ARGENTIUM™ SILVER

TIPS FOR USING ARGENTIUM SILVER 97%

A good thing just got better - now Argentium Casting Grain is 97% silver

The reasons for using Argentium Sterling Silver are many. Argentium Sterling Silver is an anti-oxidizing, anti-fire scale Sterling alloy that is extremely tarnish resistant. It is the most important advance in silver technology in modern times. It stays bright and beautiful for weeks, months, for years and requires only an occasional wipe with a soft cloth to remove a smudge or finger mark.

Fabrication and workability characteristics are much better than standard Sterling silver, and it can be heat treated to achieve hardness approximately twice as strong as standard Sterling Silver.  Unlike traditional Sterling Silver, Argentium Sterling casts and solders without fire scale and is laser weldable. Argentium Sterling Silver is available in casting grain, flat sheet, hard round wire, 1/2 hard round wire, half round wire, square wire, round seamless tubing and cadmium free solder.

MELTING: Melt Temperature is 60º F lower than standard sterling silver.

Solidus: 1522° F (828° C), Liquidus: 1724° F (940° C).

CASTINGS: When investment in casting, a pour temperature of 1760-1880°F (950-980°C) and a flask temperature below 1350°F (677°C) are recommended. If casting without a protective atmosphere, the use of borax flux or graphite powder is effective. After casting the metal, a minimum of 30-60 minutes air cooling is required before quenching. Investment may be easily removed with water spray, ultrasound, and pickling solution.

REMELTING: This could cause brittle castings. For high quality pieces, using more fresh metal will yield superior results. It is important that used trees and buttons are free from investment powder residue to avoid sulfate contamination.

FLUXING: Use of a protective atmosphere to protect the molten metal is recommended, but flux can also be used if a protective atmosphere is not available. Boric Acid is recommended. Skim any surface oxides off of the surface before stirring.

QUENCHING: Air cool for 60 minutes or more before quenching (the minimum necessary to avoid cracking). Best results have been reported by completely cooling the flask and hand tapping out the casting with a wooden mallet. To AVOID hand tapping, place in quenching bucket until plaster softens.

INVESTMENT REMOVAL: Most standard investment removers will successfully remove the investment powder.

ANTIQUING: Use hydrochloric or muratic acid.

FLASK TEMP: In most cases, use your normal flask temperature. Do not exceed 1250° F.

TUMBLE FINISHING: Successful tumble finishing has been done using rough cut with epoxy cones and triangles in a vibratory tumbler, and also by using a steel shot mixture in a rotary tumbler. It is very important to maintain clean shot and solution.

HARDENING: Typical hardness of rapidly quenched pieces is 70 DPH. Flasks cooled to room temperature can approach 90 DPH and heat–treated castings can approach 125 DPH! (Approximately twice the hardness of as-cast standard Sterling Silver!). To obtain this hardness, quench the flask after air cooling for 15 minutes. Anneal in an oven at 1050 to 1150°F (566-621°C) for 30 to 60 minutes and quench after visible heat has dissipated. Then, place the castings in an oven at 580°F (304°C) for 45 minutes and air cool to room temperature.

POLISHING: To avoid contamination from other alloys in the workshop, separate wheels should be used for Argentium® Sterling Silver. If this is not possible, thoroughly rake wheels before use. After final polishing, heat the casting in an air atmosphere to 250° (121°C) for 20 minutes to activate the germanium oxide layer, which is highly tarnish resistant.

RECYCLING: When trees become excessively dark, or any inclusions are noticed, the silver should be considered scrap. It has most likely been depleted or contaminated.

SOLDERING: Argentium silver displays a lighter color when heated.  If the metal looks yellow or light orange, it is too hot. Low temperature solders are therefore recommended. For maximum results, use Argentium ® solders now available in sheet and round wire in easy, medium and hard tempers. It is important to avoid overheating this metal. Use standard soldering fluxes.

DENSITY: 10.3 g/c

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