1. What is Specific Gravity of Alloy?

The specific gravity of an alloy is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of the density of the alloy to the density of water. For platinum-copper alloys, it helps determine the material's purity and composition.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• \( \rho_{platinum} \) — Density of platinum (kg/m³)
• \( fraction_{pt} \) — Fraction of platinum in alloy (0-1)
• \( \rho_{copper} \) — Density of copper (kg/m³)
• \( fraction_{cu} \) — Fraction of copper in alloy (0-1)

Explanation: The equation calculates the weighted average density of the alloy components.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity Calculation

Details: Specific gravity is crucial for material identification, quality control, and determining the composition of platinum-copper alloys in jewelry and industrial applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter densities in kg/m³ and fractions as values between 0 and 1. The sum of fractions should not exceed 1. Default values are provided for pure platinum (21450 kg/m³) and copper (8960 kg/m³).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the density of pure platinum?
A: Pure platinum has a density of approximately 21,450 kg/m³ (21.45 g/cm³).

Q2: What is the density of pure copper?
A: Pure copper has a density of approximately 8,960 kg/m³ (8.96 g/cm³).

Q3: Why is specific gravity important for alloys?
A: It helps verify composition, detect impurities, and ensure quality in manufacturing processes.

Q4: Can this calculator be used for other alloys?
A: Yes, the same principle applies to any binary alloy by substituting the appropriate densities and fractions.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It assumes ideal mixing with no volume change, which is generally accurate for solid solutions like Pt-Cu alloys.