blakeo
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2003
- Messages
- 93
http://www.platinum-wedding-rings.com/platinum_alloy_information.html details the following:
Many sites list 950 platinum and seem to hide the 5% alloy used. This 5% is what you need to know before buying. None of the normal commercial mixes are bad, just very different. For example if you use 950 Platinum with Palladium your metal hardness is only 60HV. This is really soft and even dents with use. It also requires a Rhodium plating to modify the color which will wear off in a few weeks or months. In my opinion plating platinum serves no real purpose except to hide defects in materials or workmanship. How about 950 Platinum with Iridium, only 80HV and is used by many on line stores and usually they are offered at a really low price. Ask before you buy and get it in writing! I feel 80HV is still too soft for a good wedding band. I use 900 Platinum with Iridium which has a base hardness of 115HV and 950 Platinum with Ruthenium( my standard) which has a base hardness of 135HV. Both get harder when the rings are made by what is called "work Hardening" My super hard mix, Plat-S™ will harden up to 280HV depending on the process used. It does cost more for the metal and I do have to charge more labor due to the extra work required. Below are all before heat treating or work hardening. Some of the alloy mixes below are not for rings. They are used for springs and other special applications.
Plat % Fineness Melt/C Hardness
Pure Platinum, No Alloy Added 999 1773 50
5% Copper 950 1725 120
5% Cobalt 950 1750 135
3Cobalt/7% Palladium 900 1730 125
5% Cobalt / 10% Palladium 850 1710 150
1.5% Iridium /3%Gallium ( springs ) 950 1550 225
5% Iridium - Used a LOT at Low price internet sites! 950 1780 80 / Soft!
10% Iridium / My optional mix 900 1780 115
5% Palladium 950 1755 60
10% Palladium 900 1750 80
15% Palladium 850 1730 90
5% Ruthenium / My Standard 950 1780 135+
5% Tungsten 950 1830 135
Many sites list 950 platinum and seem to hide the 5% alloy used. This 5% is what you need to know before buying. None of the normal commercial mixes are bad, just very different. For example if you use 950 Platinum with Palladium your metal hardness is only 60HV. This is really soft and even dents with use. It also requires a Rhodium plating to modify the color which will wear off in a few weeks or months. In my opinion plating platinum serves no real purpose except to hide defects in materials or workmanship. How about 950 Platinum with Iridium, only 80HV and is used by many on line stores and usually they are offered at a really low price. Ask before you buy and get it in writing! I feel 80HV is still too soft for a good wedding band. I use 900 Platinum with Iridium which has a base hardness of 115HV and 950 Platinum with Ruthenium( my standard) which has a base hardness of 135HV. Both get harder when the rings are made by what is called "work Hardening" My super hard mix, Plat-S™ will harden up to 280HV depending on the process used. It does cost more for the metal and I do have to charge more labor due to the extra work required. Below are all before heat treating or work hardening. Some of the alloy mixes below are not for rings. They are used for springs and other special applications.
Plat % Fineness Melt/C Hardness
Pure Platinum, No Alloy Added 999 1773 50
5% Copper 950 1725 120
5% Cobalt 950 1750 135
3Cobalt/7% Palladium 900 1730 125
5% Cobalt / 10% Palladium 850 1710 150
1.5% Iridium /3%Gallium ( springs ) 950 1550 225
5% Iridium - Used a LOT at Low price internet sites! 950 1780 80 / Soft!
10% Iridium / My optional mix 900 1780 115
5% Palladium 950 1755 60
10% Palladium 900 1750 80
15% Palladium 850 1730 90
5% Ruthenium / My Standard 950 1780 135+
5% Tungsten 950 1830 135