Thermal Conductivities of Platinum Alloys at High Temperatures

21 The advantage of using platinum (Pt) in industrial applications is due to its unique properties, such as its catalytic activity, high melting point (1), ductility (2, 3) and chemical inertness over a wide range of temperatures (4, 5). Platinum has been used for biomedical components, specialty chemicals, fuel cells and for pollution control catalysts, such as in automobile exhausts, as well as for jewellery, thermocouples and the cathodic protection of ships’ hulls (3). One typical application of platinum is in electronics devices, with thick film conductors being among the major products (6). Alloying elements, selected from the platinum group metals and noble metals, are usually employed to help develop higher strength or to protect a surface against deleterious service conditions (3). However, the addition of an alloying element may degrade the conductivity. Until now, the data available on the conduction properties of platinum alloys have been limited (7–12). This present investigation will survey the parameters of thermal conductivity in various platinum alloys at high temperatures. First, the composition dependence of thermal conductivity will be investigated and the results will be ordered according to the Periodic Table; second, the effect of work hardening will be investigated; and third, the temperature dependence of thermal conductivity will be surveyed.