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Platinum Spooled Wire
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Purity | Diameter | Length | Temper ⓘ | Thermocouple Compatibility | Other Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9% (3N) to 99.998% (4N8) | 0.01 mm to 1 mm | 0.0015 m to 285 m | Annealed As Drawn Hard Stress Relieved |
Type R (-) & Type S (-) for 3N5+ wires ≥0.025 mm Ø |
Straight Wire Ultra-Fine Wire |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
Platinum Spooled Wire is available in purities from 99.9% (3N) to 99.998% (4N8), diameters from 0.01 mm to 1 mm, and four tempers: annealed, as-drawn, hard, and stress-relieved. It combines a set of material properties that are rarely found together in a single wire:
Exceptional Chemical Inertness
Platinum resists corrosion and oxidation across a wide range of chemical environments, including strong acids, alkalis, and oxidising gases. This stability under aggressive conditions ensures long-term reliability in corrosive or reactive systems where most other metals would degrade.
High Melting Point (1,768.3 °C)
With a melting point of 1,768.3 °C, platinum maintains its structural integrity and electrical functionality in extreme thermal environments, supporting its use in high-temperature furnaces, thermocouples, and vacuum systems.
Resistance-Temperature Linearity
Platinum delivers one of the most linear and repeatable resistance-temperature relationships of any pure metal. The combination of 10.58 µΩ·cm resistivity and a temperature coefficient of 0.00392 K⁻¹ is the basis for the Pt100 and Pt1000 RTD standards and for Type R and Type S thermocouple calibration.
Superior Ductility and Workability
Platinum can be cold-worked and drawn into ultra-fine wires without fracturing, with diameters available down to 0.01 mm. This mechanical resilience allows it to be wound into precision coils, formed into microfabricated components, and integrated into fine-gauge sensor assemblies where other precious metals would be impractical.
Catalytic and Electrochemical Stability
Platinum catalyses key redox reactions and remains electrochemically stable under both static and dynamic conditions. It is the preferred electrode material in fuel cells, electrolysers, and electrochemical sensors owing to its resistance to long-term degradation and its stable potential across a wide electrochemical window.
Biocompatibility
Naturally bioinert and non-toxic, platinum does not trigger adverse immune responses, making it suitable for prolonged contact with biological tissues and fluids. This underpins its use in neural implants, biosensors, and medical devices requiring long-term in vivo stability.
High Density and Thermal Stability
With a density of 21.45 g/cm³ and thermal conductivity of approximately 71 W/m·K, platinum provides effective heat distribution and dimensional stability during thermal cycling. This is particularly important in precision instruments and thermometry elements exposed to fluctuating temperatures.
Four Tempers for Different End Uses
Stress-relieved wire minimises drift under repeated thermal cycling, making it the preferred condition for thermocouple and RTD elements. Annealed wire offers the ductility needed for coil winding and fine-gauge sensor assemblies. Hard and as-drawn tempers provide the stiffness required for probe tips and structural electrode contacts.
Purity Range 3N to 4N8
3N and 4N grades suit thermocouple, RTD, and general electrode applications. 4N5 and 4N8 grades are selected where trace impurity levels are a controlled experimental variable, as in electrochemical characterization, surface science, and implantable biosensor development.
Industrial Applications
Platinum Spooled Wire is used across temperature measurement, electrochemistry, biomedical sensing, and catalysis wherever platinum’s resistance-temperature linearity, chemical inertness, and purity range determine material selection:
- ✦ Pt100 and Pt1000 RTD Elements
- Wound into Pt100 and Pt1000 resistance temperature detectors using annealed wire for consistent coil geometry. The stress-relieved temper is selected for elements subject to repeated thermal cycling, where residual stress would otherwise introduce long-term resistance drift.
- ✦ Type R and Type S Thermocouples
- Used as the standard negative-leg material for Type R and Type S thermocouples. 3N5 and above grades at diameters of 0.1 mm and larger are compatible with both thermocouple types; stress-relieved temper is specified for calibration-grade elements.
- ✦ Analytical and Electrochemical Electrodes
- Applied as working, counter, and reference electrodes where platinum’s stable electrochemical potential and chemical inertness provide a reliable non-reactive surface across a wide range of aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes.
- ✦ Neural Stimulation and Recording Microelectrodes
- Used in implantable and acute neural electrodes, where fine diameters down to 0.01 mm, biocompatibility in physiological environments, and chemical inertness support both chronic stimulation designs and in vitro recording setups.
- ✦ Fuel Cell Components and Catalyst Evaluation
- Applied in electrocatalysis research and fuel cell electrode fabrication, where platinum’s catalytic activity and electrochemical stability under oxidising and reducing conditions make it the reference precious metal wire for catalyst evaluation systems.
- ✦ Surface Science and High-Purity Research
- 4N5 and 4N8 grades are used in surface science experiments and electrochemical characterization studies where trace impurity levels in the wire are an experimental variable and a traceable, specification-controlled substrate is required.
