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Iridium Spooled Wire
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Purity | Diameter | Length | Other Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.5% (2N5) to 99.9% (3N) | 0.0075mm to 2mm | 0.005m to 165m | Straight wire |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Iridium Spooled Wire is available in purities from 99.5% (2N5) to 99.9% (3N), offering the highest hardness among the platinum group metals combined with a melting point of 2,446 °C and exceptional arc erosion resistance:
Highest Hardness Among the Platinum Group Metals
Iridium is the hardest of the platinum group metals, giving spooled wire outstanding resistance to mechanical wear, indentation, and surface deformation in contact and switching applications where softer precious metal wires would erode or deform in service.
Melting Point 2,446 °C and Exceptional Arc Erosion Resistance
The combination of a 2,446 °C melting point and exceptional resistance to arc erosion allows fine-wire iridium electrode designs to maintain dimensional integrity and ignition performance over service intervals far beyond what platinum or nickel electrodes can sustain.
Chemical Stability Under Oxidizing Conditions at Elevated Temperatures
Iridium maintains chemical stability under oxidizing conditions at elevated temperatures, with extremely low reactivity toward most acids and molten salts. This combination supports its use in electrode elements and current-carrying leads exposed to aggressive chemical and thermal environments.
Face-Centered Cubic Substrate with Well-Defined Surface Chemistry
Iridium’s face-centered cubic structure and well-defined surface chemistry make it a useful model substrate in surface science, catalysis research, and thin-film deposition studies where a chemically stable, structurally well-characterized precious metal surface is required.
Industrial Applications
Iridium Spooled Wire is used wherever its combination of extreme hardness, arc erosion resistance, and high-temperature chemical stability determine material selection:
- ✦ Spark Plug Center Electrodes
- The standard material for spark plug center electrodes in automotive and high-performance ignition systems. Iridium’s extreme hardness, 2,446 °C melting point, and arc erosion resistance allow fine-wire electrode designs that maintain ignitability over service intervals far beyond platinum or nickel electrodes.
- ✦ Electrode Elements in High-Temperature Electrochemical Systems
- Applied as electrode elements in high-temperature electrochemical systems, where chemical stability under oxidizing conditions and extremely low reactivity toward acids and molten salts ensure reliable, long-term electrode performance in aggressive environments.
- ✦ Crucible Support Wire for Reactive Material Processing
- Used as crucible support wire in melting and processing of reactive materials, where iridium’s refractory character and chemical inertness prevent contamination of the melt and maintain structural integrity at processing temperatures.
- ✦ High-Reliability Electrical Contacts and Switching
- Applied as a precision electrical contact material in high-reliability switching applications, where extreme hardness and arc erosion resistance extend contact service life and maintain consistent contact resistance over extended operational cycles.
- ✦ Surface Science and Thin-Film Deposition Research
- Used in surface science as a model face-centered cubic substrate with well-defined surface chemistry for catalysis and thin-film deposition studies, where chemical stability and structural definition support reproducible experimental conditions.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 77 |
| Crystal structure | Face centred cubic |
| Electronic structure | Xe 4f¹⁴ 5d⁷ 6s² |
| Valences shown | 3, 4 |
| Atomic weight( amu ) | 192.22 |
| Thermal neutron absorption cross-section( Barns ) | 425 |
| Photo-electric work function( eV ) | 4.6 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 191/ 37.3 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 193/ 62.7 |
| Atomic radius - Goldschmidt( nm ) | 0.135 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Material condition | Soft |
| Material condition | Hard |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.26 |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.26 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 371 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 371 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 528 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 528 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 650 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 200-300 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 550-1100 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 1200 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 5.1@20°C |
| Superconductivity critical temperature( K ) | 0.11 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.0045@0-100°C |
| Thermal emf against Pt (cold 0C - hot 100C)( mV ) | 0.65 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Boiling point( C ) | 4130 |
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 22.4@20°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 2410 |
| Latent heat of evaporation( J g⁻¹ ) | 3186 |
| Latent heat of fusion( J g⁻¹ ) | 135 |
| Specific heat( J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹ ) | 133@25°C |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 147@0-100°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 6.8@0-100°C |
Tolerances
| Diameter | ±10% | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | +5% / -1% |