What Is Nickel Silver?
Nickel silver is an alloy made primarily of copper and zinc with the addition of nickel.
The name nickel silver is derived from its whiteish luster. While possessing the properties of copper and zinc, the addition of nickel gives it excellent corrosion resistance and workability. It is particularly resistant to corrosion and rusting against seawater and strong acids, so it is sometimes used for marine-related parts and equipment, as well as for equipment parts in the chemical industry.
It also has excellent workability and is easily processed by forging, rolling, and drawing. For this reason, it is also used for metalworking products and decorative items.
Uses of Nickel Silver
1. Tableware
Nickel silver is widely used for tableware because of its light weight and durability. Examples include forks, knives, spoons, bowls, and plates.
2. Musical Instruments
Trumpets, trombones, saxophones, etc.
3. Ornaments
Nickel silver has a beautiful luster and is used as a material for ornaments. Examples include figurines, accessories, clocks, and candlesticks.
4. Metalworking
Nickel silver is also used for metalworking due to its flexibility and ease of processing. Examples include springs, gears, and pins.
5. Electrical Parts
Nickel silver is used for electrical parts because it conducts electricity well. For example, it is used for contacts, relays, and contacts. Contacts are mainly used to transmit electrical signals and are used as contact points and switching parts in electrical circuits.
6. Medical Equipment
Nickel silver is used in medical equipment because it is extremely clean and resistant to the growth of bacteria. Examples include surgical instruments, dental instruments, and artificial joints.
7. Automotive Parts
Nickel silver is used as a material for automotive parts because of its high resistance to wear and heat. Examples include engine parts (water pump impellers), brake parts (brake pads, brake shoes), and gears.
A water pump impeller is a part that circulates engine cooling water. They are used to taking advantage of the corrosion-resistant properties of nickel silver.
Brake pads are parts that are pressed against brake discs and drums to decelerate the vehicle. Nickel silver is sometimes used as a material for brake pads because of its high heat resistance and stable braking force.
Brake shoes are attached to the inside of a drum brake to decelerate the vehicle. Nickel silver has excellent friction properties and is sometimes used as a material for brake shoes.
8. Printing Equipment
Nickel silver is used as a material for printing equipment because of its easy surface finish and good inking ability. Examples include rollers for printing presses and dials.
9. Coins
Nickel silver is used in the manufacture of coins in many countries. Nickel silver is used in the manufacture of coins in many countries because of its high durability and corrosion resistance.
Properties of Nickel Silver
1. Relatively Soft and Easy to Process
The reason nickel silver is relatively soft and easy to process is due to its composition. Nickel silver is composed of three main metals: copper, zinc, and nickel.
Copper and zinc are soft metals and are the main components of nickel silver, making nickel silver a soft and easy material to work with. Copper and zinc are materials with fine grain formation and high flexibility, making them easy to forge, roll, and otherwise process. The hardness of nickel silver can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of copper to zinc.
Nickel, on the other hand, is a harder and stronger metal than copper or zinc. Adding nickel to nickel silver improves the hardness and strength of nickel silver. However, too much nickel can make nickel silver too hard and reduce its workability.
Copper and zinc, the main components of nickel silver, are highly flexible and can be easily processed by forging or rolling. The addition of nickel increases the strength of nickel silver, making it easier to process while maintaining a certain level of strength.
2. Resistant to Oxidation and Corrosion
The reason nickel silver is resistant to oxidation and corrosion is mainly due to the oxide film on its surface.
Nickel silver is an alloy made mainly of copper and zinc, to which nickel is added. An oxide film is formed on the surface of nickel silver. This oxide film is made of oxides of metals such as copper and zinc, as well as nickel compounds, covering the surface.
This oxide film protects the metal surface from corrosive substances such as acids and bases. Because the oxide film is very thin, it is often transparent and may be difficult to see with the naked eye. However, this film covers the metal surface and protects it from acids and bases.
Nickel silver is also resistant to corrosion because copper and zinc are highly resistant to acids and bases. Furthermore, the addition of nickel improves corrosion resistance.
3. Resistance to High Temperatures and High Thermal Conductivity
Nickel silver has a high heat resistance and excellent thermal conductivity. This is due to the crystal structure and physical properties of nickel silver.
First, the crystal structure of nickel silver has a face-centered cubic lattice structure. In the face-centered cubic lattice structure, copper and nickel atoms are arranged alternately, forming a dense structure with few voids. Thus, nickel silver is dense, tough, and resistant to high temperatures.
In addition, nickel silver has an extremely high thermal conductivity, which allows it to transfer heat efficiently. This high thermal conductivity is due to nickel silver’s crystal structure. The face-centered cubic lattice structure is densely packed with atoms, so heat energy is efficiently transferred from atom to atom.
4. Allergic Reactions
Nickel silver is an alloy made primarily of copper and zinc with the addition of nickel. However, some people can develop allergic reactions to the components of nickel silver. Primarily, allergic reactions are known to occur to nickel.
Nickel silver contains trace amounts of nickel, and prolonged contact with nickel can cause allergic reactions to nickel, so care should be taken. The risk of nickel allergy is particularly high for tableware and other items that frequently use nickel silver, as they are often in direct contact with the skin.
Other Information on Nickel Silver
Rust Prevention for Nickel Silver
Since nickel silver is primarily composed of copper, its surface tends to oxidize and rust easily when exposed to moisture or humidity.
To prevent rusting, it is important to dry nickel silver products. After cleaning, they should be thoroughly wiped dry. It is also important to avoid storing the product in a humid place and to choose an appropriate storage method. Cleaning with a neutral detergent, not acidic or abrasive, will prevent damage to the silver plating on the surface.