Master Alloys for Colored Gold
Master Alloys For White Gold (Nickel & Palladium Free)
RUTHENIUM
Ruthenium is a chemical element with symbol Ru and atomic number 44. It is a rare transition metal belonging to the platinum group of the periodic
table. Like the other metals of the platinum group, ruthenium is inert to most chemicals.. Ruthenium usually occurs as a minor component of platinum
ores and its annual production is only about 20 tones. Small amounts of ruthenium can increase the hardness of platinum and palladium.
HOW IS IT USED
Because of its ability to harden platinum and palladium, ruthenium is used in platinum and palladium alloys. Because of its lower cost and similar
properties compared to rhodium, the use as plating material for electric contacts with extreme wear resistance is one of the major applications. The
thin coatings are either applied by electroplating or sputtering.
Ruthenium is often used in small quantities in those alloys to improve some of their properties. Rutheniums main use is manufaturing alloys. When
added, ruthenium adds two other properties
to make the alloy hard. It then makes the alloy resistant to attack by oxygen and other materials.
Electrical contacts, devices for measuring very high and low temperatures, and medical instruments are usually made with ruthenium alloys. Some
jewellery is also made with ruthenium, although it is very expensive. It is also used for plating costume jewellery.
Demand for Ruthenium is rising with 50% of the metal currently in use in the electronic industry and 40% being used in the chemical industry. It is one of
the rarest metals on earth
COMMON PLATINUM –RUTHENIUM ALLOY FOR JEWELLERY MAKING
Pt950/Ru (950 parts platinum, 50 parts Ruthenium) is very hard. It has the highest melting temperature of all platinum alloys and is difficult to cast.
Darker gray in color than platinum- iridium, it is less malleable, hard to solder and weld and hard to burnish. Bench workers find it tough on burs, files
and drills. Some setters recommend it for diamonds only, since more pressure must be imposed on gemstones during the setting process. It is
extremely scratch & bend-resistant and extremely resistant to signs of wear over time.
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PLATINUM ALLOYS
For Platinum Jewellery
Products :
Platinum alloy is very sensitive towards contamination, hence only the purest raw materials for the production of the
platinum alloys is being used. Also, the fineness of platinum alloys is carefully controlled.
The platinum Group precious metals include:
Platinum
Palladium,
Iridium
Rhodium.etc.
Precious Metals & Alloys offered are :
999 purity platinum,
95% platinum+5% palladium,
95% platinum+5% Ruthenium
95% platinum+5% Iridium
95%platinum+3% cobalt+2% Copper..etc
Or any other combination in granule form or any other form desired like ingot, wire, small pieces..etc
EXCEPT 999 purity platinum all other combinations used as direct mix for manufacture of platinum jewellery.
Other precious metals include
Palladium Powder,
Ruthenium powder..etc
All above Materials will be supplied with test certificate from manufacturer.
Ingrediants of Cast Jewellery Alloys
Cobalt and/or palladium have been used to create casting alloys at various levels of fineness. Cobalt suppresses oxygen level in the melt, improves fluidity
and castability and gives a good final hardness without reducing the melting range significantly. Palladium produces a softer casting
Ingrediants of Hand Made Jewellery Alloys
Copper, cobalt, gold, iridium, palladium and ruthenium alloy easily with platinum. The differences between the alloys reflect the hardening effect of the
alloying element itself. Of the platinum group metals ruthenium and iridium have a greater hardening effect than palladium.
Alloy Comparisons
Pt900 Ir
(900 parts platinum, 100 parts
Iridium) is a good hard alloy. A
great compromise between relative
hardness for easier polish it has
excellent white color and is still
quite malleable. It is excellent for
both casting and handmade work.
Less pressure is required to set
gemstones than with harder alloys.
Pt950 Pd50
Pt950 Ir
(950parts Platinum,50parts
Palladium)Good for casting
requiring fine details.
(950 parts platinum, 50 parts
Iridium) is a good medium-hard
alloy which is malleable and wellsuited for bench work. Good for
casting and excellent for
handmade pieces, it is the best
choice for soft or fragile gem
setting. The greater softness
requires a longer polishing process.
Pt950 Ru
(950 parts platinum, 50 parts
Ruthenium) is very hard. It has the
highest melting temperature of all
platinum alloys and is difficult to
cast. since more pressure must be
imposed on gemstones during the
setting process. It is extremely
scratch & bend-resistant.
Pt950 Co
(950 parts platinum, 50 parts
Cobalt) is moderately hard. With
the lowest flow point of these
alloys it is good for even, dense
castings of finely detailed pieces or
filigree but not for work by hand.
Platinum/Iridium is the whitest and the softest alloy, excellent for production and setting. It solders and welds better than other platinum alloys.
In the USA Pt900/Ir is a popular and traditional standard. The global platinum standard is 95% by weight, so manufacturers with a global
clientele use Pt950/Ir.
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