Changes

The platinum group metals include the elements Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, and Os (Table 2.6)<xr id="fig:Properties_Production_Processes,_and_Application_Forms_for_Platinum Metals"/> . For electrical contacts platinum and palladium have practical significance as base alloy materials and ruthenium and iridium are used as alloying components. Pt and Pd have similar corrosion resistance as gold but because of their catalytical properties they tend to polymerize adsorbed organic vapors on contact surfaces. During frictional movement between contact surfaces the polymerized compounds known as “brown powder” are formed which can lead to significantly increase in contact resistance. Therefore Pt and Pd are typically used as alloys and not in their pure form for electrical contact applications.