Precious Metal S800-EH (Extra hard / spring)
Supply condition
Drawn fine wire for springy earwires, coils and chain stock; no further bending margin.
Values for the EH condition
Other S800 tempers and conditions
S800 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at S800.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Default stock condition for sheet, wire and tube that will be bent, drawn, stamped or hand-formed. | 110 | 310 | 35 | 66 HB | 60 % IACS |
As cast | Pick for cast jewelry bodies and decorative parts straight from the flask, before work-hardening. | 120 | 270 | 18 | 74 HB | 55 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Use where a little extra stiffness is needed but bending and setting are still required. | 260 | 380 | 18 | 90 HB | 58 % IACS |
Half hard | Common for chain wire, findings and ring shanks needing shape retention with some ductility left. | 350 | 450 | 10 | 109 HB | 57 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose for spring clips, pin stems and wear surfaces where forming is finished. | 460 | 540 | 4 | 137 HB | 56 % IACS |
Pre-hardened | Use when maximum hardness and dent resistance are wanted on cast or formed parts with complex shapes. | 470 | 560 | 6 | 160 HB | 68 % IACS |
EHThis page Extra hard / spring | Drawn fine wire for springy earwires, coils and chain stock; no further bending margin. | 540 | 610 | 2 | 150 HB | 57 % IACS |
What is S800-EH?
S800-EH is S800 supplied in the EH condition — drawn fine wire for springy earwires, coils and chain stock; no further bending margin. S800-EH has a yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 610 MPa (88.5 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 80 GPa (11.6 Msi). S800-EH has a density of 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), lighter than 61% of precious metal grades. It melts at 779°C (1,434 °F). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; EH is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 65/100, better than 100% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 540 MPa (78.3 ksi), better than 97% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 98% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 97% of precious metal grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 66/100, worse than 75% of precious metal grades
S800-EH properties
Typical room-temperature values for S800-EH; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are S800 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
S800-EH has a density of 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), lighter than 61% of precious metal grades. It melts at 779°C (1,434 °F).
Mechanical14
S800-EH has a yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 610 MPa (88.5 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 80 GPa (11.6 Msi).
Thermal6
S800-EH is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 290 W/m·K (167.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 74% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 19 µm/m·K (10.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
S800-EH conducts electricity at 57 % IACS, better than 72% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), worse than 75% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of S800-EH takes about 1,250 MJ of energy and emits 85 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
S800-EH's machinability is good (65/100, better than 100% of precious metal grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability poor (15/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with S800-EH
Is S800 easy to machine?
Very soft and gummy in the annealed state — use sharp polished carbide or HSS tools, high speed, light feed and oil mist; cold-worked or aged material cuts cleaner with better chip break.
Can S800 be welded?
Laser/PUK spot welding is standard; high thermal conductivity demands high peak power and matching 800 filler, and torch work risks copper firescale so use borax/boric flux or inert cover.
Can S800 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability when annealed (bending, drawing, stamping, hydro-forming); anneal at 600–650 °C with quench every 40–50 % reduction to avoid cracking, and it investment-casts well at 950–1000 °C metal temperature.
What surface finishes work on S800?
Takes a mirror polish easily; pickle firescale in dilute sulfuric acid, then protect against tarnish with rhodium/silver plating, e-coat lacquer or anti-tarnish passivation — no anodizing.
S800 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agfineness 800‰ minimum per GB/T 11887 marking rules | 80 – 81 | 80 |
| Znoptional deoxidizer / castability aid in commercial melts | 0 – 1 | 0.2 |
| Sioptional deoxidizer / anti-firescale addition | 0 – 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Cuprincipal alloying element (Ag-Cu hypoeutectic) | ≥ 18.5 (balance) | — |
S800-EH — frequently asked
What is S800-EH used for?
S800-EH is typically used for fashion jewelry, decorative items and giftware, stamped pendants and earring findings, cast rings and clasps, ornamental chain and mesh and costume buckles and trim. In short: strongest of the silver finenesses; lowest-cost silver jewelry alloy; age-hardenable silver grade.
What is the yield strength of S800-EH?
S800-EH has a typical yield strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 610 MPa (88.5 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is S800-EH easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 100% of precious metal grades). Very soft and gummy in the annealed state — use sharp polished carbide or HSS tools, high speed, light feed and oil mist; cold-worked or aged material cuts cleaner with better chip break.
Can S800-EH be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Laser/PUK spot welding is standard; high thermal conductivity demands high peak power and matching 800 filler, and torch work risks copper firescale so use borax/boric flux or inert cover.
What surface finishes work on S800-EH?
Takes a mirror polish easily; pickle firescale in dilute sulfuric acid, then protect against tarnish with rhodium/silver plating, e-coat lacquer or anti-tarnish passivation — no anodizing.
Can S800-EH be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability when annealed (bending, drawing, stamping, hydro-forming); anneal at 600–650 °C with quench every 40–50 % reduction to avoid cracking, and it investment-casts well at 950–1000 °C metal temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of S800-EH?
S800-EH is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between S800-O and S800-EH?
O is the default condition — default stock condition for sheet, wire and tube that will be bent, drawn, stamped or hand-formed. EH: drawn fine wire for springy earwires, coils and chain stock; no further bending margin. Yield strength is 110 MPa in O versus 540 MPa in EH.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (precious metals section) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Alloy Phase Diagrams — Ag-Cu binary system — ASM International (2016)
- The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology proceedings (silver alloy metallurgy) — Met-Chem Research (2018)
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.