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Silver Plate Corrosion

Silver Plate Corrosion

Silver Plate Corrosion

(OP)
We have some copper pieces silver plated and the plating becomes tarnished when exposed.  Is this normal?  Does it effect the conductivity of the electrical joint when applied.  

thanks

RE: Silver Plate Corrosion

(OP)
Thanks but the plating was almost Black.  Is this normal?

RE: Silver Plate Corrosion

(OP)
not sure, just the outside elements.

RE: Silver Plate Corrosion

Black tarnish is from sulfur oxides.  Either there's a lot of coal smoke where you are, or the plating layer was porous and some residual sulfuric acid from the process remained to bubble out later to speed tarnishing.

RE: Silver Plate Corrosion

I ouwld be only a little surprised that it turned black, since that seems a bit extreme, but that might just depend on what specific environment it got exposed to.

As for electrical conductivity, it would affect it, UNLESS, you are able to break through the tarnish to get to the metal underneath.  As a general rule, this is discouraged, as the tarnish can still spread, since you don't have a clean interface, so "stuff" can still get in.

TTFN

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RE: Silver Plate Corrosion

This seems to be an environment requiring precious metal plating, e.g., hard gold, platinum, rhodium or an alloy thereof (Ir,Pt, Rh). An intermediate layer of nickel may be needed as a diffusion barrier (between copper & gold).

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