Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) AuGe

Au88Ge12: gold-germanium eutectic alloy, nominal Gold 88.00 and Germanium 12.00 (Lucas-Milhaupt)

Also known as UNS P00370, PREMABRAZE 880

Au88Ge12 is the gold-germanium eutectic alloy, about 88 atomic percent gold and 12 atomic percent germanium, sold as as-rolled foil and sheet.

10 sources · Updated 2026-11-01 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

2 of 5

Lab-measured

Melting point

356 °C

Heat flow

44 W m-1 K-1 at 23 °C

Strength

185 MPa

Recipe, share of the weight

  • Au 88%Gold
  • Ge 12%Germanium

Best for

Brazing and die attach of electronic parts in vacuum or a controlled atmosphere, where a melting point near 356 °C and a low vapor pressure filler metal are needed (Lucas-Milhaupt)

Weakest at

Thin evidence base: the melting point, density, thermal conductivity and tensile strength are each printed with different values by different suppliers, and no hardness number and no space test was found

Risk at a glance

  • People None found. Not classified in the supplier safety data sheet
  • If it fails Moderate. Brazing above the maximum recommended temperature
  • Corrosion Low. The supplier claims excellent corrosion resistance for Au88Ge12; no measured corrosion rate was found in any source we hold.

Quick facts: AuGe

Key properties of AuGe
PropertyValueBasis
Density14.7 to 18 g/cm³2 sourced values across conditions
Yield strength168 MPa1 sourced value
Tensile strength185 to 202 MPa2 sourced values across conditions
Thermal conductivity30 to 44 W/(m·K)2 sourced values across conditions
Thermal expansion (CTE)13 ppm/K1 sourced value
Melting point340 to 361 °C4 sourced values across conditions

What is the density of Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe)?

Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) has a density of 14.7 to 18 g/cm³. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is the thermal conductivity of Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe)?

Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) has a thermal conductivity of 30 to 44 W/(m·K). The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe)?

Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 13 ppm/K. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the melting point of Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe)?

Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) has a melting point of 340 to 361 °C. The range covers 4 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is the yield strength of Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe)?

Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) has a yield strength of 168 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What are the other names and codes for Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe)?

Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) is also written as UNS P00370, PREMABRAZE 880. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.

What is Gold-germanium eutectic (Au88Ge12) (AuGe) used for?

Uses recorded in the sources include Die attach and brazing layers for microelectronic parts; Soldering of electronic components that need a low vapor pressure filler metal; Hermetic optoelectronic modules and cryogenic device assembly.

Why it exists

Au88Ge12 is a gold-germanium eutectic alloy used to braze and die-attach electronic parts and to seal hermetic packages. Lucas-Milhaupt prints a melting point of 356 °C for both liquidus and solidus. Suppliers disagree on the figure: the Goodfellow article gives 361 °C for the eutectic reaction, and the Goodfellow datasheet table gives 340-350 °C. The alloy is chosen for a sharp, high-temperature joint with a low vapor pressure filler metal. No space flight or qualification record for it was found in any source we hold.

Where it's used

Die attach and MEMS packaging

Goodfellow says the foil provides uniform brazing layers for die attach, MEMS packaging and hermetic assemblies. Its product page also lists hermetic optoelectronic modules and cryogenic device assembly.

Soldering of electronic components

Lucas-Milhaupt says typical applications include soldering of electronic components requiring low vapor pressure filler metal, and it lists controlled atmosphere and vacuum as heating methods.

Recipe

Au88Ge12: gold-germanium eutectic alloy, nominal Gold 88.00 and Germanium 12.00 (Lucas-Milhaupt); about 88 atomic percent gold and 12 atomic percent germanium (Goodfellow material article)

Au88Ge12 is a gold-germanium eutectic alloy. Lucas-Milhaupt prints a nominal composition of Gold 88.00 and Germanium 12.00, and Goodfellow describes it as about 88 atomic percent gold and 12 atomic percent germanium. Goodfellow supplies it as as-rolled foil and sheet.

What AuGe is made of
IngredientShare of the weightWhat it does
Gold Au 88% The main constituent. The Goodfellow article says the alloy forms fine intermetallic compounds distributed within a gold matrix.
Germanium Ge 12% The eutectic element. The Goodfellow article says this ratio achieves an optimized melting point of 356 °C.

Weight shares are as printed in the sources.

