050 | 2 | 28 HRC | 3.8 % IACS |
What is PtRu10?
PtRu10 is a platinum alloy hardened with 10 % ruthenium, used where a contact must combine hardness, wear resistance and chemical stability. It is chosen for low-current precision switching at 520 MPa tensile strength, 250 MPa yield and 28 % elongation, and is stocked as annealed, H01–H04 and spring-temper strip and wire. Service is rated to 500 °C. The alloy work-hardens rapidly so cold work needs interstage annealing, machining is difficult, and cost follows the platinum market. Pt-Ir is the nearest alternative when higher hardness is required. PtRu10 has a density of 20 g/cm³ (0.723 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,780°C (3,236 °F). PtRu10 has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 81% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is PtRu10 used for?
- precision relay contacts
- slip rings
- potentiometer contacts
- aerospace switch contacts
Advantages
- Stiff — 200 GPa (29 Msi), better than 97% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 96/100, better than 85% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 250 MPa (36.3 ksi), better than 81% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 79% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 4 % IACS, worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of precious metal grades
- Heavy — 20 g/cm³ (0.723 lb/in³), worse than 93% of precious metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 86% of precious metal grades
- High embodied carbon — 13,500 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of precious metal grades
PtRu10 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PtRu10-Annealed; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
PtRu10 has a density of 20 g/cm³ (0.723 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,780°C (3,236 °F).
Mechanical13
PtRu10 has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 81% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
PtRu10 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 9 µm/m·K (5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
PtRu10 conducts electricity at 4 % IACS, worse than 100% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (96/100), better than 85% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PtRu10 takes about 220,000 MJ of energy and emits 13,500 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
PtRu10's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 86% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability very good (75/100).
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. PtRu10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PtRu10
Is PtRu10 easy to machine?
Gummy and rapidly work-hardening — use sharp carbide/PCD tooling, positive rake, high speed with light steady feeds, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can PtRu10 be welded?
Readily resistance-, laser- or micro-TIG welded to contact carriers and Ni/Cu leads; braze with Au- or Pd-bearing fillers, avoid Pb/Sn contamination.
Can PtRu10 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold rolls and draws well from the annealed state but hardens fast — interstage anneal at 900–1100 °C in air or inert gas every 40–60 % reduction.
PtRu10 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 | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10 |
| Other PGM + impuritiesIr/Pd/Rh + Fe, Cu, Pb total | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Pttypically 99.95 % purity base | balance |
What surface finishes work on PtRu10?
Takes an excellent mirror polish; no plating or passivation needed, but ultrasonic clean to remove organics that could raise contact resistance.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal PtRu10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- 90Pt-10Ru
How much does PtRu10 cost?
PtRu10 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.
PtRu10 — frequently asked
What is PtRu10 used for?
PtRu10 is typically used for precision relay contacts, slip rings, potentiometer contacts and aerospace switch contacts. In short: hardened platinum contact alloy; 500 °C service capability; available in spring temper.
What is the yield strength of PtRu10?
PtRu10 has a typical yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 81% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is PtRu10 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 86% of precious metal grades). Gummy and rapidly work-hardening — use sharp carbide/PCD tooling, positive rake, high speed with light steady feeds, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can PtRu10 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily resistance-, laser- or micro-TIG welded to contact carriers and Ni/Cu leads; braze with Au- or Pd-bearing fillers, avoid Pb/Sn contamination.
What surface finishes work on PtRu10?
Takes an excellent mirror polish; no plating or passivation needed, but ultrasonic clean to remove organics that could raise contact resistance.
Can PtRu10 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold rolls and draws well from the annealed state but hardens fast — interstage anneal at 900–1100 °C in air or inert gas every 40–60 % reduction.
What is the maximum service temperature of PtRu10?
PtRu10 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 PtRu10 Annealed and PtRu10 Spring?
Annealed is the default condition — standard supply condition for deep-drawn contact rivets, formed spring blanks and further cold working. Spring: highest-strength temper for fine spring contact wire, probe tips and potentiometer brushes. Yield strength is 250 MPa in Annealed versus 950 MPa in Spring.
How much does PtRu10 cost?
PtRu10 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)
- Platinum alloys for electrical contacts — Pt-Ru data — Johnson Matthey (2020)
- ASM Alloy Phase Diagrams — Pt-Ru system — ASM International (2016)
- ASTM B685 / B684 — Platinum and platinum alloy wire and strip — ASTM (2018)
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.