Precious Metal Gold 24K · temper · default condition
Precious Metal Gold 24K-O
Properties of the O condition, compared with the other Gold 24K tempers.
Default stock condition for foil, bonding wire, sheet and bullion working — maximum ductility for beating, drawing and bonding.
What is Gold 24K-O?
Gold 24K-O is Gold 24K in the O temper — default stock condition for foil, bonding wire, sheet and bullion working — maximum ductility for beating, drawing and bonding. Gold 24K-O has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — weaker than 100% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi). Gold 24K-O has a density of 19.32 g/cm³ (0.698 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,064°C (1,948 °F).
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 100/100, better than 100% of precious metal grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 100/100, better than 98% of precious metal grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 45%, better than 97% of precious metal grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 93% of precious metal grades
- High service temperature — 700°C (1,292 °F), better than 86% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 30 MPa (4.35 ksi), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- High embodied carbon — 25,000 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 99% of precious metal grades
- Heavy — 19.32 g/cm³ (0.698 lb/in³), worse than 91% of precious metal grades
- Low stiffness — 78 GPa (11.3 Msi), worse than 90% of precious metal grades
Gold 24K-O properties
Typical room-temperature values for Gold 24K-O — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Gold 24K temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the precious metal grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Gold 24K-O has a density of 19.32 g/cm³ (0.698 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of precious metal grades. It melts at 1,064°C (1,948 °F).
Mechanical11
Gold 24K-O has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — weaker than 100% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi).
Thermal6
Gold 24K-O is rated for continuous service to 700°C (1,292 °F). It conducts heat at 318 W/m·K (183.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 14.2 µm/m·K (7.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Gold 24K-O conducts electricity at 71 % IACS, better than 76% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (100/100), better than 98% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Gold 24K-O takes about 260,000 MJ of energy and emits 25,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 98% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 28%.
Manufacturability8
Gold 24K-O's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 60% of precious metal grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability excellent (100/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Gold 24K tempers and conditions
Gold 24K is also supplied in 3 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Gold 24K overview.
- ODefaultDefault stock condition for foil, bonding wire, sheet and bullion working — maximum ductility for beating, drawing and bonding.30 MPa yield · 25 HB
- H04Maximum strength condition for as-drawn fine wire, contacts and springs; anneals back to soft above ~200 °C.205 MPa yield · 55 HB
- H02Choose when soft gold sheet/wire needs some spring-back and handling stiffness while still being formable.130 MPa yield · 43 HB
Working with Gold 24K-O
Is Gold 24K easy to machine?
Very gummy and soft — use sharp positive-rake carbide or diamond tools, high speed, light feed, no built-up edge; single-point diamond turning gives optical mirror finishes; always collect swarf for refining.
Can Gold 24K be welded?
Excellent oxide-free laser, micro-TIG and torch welding with pure gold filler; avoid contamination by Pb, Bi, Hg or solder residues which cause hot cracking.
Can Gold 24K be formed, bent or molded?
Unlimited cold formability — rolls to <0.1 µm leaf, deep draws and coins easily; anneal 500–700 °C in air (no protective atmosphere needed) to reset work hardening.
What surface finishes work on Gold 24K?
Polishes to a mirror with fine alumina/diamond compound but scratches easily; no anodizing — hard-wear surfaces are protected with rhodium or hard-gold (Au-Co/Au-Ni) electroplate.
Gold 24K chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Agtypical residual from refining | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Fe | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Pbkept very low — embrittles gold | ≤ 0 | — |
| Biembrittling impurity | ≤ 0 | — |
| Pd+Ptcombined PGM residuals | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Total impuritiesfor 999.9 fine; ≤0.1 % for 999 fine per GB/T 4134 | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| AuAu9999 fine gold; Au999 (99.9 min) also standard commercial purity | ≥ 99.99 (balance) | — |
Gold 24K-O — frequently asked
What is Gold 24K-O used for?
Gold 24K-O is typically used for bullion bars and coins, semiconductor bonding wire, sputtering and evaporation targets, gold leaf and foil, electrical contact and connector plating stock and 24K fine jewelry. In short: pure investment-grade gold.
What is the yield strength of Gold 24K-O?
Gold 24K-O has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — weaker than 100% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Gold 24K-O easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 60% of precious metal grades). Very gummy and soft — use sharp positive-rake carbide or diamond tools, high speed, light feed, no built-up edge; single-point diamond turning gives optical mirror finishes; always collect swarf for refining.
Can Gold 24K-O be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Excellent oxide-free laser, micro-TIG and torch welding with pure gold filler; avoid contamination by Pb, Bi, Hg or solder residues which cause hot cracking.
What surface finishes work on Gold 24K-O?
Polishes to a mirror with fine alumina/diamond compound but scratches easily; no anodizing — hard-wear surfaces are protected with rhodium or hard-gold (Au-Co/Au-Ni) electroplate.
Can Gold 24K-O be formed, bent or molded?
Unlimited cold formability — rolls to <0.1 µm leaf, deep draws and coins easily; anneal 500–700 °C in air (no protective atmosphere needed) to reset work hardening.
What is the maximum service temperature of Gold 24K-O?
Gold 24K-O is rated for continuous use to about 700°C (1,292 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Gold 24K-O and Gold 24K-H04?
O is the default condition — default stock condition for foil, bonding wire, sheet and bullion working — maximum ductility for beating, drawing and bonding. H04: maximum strength condition for as-drawn fine wire, contacts and springs; anneals back to soft above ~200 °C. Yield strength is 30 MPa in O versus 205 MPa in H04.
Can FabDigit make parts in Gold 24K-O?
Yes — Gold 24K-O is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B562 — Standard Specification for Refined Gold — ASTM International (2020)
- GB/T 4134 (Gold Ingots) — SAC / (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Precious Metals) — ASM International (1990)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Properties of the Elements — CRC Press (2022)
- Gold Bulletin / World Gold Council technical data on pure gold properties and GHG intensity — World Gold Council (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.