ASTM B684/B684M-22

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:B684/B684M −22
Standard Specification for
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Platinum-Iridium Electrical Contact Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B684/B684M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* B542 Terminology Relating to Electrical Contacts and Their
Use
1.1 This specification covers an 80 % platinum—20 %
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
iridium alloy, an 85 % platinum—15 % iridium alloy, and a
terials
90 % platinum—10 % iridium alloy, in the form of rod, wire,
E384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
strip, and sheet material for electrical contacts.
rials
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
3. Terminology
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
3.1 For definitions of terms related to electrical contact
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
materials, refer to Terminology B542.
used independently of the other, and values from the two
systems shall not be combined.
4. General Requirements
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 The requirements of Specification B476 shall apply to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
all materials produced to this specification.
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
4.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
referenced in 4.1 appears in this specification, it contains
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
additional requirements which supplement those appearing in
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability
Specification B476.
of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
5. Ordering Information
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
5.1 Include the following information when placing orders
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
for product under this specification, as applicable:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.1.2 Grade of material (see Table 1),
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.1.3 Temper (annealed or work hardened, see Table 2 and
2. Referenced Documents Table 3),
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5.1.4 Form (rod, wire, sheet, or strip),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1.5 Dimensions and tolerances,
B277 Test Method for Hardness of Electrical Contact Mate-
5.1.6 Quantity, total weight or total length or number of
rials
pieces of each size,
B476 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
5.1.7 Heat identification or traceability details, if required,
Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
5.1.8 Certification or test report, or both, if required.
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
6. Materials and Manufacture
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B02.05 on Precious Metals and Electrical Contact Materials.
6.1 Raw materials shall be of such quality and purity that
Current edition approved April 1, 2022. Published April 2022. Originally
the finished product will have the properties and characteristics
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as B684/B684M – 16.
prescribed in this specification.
DOI: 10.1520/B0684_B0684M-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.2 The material shall be finished by such operations (cold
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
working, annealing, turning, grinding, or pickling) as are
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. required to produce the prescribed properties.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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B684/B684M−22
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
80Pt/20Ir 85Pt/15Ir 90Pt/10Ir
Element
Weight % Weight % Weight %
Pt balance balance balance
Ir 19.5
...