Silver Demand

Silver demand is built on three pillars: industry, photography and silverware. These three categories account for more than 90% of total silver consumption.

1. Industrial use.

In the electronics industry, the largest use of silver is in thick film pastes, typically in the production of screen printing circuits in multilayer ceramic capacitors, the manufacture of membrane switches, automobile rear glass heating films and conductive adhesives. Mixtures etc.

Silver has unique light reflectivity, and the reflectivity after polishing reaches 100%. It can be used on mirrors, glass, cellophane or metal.

Many batteries, rechargeable batteries and disposable batteries use silver alloys as cathodes. Although more expensive, silver-containing batteries have a better energy ratio than other types of batteries. The most common are button-sized silver oxide batteries (which contain 35% silver), commonly used in watches, cameras and similar electronics.

A large number of chemical reactions use mesh and crystalline silver as catalysts. For example, in plastic production, silver is used as a catalyst for formaldehyde and in the petrochemical industry as a catalyst for ethylene oxide.

The flexibility and strength of silver promote the connection of materials (above 600℃ is called brazing, hereafter called soldering). Silver brazing alloys are used in a wide range of applications, from air conditioners, refrigerators and other electrical equipment to the automotive and aerospace and aviation industries.

Compared with other bearings, bearings plated with high-purity silver have higher fatigue strength and load capacity, and therefore are used in various high-tech and heavy-duty applications.

2. Photography industry.

The photographic process is based on the photosensitivity of silver halide crystals, which consist of a soluble silver solution, usually silver nitrate containing a soluble alkali metal halide such as sodium chloride or potassium bromide. The particles are suspended in unexposed film. The action of light on the silver halide disrupts the structure of this mixture, which is reduced to metallic silver by the developer under specific conditions, and the image on the negative is converted into a positive. Photographic film is used in radiography, printing and commercial photography. Manufacturers of photographic film require high-purity silver.

3. Silver jewelry and silverware. The processing performance of silver is similar to that of gold. Both have good reflectivity and can achieve high brightness after polishing. Pure silver (99.9%) does not tarnish easily, and a small amount of copper is usually added to the jewelry to make it last longer. Silver is also used in gold alloys along with the base metal. Since the 14th century, sterling silver with a purity of 92.5% has been the standard for making silverware, especially as a standard for making "vessels" and flatware (knives, forks, spoons, etc.). The coating of electroplated silverware is usually 20 to 30 microns thick, while gold-plated jewelry is only 3 to 5 microns thick.

4. Silver coins.

Compared with gold, silver is more commonly used for coinage and enters circulation due to its abundant supply and lower value. Most countries established a silver standard, and it was not until the end of the 19th century that silver coins became the main currency in circulation. But after gold intervened, the silver standard gradually gave way to gold. Silver gradually fell out of mintage but remains in some circulating coins.

New Developments in Silver

When assessing the sources of future demand for silver, the situation in the past few years is very important. After more investigations are analyzed and judged, many potential applications will move from the laboratory to the market. The biggest area of ??concern for silver over the past few years has been biocides. Silver has also made great strides in its application as a superconductor for current transmission.

The bactericidal function of silver has long been documented. But it is only recently that advances in nanoparticle research and production technology have led to widespread use of silver as a biocide. New products containing silver have been successfully commercialized, ranging from being part of man-made objects to using very small amounts to achieve sterilization purposes.

For example, washing machines can now release silver particles when washing clothes. The release of silver ions from the bandage can shorten the treatment time and reduce the frequency of replacement. Three of the largest trauma supply manufacturers have already adopted this technology, which expands their development space. Sportswear can regulate body temperature and reduce body odor by adding silver ions.

Similarly, the application of silver surface disinfectants has also made breakthroughs and is more widely used in food processors, sterilization centers and household products.

The use of silver in biocides continues to evolve. Cost factors play an important role here. On the one hand, people want to use other cheap metals to replace silver, but they are worried about environmental damage. Biocidal manufacturers are constantly applying their products to new areas. The area with the greatest potential comes from the construction industry, where biocides can prevent mold and other bacterial damage to buildings. The building material that requires the most treatment is wood, and a large number of studies have shown that silver biocides have a significant destructive effect on wood fungi, insects and other organic organisms.

Another developing application of silver is in the field of high-temperature superconducting wires. High-temperature superconducting wires with ceramic cores and composite silver sheaths have been developed for use in new power plants and distribution networks. After the development of second-generation superconducting wires, their conductivity has been improved, making them more efficient and with broader application prospects. Although the second-generation superconducting wire uses less silver per meter than the first-generation superconducting wire, the expansion of the scope of applications will also drive an increase in the amount of silver used.