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Platinum-Iridium Spooled Wire (Pt80-Ir20)
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Diameter | Length | Temper ⓘ | Other Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.015 mm to 1 mm | 0.025 m to 100 m | As drawn Annealed Stress relieved |
Pt70-Ir30 Pt75-Ir25 Pt85-Ir15 Pt90-Ir10 |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Platinum/Iridium Alloy Spooled Wire (Pt80/Ir20) provides a well-established balance between the workability of lower-iridium grades and the enhanced wear and arc erosion resistance of compositions with higher iridium content:
Substantially Higher Modulus, Hardness & Tensile Strength Than Pt90/Ir10
First-principles modelling and experimental studies confirm significantly improved mechanical properties at 20% iridium while elongation at break remains workable for spooling and precision winding.
Practical Balance Point Between Performance & Processability
Delivers more than the entry-level alloy without the fabrication constraints of the 25–30% iridium compositions — the natural choice when Pt90/Ir10 is insufficient but higher grades introduce unnecessary process difficulty.
Enhanced Wear & Arc Erosion Resistance
Improved resistance to both wear and arc erosion at this iridium level extends service life in precision contact and electrode applications subject to repeated mechanical and electrical loading.
Full Chemical Inertness & High Melting Point Preserved
Noble metal chemistry and elevated melting point are fully maintained at this composition, supporting use across aggressive chemical and high-temperature service environments.
Biocompatibility Confirmed Across Pt-Ir Compositions
Peer-reviewed work on Pt-Ir neural electrodes confirms good in vivo performance across compositions including this region of the phase diagram.
Improved Dimensional Stability Under Mechanical Load
Higher elastic modulus gives better dimensional stability than Pt90/Ir10, making this grade a preferred choice for precision resistance elements and instrumentation components.
Industrial Applications
Pt80/Ir20 spooled wire is the practical balance-point grade, used wherever enhanced mechanical and arc erosion performance is required without the processing constraints of higher-iridium compositions:
- ✦ High-Durability Electrical Contact Wires
- Enhanced wear and arc erosion resistance over lower-iridium grades extends contact service life in demanding switching and conduction applications.
- ✦ Precision Ignition Electrodes — Aerospace & Industrial
- Arc erosion resistance and chemical inertness at elevated temperatures support long-life ignition electrode performance in aerospace and industrial systems.
- ✦ Neural Stimulation & Recording Wire
- Confirmed biocompatibility and improved mechanical rigidity over Pt90/Ir10 suit chronic neural electrode applications requiring greater dimensional stability.
- ✦ Thermocouple Wire in Aggressive Chemical Environments
- Noble metal chemistry and enhanced mechanical performance suit precision temperature measurement where chemical attack or mechanical stress would degrade lower-performance alternatives.
- ✦ Precision Resistance Elements in Instrumentation
- Higher elastic modulus gives improved dimensional stability under load compared with Pt90/Ir10, supporting precision resistance element applications where geometry must be maintained.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Elongation at break( % ) | <20 |
| Modulus of elasticity( GPa ) | 198 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 190-200 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 680-700 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 31-32 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.001 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 1830-2123 |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 8.3@0-100°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 21.7 |
Tolerances
| Diameter | ±10% | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | +5% / -1% |