Silver plating, silverware and galvanic silver plating
Silver plating of contacts and connectors for telecommunications, electronics, electrical engineering, precision mechanics, the automotive industry and mechanical and apparatus engineering to improve electrical conductivity
We silver plate and produce silverware
Our company specializes in electroplating and silver-plating contacts and connectors. We offer various processes for bright silver plating, which can be used to deposit high-gloss and matte silver coatings with lasting hardness.
Performance overview for silver plating:
- Electroplating of small to very small connectors using the barrel plating process
- Silver electroplating of medium-sized components for high-frequency technology, medium voltage, high voltage
- Silver plating of copper, brass and aluminum
- Example part sizes for silver plating aluminum: 60 x 529 mm or 190 x 245 mm
- Silver plating of complicated geometric components
- Silver plating by means of manual galvanizing of individual parts or small drum systems for small quantities
- High-quality silver plating of technical parts, sacred devices, jewelry and similar items
- High-quality silver plating of chandeliers, bowls, cups and cutlery
- If required, the silver plating can be provided with tarnish protection
- Silver plating of individual parts and custom silver plating for institutes
- Silver plating for the restoration of classic cars
- Silver plating for the musical instrument industry
- Silver plating of special sizes possible on request and according to part geometry
Silver has good malleability and ductility and very good electrical and thermal conductivity. Furthermore, in the decorative area of silver plating, we are able to refine complicated hollowware and large surface parts to a high quality.
Advantages of silver electroplating
- Good electrical conductivity
- Hard or soft silver finish
Areas of application for silver coating
- Telecommunications
- Electronics
- Electrical engineering
- Precision engineering
- Machinery and equipment construction
- Automobile industry
Materials for silver plating
- Copper
- Brass
- Bronze
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Aluminium
- Special materials on request
Galvanic silver plating and silver coating of surfaces
Galvanic silver plating - Characteristics
Atomic number:
47
Symbol:
Ag
Mass:
107,8682
CAS number:
7440-22-4
Electronegativity:
1,93
Electronic configuration:
[Kr] 4d105s1
Density:
measured: 10,49 g/cm³
Silver plating and its history
Silver plating is a coating of silver on objects. There are several technical processes for this. The applications of traditional silver plating are very diverse. What is silver plating? Inelastic materials are given a coating of silver, which gives them certain properties. This silver coating is very thin, which is why it could detach from elastic materials. Suitable materials for galvanic silver plating are the metals steel and iron, copper, brass, tin, zinc, lead, nickel and non-metallic materials such as plastics and glass. These materials become electrically conductive, resist corrosion better and look better.
Possible processes are
Silver plating by vapor deposition
This simple process works by vaporizing the silver, which then spreads out as a gas in an oven or vacuum chamber and condenses on the cooler surface of the object to be silver-plated.
Electroplating
The objects to be silver-plated are immersed in a silver electrolyte. This is very often potassium silver cyanide with conductive salts. An electrical voltage is used to deposit a silver coating. This process is even used for objects made of real silver. The coating of fine silver conceals solder joints and color differences. Silver plating with electroplating was developed back in the 1830s.
Brewing process
In this silver plating process, silver is applied to the surfaces in a hot cyanide-containing bath with silver nitrate.
Immersion process
In a cold aqueous solution of silver nitrate, hydrazine sulphate, ammonia and sodium hydroxide, non-metallic objects can be coated with silver (including mirrors and Christmas baubles), which would not tolerate too much heat and also do not conduct electricity.
Fire silver plating
This process is no longer used today due to the health risks associated with silver plating.
Areas of application for silver plating
Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals and is also the shiniest metal. Another important property is its resistance to corrosion. These three properties result in the most important applications. In the electrical industry, a layer of silver on conductors improves electrical contact and at the same time protects against corrosion. Corrosion protection is also important for the chemical industry. As silver looks very decorative due to its high shine, jewelry as well as art and everyday objects such as cutlery are silver-plated. Before the invention of corrosion-resistant steel in the early 20th century, silver was an important corrosion protection for cutlery. Its high optical reflectivity leads to its use in mirrors and reflectors. When glass is silver-plated, the process is technically known as mirroring.
Examples of silver plating
The most important examples can be found in the electrical industry and related areas. Here, contacts and plug connections are usually silver-plated. The industries that use this process are electrical engineering and electronics, precision mechanics, telecommunications technology, the automotive industry and mechanical and equipment engineering.
Various examples include
A great deal of silver plating is also used in the jewelry industry. Furthermore, components of vintage cars are often given a silver coating for restoration purposes. Musical instruments and their accessories, such as flutes, trumpets or the strings of bowed instruments can be silver-plated. Due to the high ductility of silver, practically any relatively rigid object can be silver-plated.
Possible processes are
Silver plating by vapor deposition
This simple process works by vaporizing the silver, which then spreads out as a gas in an oven or vacuum chamber and condenses on the cooler surface of the object to be silver-plated.
Electroplating
The objects to be silver-plated are immersed in a silver electrolyte. This is very often potassium silver cyanide with conductive salts. An electrical voltage is used to deposit a silver coating. This process is even used for objects made of real silver. The coating of fine silver conceals solder joints and color differences. Silver plating with electroplating was developed back in the 1830s.
Brewing process
In this silver plating process, silver is applied to the surfaces in a hot cyanide-containing bath with silver nitrate.
Immersion process
In a cold aqueous solution of silver nitrate, hydrazine sulphate, ammonia and sodium hydroxide, non-metallic objects can be coated with silver (including mirrors and Christmas baubles), which would not tolerate too much heat and also do not conduct electricity.
Fire silver plating
This process is no longer used today due to the health risks associated with silver plating.
Areas of application for silver plating
Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals and is also the shiniest metal. Another important property is its resistance to corrosion. These three properties result in the most important applications. In the electrical industry, a layer of silver on conductors improves electrical contact and at the same time protects against corrosion. Corrosion protection is also important for the chemical industry. As silver looks very decorative due to its high shine, jewelry as well as art and everyday objects such as cutlery are silver-plated. Before the invention of corrosion-resistant steel in the early 20th century, silver was an important corrosion protection for cutlery. Its high optical reflectivity leads to its use in mirrors and reflectors. When glass is silver-plated, the process is technically known as mirroring.
Examples of silver plating
The most important examples can be found in the electrical industry and related areas. Here, contacts and plug connections are usually silver-plated. The industries that use this process are electrical engineering and electronics, precision mechanics, telecommunications technology, the automotive industry and mechanical and equipment engineering.
Various examples include
- Silver plating of small connectors
- Silver plating of components for medium and high voltage and high-frequency technology
- Electroplating of complex geometries
- Manual electroplating of individual technical parts
A great deal of silver plating is also used in the jewelry industry. Furthermore, components of vintage cars are often given a silver coating for restoration purposes. Musical instruments and their accessories, such as flutes, trumpets or the strings of bowed instruments can be silver-plated. Due to the high ductility of silver, practically any relatively rigid object can be silver-plated.