Platinum Labware Materials
 The analytical laboratory is a vital part of all industrial plants and research establishments. The techniques employed therein have developed rapidly in recent years, but the fundamentals upon which many of these techniques are based have remained constant and the majority demand the use of high-purity inert materials. In this category platinum has properties that make it an ideal choice. It has a high degree of chemical inertness and yet can be readily fabricated into a wide variety of articles.
Materials
Metals used for laboratory apparatus must have the following properties
- High temperature strength
- High melting point
- Ductility
- Corrosion resistance
- Oxidation resistance
Platinum and its alloys possess these qualities and is therefore the most widely used metal for analytical laboratory apparatus. Properties of platinum and some common platinum alloys are briefly discussed here.
Platinum Labware Specification
All Platinum from XRF Scientific Ltd conforms to International Metal Standards. Please view our Certificates of Conformity below for further details.
APS Certificate of Conformity 95% Platinum 5% Gold
APS Certificate of Conformity Pure Platinum
APS Certificate of Conformity Platinum Auralloy
APS Certificate of Conformity 97% Platinum 3% Rhodium
APS Certificate of Conformity 90% Platinum 10% Rhodium
APS Certificate of Conformity 90% Platinum 10% Iridium
Platinum
Platinum is the best known and least rare of the platinum group metals. Its high melting point, 1773 degrees Celsius, ductility and excellent resistance to chemical attack by acids and fusion mixtures makes it very suitable for laboratory ware. |
Platinum 10% Rhodium
This alloy has melting point of 1850 degrees celsius, it has greater hardness and higher strength than other platinum alloy. It is capable of maintaining its shape under the hottest furnace conditions. |
Platinum 5% Gold
Universally accepted material of choice for crucible and casting moulds for spectro-graphic analysis by x-ray fluorescence (XRF). The alloy has higher temperature strength than pure platinum and has a “non-wetting” property, which results in easy removal of the sample after fusion and allows for many reproducible assays. |
Platinum Gold Rhodium (87/3/10)
This alloy combines the “non-wetting” property of the Pt/Au alloy and the extra strength and durability of Pt/Rh alloys. |
Platinum 3.5% Rhodium
The rhodium alloys have higher hardness and high temperature strength making it suitable for more aggressive conditions. |
Other Metals
Gold
Gold can be used in labware. Its most common application is for hydrofluoric acid treatment of siliceous materials.
Silver
Pure silver can be used for fusion with alkali hydroxides. |
| COMPARISON OF PROPERTIES |
PT |
PT-10RH |
PT-5AU |
AU |
PT-3RH |
| Density gcm-3 |
21.45 |
19.99 |
21.33 |
19.32 |
20.96 |
| Melting Point °C |
1770 |
1850 |
1660 |
1064 |
1789 |
| Electrical Resistivity (0°C) µΩcm |
9.85 |
18.40 |
18.50 |
2.06 |
15.63 |
| Temp Coeff of Resistance (0-100°C)°C-1 |
0.0039 |
0.0017 |
0.0021 |
0.004 |
- |
| Annealed Hardness Hv |
40 |
90 |
90 |
26 |
57 |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength (20°C) Nmm-2 |
125 |
300 |
245 |
120 |
210 |
| Tensile Elongation (20°C) % |
40 |
35 |
24 |
42 |
34 |
| Glass Wetting Resistance (Equilibrium Contact Angle of "E" Glass at 1200°C) |
26 |
45 |
83 |
- |
- |
|