What it can do

Melting point

356 °C

measured

Lucas-Milhaupt prints liquidus and solidus both at 356 °C for PREMABRAZE 880.

Heat flow

44 W m-1 K-1 at 23 °C

measured

The Goodfellow datasheet prints 44 W m-1 K-1 at 23 °C. A Goodfellow article gives approximately 30 W m-1 K-1 with no temperature.

Strength

185 MPa

measured

The Goodfellow datasheet prints a tensile strength of 185 MPa for as-rolled foil or sheet.

How it compares

This profile does not rank Au88Ge12 against other solders on numbers, because no comparison table with other alloys was found in the sources we hold. Goodfellow's article claims that, compared with traditional tin-based solders, Au-Ge alloys provide better conductivity, minimal interdiffusion and improved reliability over time. That is a supplier claim, not a measured comparison.

The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.

Benchmarks
MeasurementAuGeAuAgPtPdRhRuOsAu alloysAuSnAg 92.5 Cu 7.5Ag alloysPd-AgPd-Cu, Pd-Ni, Pd-CrPt-RhPt-IrPt-W, Pt-Cu
Thermal behavior and safety
Liquidus, PREMABRAZE 880356 °C11065 °C961.9 °C1769 °C1555 °C1964 °C2334 °C3033 °C955 °C280 °C788 to 891 °C780 °Cno data1397 °C1840 to 1870 °C1790 to 1800 °C1865 to 1885 °C
Solidus, PREMABRAZE 880356 °C21065 °C961.9 °C1769 °C1555 °C1964 °C2334 °C3033 °C955 °C280 °C788 to 891 °C780 °Cno data1397 °C1840 to 1870 °C1790 to 1800 °C1865 to 1885 °C
Eutectic reaction temperature361 °C31065 °C961.9 °C1769 °C1555 °C1964 °C2334 °C3033 °C955 °C280 °C788 to 891 °C780 °Cno data1397 °C1840 to 1870 °C1790 to 1800 °C1865 to 1885 °C
Melting point range, Goodfellow datasheet tableRange printed in a manufacturer datasheet table340 to 350 °C41065 °C961.9 °C1769 °C1555 °C1964 °C2334 °C3033 °C955 °C280 °C788 to 891 °C780 °Cno data1397 °C1840 to 1870 °C1790 to 1800 °C1865 to 1885 °C
Thermal conductivity at 23 °CValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet table44 W m-1 K-16320 W/(m K)429 W/(m K)74 W/(m·K)72 W/(m.K)150 W/(m·K)117 W/(m·K)87.6 W/(m·K)49 W/(m K)57 W/mKno data371 W/m K61 W/(m.K)no datano datano datano data
Thermal conductivity, approximate value in the article30 W m-1 K-17320 W/(m K)429 W/(m K)74 W/(m·K)72 W/(m.K)150 W/(m·K)117 W/(m·K)87.6 W/(m·K)49 W/(m K)57 W/mKno data371 W/m K61 W/(m.K)no datano datano datano data
Physical and electrical
Density, as printed in the safety data sheetValue printed in a supplier safety data sheet18 g/cm³1019.3 g/cm³10.5 g/cm³21.45 g/cm³12.02 g/cm³12.42 g/cm³12.36 g/cm³22.5 g/cm³15.8 g/cm³14.7 -10.4 g/cm³10 Mg/m310.9 g/cm³10.8 g/cm³19.97 g/cm³21.54 g/cm³21.26 g/cm³
Density, Wesgo GEORO datasheet14.7 Mg/m31119.3 g/cm³10.5 g/cm³21.45 g/cm³12.02 g/cm³12.42 g/cm³12.36 g/cm³22.5 g/cm³15.8 g/cm³14.7 -10.4 g/cm³10 Mg/m310.9 g/cm³10.8 g/cm³19.97 g/cm³21.54 g/cm³21.26 g/cm³
Temperature behavior
Maximum recommended brazing temperature412 °C5no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Other measurements
Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 °C13 ppm/K814.2 ppm/K19.1 ppm/K8.93 ppm/K11.8 ppm/K8.46 ppm/K6.78 ppm/K4.57 ppm/K14 ppm/K16 ppm/°C19 x10-6 K-119.6 x10-6 per °Cno datano datano datano datano data
Tensile strength, as-rolled foil or sheetValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet table185 MPa9no datano data150 MPano datano datano datano data616 MPa275 MPa207 MPa372 MPa310 MPano data300 to 680 MPa340 MPa800 to 1100 MPa
Yield strength (0.2% offset), Wesgo GEORO datasheet168 MPa12no datano data70 MPano datano datano datano datano datano datano data272 MPa150 MPano data180 to 670 MPa220 MPa400 to 1000 MPa
Tensile strength, Wesgo GEORO datasheet202 MPa13no datano data150 MPano datano datano datano data616 MPa275 MPa207 MPa372 MPa310 MPano data300 to 680 MPa340 MPa800 to 1100 MPa
Elongation, 2 in (50 mm) gage section, Wesgo GEORO datasheet2 %14no datano data40 %no datano datano datano data13 %no datano data19 %36 %3 %1.5 to 32 %32 %2 to 20 %

