Silver, a reserve of positivity
The chemical characteristics of silver are:
- Symbol AG
- Specific weight 10,5
- Fusion point 961°
- Boiling point 1955°
- Vickers Hardness: HV 40÷90 Kg/mm2
The properties of silver: the reasons for loving it!
Silver is a very ductile metal with clear and bright colours and has been considered the most precious of metals, apart from gold, since ancient times. The fact that silver is malleable has always allowed it to adapt to man's every demand. It is an excellent conductor of electricity - its performance outweighs even that of copper - it is sensitive to light and therefore used often in the electrical and photographical industry. Silver, the purest of metals, also has the highest thermal conductibility and the whitest colour. Silver is used in medicine for surgical instruments and orthopaedic inserts for its non-toxic and antibacterial properties. For reasons of neutrality to taste and colour, Sommeliers have chosen silver for their symbol, the "tastevin", which is used to judge the taste, colour and clarity of wine. In the kitchens of famous restaurateurs, silver saucepans are used for their excellent cooking qualities due to the fact that they transmit heat evenly and the taste of various ingredients can be distinctly perceived. Furthermore silver is very pleasant to the touch. Silver has stability when found in air or pure water. In normal conditions it is therefore unalterable, but when silver comes into contact with hydro sulphuric acid or with ozone present in the air, the copper contained in the alloy oxidizes.
In areas with a polluted or brackish atmosphere silver tends to adopt yellow, dark bluish and even black hues that are easily eliminable by using a specific cleaning product. Tarnished silver is loved by admirers of this metal because it has "lived" and therefore the result of a natural process inherent to metal. If used daily the process of oxidisation is slowed.
Silver can be personalised with ‘ad hoc' engravings, giving extra added value that can make the article unique.
It is a material that, contrarily to others can, through simple maintenance or repair, be brought back to its original splendour and can, therefore, be totally recuperated.