Mentions in Scientific Literature
Goodfellow’s platinum wire features prominently in research including but not exclusive to domains such as:
Neuroscience & Biomedicine, where it underpins implantable electrodes and stent surrogates
[1–3]
.
Analytical & Electrochemical Science, powering voltammetry, impedance, micro-sensors and electrodes
[4–5]
.
Materials & Energy Research, acting as a corrosion-proof lead in catalyst evaluation, graphene production and molten-salt studies
[6–8]
.
Sensor/MEMS Engineering, where it forms the active filaments of miniature flow, pressure and temperature devices
[9–10]
.
Across these disciplines researchers have utilized our platinum wires as ultra-thin
neural stimulation/recording microelectrodes
[1–3]
, rugged
working, counter or reference electrodes for electrochemical cells
[4–8]
,
micro sensors
[9–10]
, and
inert current collectors or test probes in high-temperature and corrosive environments
[6–8]
— applications that all benefit from platinum’s purity, biocompatibility and stability.
References & Citations
Click to expand
- Forni, M., Thorbergsson, P. T., Gällentoft, L., Thelin, J., & Schouenborg, J. (2023). Sustained and potent analgesia with negligible side effects enabled by adaptive individualized granular stimulation in rat brainstem. Journal of Neural Engineering, 20(3), 036014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/acd3b2
- Mohammed, M., Ivica, N., Bjartmarz, H., Thorbergsson, P. T., Pettersson, L. M. E., Thelin, J., & Schouenborg, J. (2022). Microelectrode clusters enable therapeutic deep brain stimulation without noticeable side-effects in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 365, 109399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109399
- Racz, R. R., Kollo, M., Racz, G., Bulz, C., Ackels, T., Warner, T., … Schaefer, A. T. (2022). jULIEs: Nanostructured polytrodes for low-traumatic extracellular recordings and stimulation in the mammalian brain. Journal of Neural Engineering, 19(1), 016041. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac514f
- Lim, K., Goines, S., Deng, M., McCormick, H., Kauffmann, P. J., & Dick, J. E. (2023). A troubleshooting guide for laser pulling platinum nanoelectrodes. Analyst, 148(13), 2992–3001. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3AN00268C
- Elshamy, Y. S., Strein, T. G., Holland, L. A., Li, C., DeBastiani, A., Valentine, S. J., … Shaffer, T. A. (2022). Nanoflow sheath voltage-free interfacing of capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry for the detection of small molecules. Analytical Chemistry, 94(32), 11329–11336. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02074
- Yu, P., Tian, Z., Lowe, S. E., Song, J., Ma, Z., Wang, X., … Zhong, Y. L. (2016). Mechanically-assisted electrochemical production of graphene oxide. Chemistry of Materials, 28(22), 8429–8438. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.6b04415
- Consiglio, A. N., Carotti, F., Liu, E., Williams, H., & Scarlat, R. O. (2022). Design and operation of a molten-salt electrochemical cell. MethodsX, 9, 101626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101626
- Rovetta, A. A. S., Browne, M. P., Harvey, A., Godwin, I. J., Coleman, J. N., & Lyons, M. E. G. (2017). Cobalt hydroxide nanoflakes and their application as supercapacitors and oxygen evolution catalysts. Nanotechnology, 28(37), 375401. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/aa7f1b
- Wang, H., Lim, K. B., Lawrence, R. F., Howald, W. N., Taylor, J. A., Ericsson, L. H., Walsh, K. A., & Hackett, M. (1997). Stability enhancement for peptide analysis by electrospray using the triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Analytical Biochemistry, 250(2), 162–168. https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1997.2214
- Ecker, R., & Jakoby, B. (2024). Microfluidic flowmeter using a single hot wire. Proceedings, 97(1), 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2024097064
Synonyms
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 78 |
| Crystal structure | Face centred cubic |
| Electronic structure | Xe 4f¹⁴ 5d⁹ 6s¹ |
| Valences shown | 1,2,3,4 |
| Atomic weight( amu ) | 195.08 |
| Thermal neutron absorption cross-section( Barns ) | 9 |
| Photo-electric work function( eV ) | 5.3 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 192/ 0.79 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 196/ 25.30 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 190/ 0.01 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 195/ 33.80 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 198/ 7.20 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 194/ 32.90 |
| Atomic radius - Goldschmidt( nm ) | 0.138 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 1/ 9.0 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 2/ 18.6 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Material condition | Hard |
| Material condition | Soft |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39 |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.39 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 276 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 276 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 170 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 170 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 40 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 100 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 200-300 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 125-150 |
| Yield strength( MPa ) | 14-35 |
| Yield strength( MPa ) | 185 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 10.58@20°C |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.00392@0-100°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Boiling point( C ) | 3827 |
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 21.45@20°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 1772 |
| Latent heat of evaporation( J g⁻¹ ) | 2405 |
| Latent heat of fusion( J g⁻¹ ) | 101 |
| Specific heat( J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹ ) | 133@025°C |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 71.6@0-100°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 9@0-100 |
Tolerances
| Diameter | ±10% | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | +5% / -1% |