Why choose it, and why not

Good for

  • Brazing and die attach of electronic parts where a melting point of 356 °C is wanted (Lucas-Milhaupt).
  • Heat flow through a joint, at 44 W m-1 K-1 at 23 °C in the Goodfellow datasheet.

Watch out for

  • Three melting figures appear across sources: 340-350 °C (Goodfellow datasheet table), 356 °C (Lucas-Milhaupt and the Goodfellow product description) and 361 °C (Goodfellow article, eutectic reaction).
  • No measured corrosion test was found: the corrosion and oxidation resistance are supplier claims.
  • Germanium metal carries PubChem hazard codes, H361 and H373. The alloy's own safety data sheet does not classify it, so check the sheet for the lot you buy.

Au88Ge12 has a eutectic melting point printed as 356 °C by Lucas-Milhaupt and a datasheet with thermal and tensile values. Suppliers print the melting point differently, the thermal conductivity has two values, and no space test record was found. It suits electronic die attach where those figures are acceptable.

Technical details

For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.

Other names and standards

The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.

Other names and standards
SystemCodes
UNSP00370
Trade namePREMABRAZE 880

Notes

The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Liquidus, PREMABRAZE 880Value printed in a manufacturer product details table; the same row also prints 673 °Fcomposition nominal Gold 88.00, Germanium 12.00 as printedbasis liquidus row of the product details table—
2Solidus, PREMABRAZE 880Value printed in a manufacturer product details table; the same row also prints 673 °Fcomposition nominal Gold 88.00, Germanium 12.00 as printedbasis solidus row of the product details table—
3Eutectic reaction temperatureValue printed in a manufacturer materials articlecomposition Au-Ge eutectic, as described in the articleThe same paragraph says the 88/12 ratio gives an optimized melting point of 356 °C, so the article prints both 361 °C and 356 °C.
4Melting point range, Goodfellow datasheet table—composition Au 88 / Ge 12form foil or sheet, as rolledThis table prints 340-350 °C, but the Goodfellow product description gives about 356 °C, so the two supplier values disagree.
5Maximum recommended brazing temperatureProcess limit printed in a manufacturer product details tableprocess brazing, as printed by the supplierheating methods controlled atmosphere or vacuum—
6Thermal conductivity at 23 °C—temperature 23 °Ccomposition Au 88 / Ge 12form foil or sheetThe Goodfellow article gives approximately 30 W m-1 K-1 with no temperature; the two figures are kept side by side and not reconciled.
7Thermal conductivity, approximate value in the articleApproximate value printed in a manufacturer materials articletemperature not statedcomposition Au-Ge eutecticThe article gives this value as approximate and with no temperature; the datasheet prints 44 at 23 °C.
8Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 100 °CValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet table; the printed unit x10-6 K-1 is the same as ppm/Ktemperature range 20 to 100 °Ccomposition Au 88 / Ge 12unit in source x10-6 K-1 as printed in the table header (equal to ppm/K)—
9Tensile strength, as-rolled foil or sheet—temper As Rolled (per the Goodfellow product page)form foil or sheetcomposition Au 88 / Ge 12—
10Density, as printed in the safety data sheet—basis SDS states that properties in Section 9 are at standard temperature and pressure unless otherwise indicatedThe Wesgo datasheet prints a different density for the same 88/12 alloy (14.7 Mg/m3, see the next row); both are kept side by side and not reconciled.
11Density, Wesgo GEORO datasheetValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet, Physical Properties table; the sheet says values are not guaranteedcomposition nominal 88% Au and 12% Ge by weight, as printedform not stated in the datasheetbasis values are based on test pieces and are indicative only, as the datasheet saysDisagrees with the 18 g/cm3 safety-data-sheet value above; the two figures are kept side by side.
12Yield strength (0.2% offset), Wesgo GEORO datasheetValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet, Physical Properties tableoffset 0.2%composition nominal 88% Au and 12% Ge by weight, as printedform not stated in the datasheettemper not stated in the datasheetbasis test pieces, indicative only, as the datasheet says—
13Tensile strength, Wesgo GEORO datasheetValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet, Physical Properties tablecomposition nominal 88% Au and 12% Ge by weight, as printedform not stated in the datasheettemper not stated in the datasheetbasis test pieces, indicative only, as the datasheet saysThe Goodfellow datasheet prints 185 MPa for as-rolled foil or sheet; the two figures are kept side by side and not reconciled.
14Elongation, 2 in (50 mm) gage section, Wesgo GEORO datasheetValue printed in a manufacturer datasheet, Physical Properties tablegage section 2 in / 50 mmcomposition nominal 88% Au and 12% Ge by weight, as printedform not stated in the datasheetbasis test pieces, indicative only, as the datasheet says—

