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Platinum/Iridium Alloy Spooled Wire (Pt90/Ir10)
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Diameter | Length | Temper ⓘ | Other Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0125 mm to 1 mm | 0.025 m to 355 m | As drawn Annealed |
Pt70-Ir30 Pt75-Ir25 Pt80-Ir20 Pt85-Ir15 |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Platinum/Iridium Alloy Spooled Wire (Pt90/Ir10) is the most widely used composition in the platinum-iridium wire family, combining platinum's chemical inertness and biocompatibility with the modest strengthening effect of a 10% iridium addition:
Best Ductility & Formability in the Pt-Ir Series
Retains good ductility and workability at 10% iridium — making it the most processable grade and the natural starting point wherever the higher-iridium compositions would be unnecessarily difficult to draw or wind.
Hardness 130–190 HV, Tensile Strength 380–620 MPa
Delivers meaningful mechanical performance above pure platinum while preserving the formability required for precision winding, contact fabrication, and electrode manufacture.
Electrical Resistivity 25 µΩ·cm — Low Temperature Coefficient
Stable electrical performance across temperature makes this grade the standard for precision resistance wire and thermocouple sheaths in laboratory and industrial environments.
Melting Point 1800 °C, Density 21.56 g/cm³
Dominant platinum character gives excellent thermal stability and high mass per unit length, supporting dimensional stability under sustained thermal and mechanical load.
Biocompatible — Confirmed Superior Neural Electrode Performance
Peer-reviewed work confirms lower inflammatory response in glial cell assays than iridium oxide alternatives, supporting use in neural stimulation and recording electrodes and implantable biosensors.
Historical Standard — International Prototype of the Kilogram
The alloy from which the International Prototype of the Kilogram was fabricated, reflecting its unmatched combination of chemical stability, dimensional precision, and workability.
Industrial Applications
Pt90/Ir10 spooled wire is used wherever platinum's chemical inertness and biocompatibility are required alongside sufficient hardness for reliable precision contact and electrode performance:
- ✦ Neural Stimulation & Recording Electrodes
- Biocompatibility and low inflammatory response make this the standard Pt-Ir composition for cortical, cochlear, and implantable neural electrode applications.
- ✦ Precision Electrical Contacts in Aerospace & Scientific Instrumentation
- Chemical stability and good formability support reliable, long-life contact fabrication across demanding laboratory and aerospace environments.
- ✦ Thermocouple Wire & Sheaths
- Low temperature coefficient and chemical inertness suit precision temperature measurement in aggressive chemical and high-temperature environments.
- ✦ High-Reliability Spark Ignition Components
- Arc erosion resistance and thermal stability support sustained performance in ignition service where base metal alternatives would degrade.
- ✦ Research: Electrochemical Characterization, Surface Science & Implantable Biosensor Development
- Well-characterized composition and consistent surface chemistry support systematic experimental programs across electrochemistry, surface science, and bioelectronic research.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Hardness - Brinell | 130-190 |
| Elongation at break( % ) | <25 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 380-620 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 25 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.0013 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 1800 |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 31@23 |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 31@23C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 8.7@20-100°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 21.56 |
Tolerances
| Diameter | ±10% | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | +5% / -1% |