Spring-Hard Precious Metal Alloys with Good Tarnishing Behavior for Electrical Contacts

New gold- and silver-palladium-base contact alloys as well as special multicomponent alloys are reported. The physical and mechanical data for these alloys and the first results on the behavior of the contact resistance in different test atmospheres appear to make them well suited for applications in practice. For comparison, data for other familiar contact alloys are also presented.