Corrosion and compatibility

What happens when it meets other materials and environments.

Corrosion and compatibility
EnvironmentConcernWhat happens
Supplier statement on corrosion resistance (no test conditions printed) low The supplier claims excellent corrosion resistance for Au88Ge12; no measured corrosion rate was found in any source we hold.1
Supplier statement on oxidation resistance in harsh environments (no test conditions printed) low The supplier claims oxidation resistance for long-term use; the claim has no test data behind it in the sources we hold.2
Corrosion details
#EnvironmentDetailsTest conditions
1 Supplier statement on corrosion resistance (no test conditions printed) Goodfellow's product page says the foil exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, stable electrical conductivity, and superior wettability on nickel and gold. It gives no test, environment or duration, so the claim is a vendor statement. basis vendor statement, no environment, humidity, temperature or duration printedcomposition Au88/Ge12
2 Supplier statement on oxidation resistance in harsh environments (no test conditions printed) Goodfellow's material article says the oxidation resistance ensures long-term durability in harsh environments. It names no environment, temperature or duration, so this is also a vendor claim. basis vendor statement, no test printedcomposition Au-Ge eutectic

Risks and side effects

Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.

For people

The supplier safety data sheet for the solid alloy classifies it as not hazardous, but its toxicology entries read Not available.

The alloy
Goodfellow's safety data sheet for product AU040 gives no GHS classification and no hazard statements. Treat the alloy as unclassified until a current safety data sheet says otherwise.
Germanium metal
PubChem lists hazard codes for elemental germanium, including H361 and H373, from company notifications. Those codes apply to germanium, not to the eutectic alloy.

If the joint overheats

The only process limit in the sources is the supplier's maximum recommended brazing temperature.

Brazing ceiling
Lucas-Milhaupt prints a maximum recommended brazing temperature of 412 °C. The source does not say what happens above that limit.

Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.

Failure risks

Failure risks
FailureTrigger and consequence
Brazing above the maximum recommended temperaturemoderate severityHeating the joint above 412 °CThe supplier prints 412 °C as the maximum recommended brazing temperature and states no consequence of exceeding it.

Handling and storage

  • Store in the original container, protected from direct sunlight, in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area away from incompatible materials, and keep the container tightly closed until use.
  • Use good general ventilation, and wear safety eyewear with side shields where a risk assessment requires it.

Mitigations

  • Dispose of surplus and non-recyclable material through a licensed waste disposal contractor.

Supply and geography

How common the raw materials are and where they come from.

Gold

Top producers (2025)
China 11.5%, Russia 9.4%, Australia 8.5%, Canada 6.1%, United States 4.8%
Recycling
USGS: an estimated 90 tons of new and old scrap was recycled in 2025, equivalent to about 60% of reported consumption.
Substitutes
USGS: generally, palladium, platinum, and silver may substitute for gold.

Germanium

USGS: most producers do not publicly report germanium production, so world production shares are not published; China is the leading producer of germanium metal. US import sources for germanium metal over 2021 to 2024 were China 41%, Belgium 27% and Germany 25%.

Recycling
USGS: the United States can recycle new and old germanium scrap, and machining scrap from infrared optics is routinely recycled.
Substitutes
USGS: silicon or gallium arsenide substitute for germanium in certain electronic applications.

Updated