Precious metal wires are naturally ductile and widely used in a variety of wire applications because of their superior conductivity and corrosion resistance. Despite their high monetary worth, precious metals are crucial in modern technology contributing to advancements in energy, aerospace, electronics, telecommunications etc. Gold is highly used in wire bonding applications whereas silver, platinum are often used as electrical contacts in round, ribbon or flat shapes. MWS offers pure gold, silver 99.9%, silver 99.99%, platinum and platinum-iridium from AWG 16 and finer in bare and insulated and in ribbon and flat wire shapes. These precious metals can also be produced in Multifilar®, Microsquare™ and Twistite™ constructions.
Precious Metals Wire Technical Data
Need more info about precious metals wire? See the Data Sheet in our Tech Book.
Precious Metals Data Table
| METAL | ATOMIC SYMBOL | ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY (OHMS/CMF AT 20°C) | TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF RESISTANCE (0-100°C) | COEFFICIENT OF LINEAR EXPANSION (µm/m AT 20°C) | TENSILE STRENGTH (KPSI) ANNEALED | DENSITY (lb/in³) | MELTING POINT APPROX (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Au | 13.31 | 0.00372 | 14.2 | 30-32 | 0.698 | 1,064 |
| Silver (99.9% or 99.99%) | Ag | 9.56 | 0.00382 | 18.9 | 18-27 | 0.379 | 962 |
| Platinum | Pt | 63.91 | 0.00393 | 8.9 | 18-24 | 0.775 | 1,769 |
| Platinum-Iridium | 90%Pt / 10%Ir | 150.38 | 0.00130 | 8.7 | 55 | 0.778 | 1,775 |
Product Spotlight
Precious Metals
Gold
UNS: P00016
Au is a noble metal that doesn’t chemically react under normal conditions.
Advantages:
- Excellent electrical conductivity
- Does not produce any surface oxide.
- Maintains a smooth surface that can make a good connection with the mated surface.
- Exceptional solderability
Applications:
- Widely used in wire bonding applications.
- Used in medical devices, computer hard-drives, telecommunication, and instrumentation devices.
Available in: Annealed and Temper conditions per ASTM B562
Silver 99.9%
UNS: P07020
Silver 99.9% is the most common grade for pure silver.
Advantages:
- Highest electrical and thermal conductivity.
- Highest optical reflectivity
Applications:
- Electrical contacts,
- Specialty conductors
- Semiconductors.
- Microwave satellite devices.
Available in: Annealed and Temper conditions per ASTM B413
Silver 99.99%
UNS: P07010
Silver 99.99% is the highest purity grade called fine silver.
Advantages:
- Higher purity enhances the antimicrobial properties of silver, thus making it highly biocompatible.
Applications:
- Instrumentation and medical devices due to biocompatibility.
- Atomic clocks specifically use 99.99 silver for precise electrical transmission.
Available in: Annealed and Temper conditions per ASTM B413
Platinum
UNS: P04995
Platinum is the rarest precious metal known for its stability & biocompatibility.
Advantages:
- Highly resistant to oxidation and corrosion at any temperature.
- Chemically stable and Non-toxic in nature.
- Highly biocompatible with the human body.
Applications:
- Computer hard disks
- Thermocouples
- Optical fibers,
- Medical devices,
- Chemotherapy devices to treat cancer cells.
Available in: Annealed and Temper conditions per ASTM B561
Platinum-Iridium
UNS: N/A
Platinum-Iridium maintains the non-toxic and chemically stable properties of platinum with some additional benefits. Platinum-Iridium wire is available in 90%Pt & 10%Ir composition.
Advantages:
- Higher density, greater hardness, and more resistance to corrosion than platinum alone.
Applications:
- Widely used in medical devices due to their biocompatibility as well as mechanical properties.
Available in: Annealed and Temper conditions per ASTM B684
Special Processes
Ask a sales representative about any special temper or wire finish.
Wire is available in sizes 14 – 52 AWG with the following options:
- Soft/Hard Temper
- Bare
- Insulated
- Shaped
- Plated
- Bondable
Looking for something specific?
We probably have it in stock. If we don’t, we can make it faster than you’d think!
Why Choose MWS?
Quick and Right Answers.
We invest heavily in our customer service and engineering team so that we can give you the right answers and the most effective customized solutions. Our success, as well as our very purpose, is directly linked to the long-term satisfaction of our customers using our wire products.
Unrivaled Availability, Low Minimum Order Quantity, and Quick Delivery.
MWS has one of the largest inventories of stainless-steel wire and other wire products. We provide wire from 1/4lb to 50lb spools. Ninety percent of our stock orders go out within a week. Short production runs and quick turnarounds are our specialty.
Pre-cut Wire Lengths and Other Custom Orders.
We can provide straight wire cuts from one inch to 6-foot lengths holding the tolerances you require for your specific application. Need shaped wire? We have a variety of special shapes including square wire, flat wire, and ribbon wire. Special coatings and finishes are available as well.
Headache Free Compliance Documentation.
Let us help you satisfy your customer’s needs for clear and comprehensive compliance documentation including RoHS, REACH, DFARS, MADE IN USA, USMCA, etc. Chemical and physical testing reports are also available upon request.
Let Us Manage Your Inventory for You.
With 40,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and thousands of products in stock, inventory management is our specialty. It doesn’t have to be yours. Whether it’s same day shipment from inventory or producing a wire to meet just-in-time schedules, we can get what you need when you need it. Ask about scheduled shipments synchronized to work with your inventory control, JIT, or Kanban system.