What is silver useful for?

Humans have been fascinated with silver for thousands of years. And there are excellent reasons for this fascination. Silver is a valuable metal that is less expensive than gold owing to its comparative abundance. Among all the metals that exist, silver definitely has a unique place. This is because silver in its pure form has lots of desirable properties that make it extremely useful. Even though it has been used for making jewelry, silverware, and currencies in the past because of its shiny nature, silver is more than that. 

Silver has lots of applications industrially. From electronics and automobiles to medical and aerospace domains, every industry benefits from this marvel metal. In this article, let us explore the uses of Silver in depth and gain a sensible and deeper understanding of what makes silver such a valuable material and the pivotal role it plays in contemporary technology.

The White Metal

Silver is often referred to as “the white metal”. Silver is rare. Not as rare as Gold, but it is still a rare commodity. This is what gives it the inherent value that it possesses. Silver also has very unique chemical traits. For instance, Silver is not prone to toxicity. It is non-toxic. This makes it a compelling argument to use it in the medical industry. Actually, even before microorganisms were discovered, this trait of Silver was known to civilizations. You may be wondering how that is even possible, but silver has been used as a precious metal and store of value by most kingdoms and civilizations that have ever existed on earth. And why would they not? It is a shiny metal, just like gold and it has many similar traits except that it is not yellow, but rather white. So, that means, jewelry and silverware were common applications. It was observed that liquids stored in this container tend to not get spoilt. 

Moreover, Silver has very superior thermal and electrical conductivity. This is what gives it an edge in the industrial domain. Many applications require silver’s precise properties to work. Even though gold is a considerable candidate, its lack of abundance makes it unfit for use on the mass industrial scale. Silver also possesses good metallic properties. Its malleability and ductility allow it to be morphed into sheets and wires, respectively, making it indispensable in diverse industrial applications. Silver’s high reflectivity and luster make it an optimal choice for jewelry, silverware, and mirrors. Even the world of photography has, for generations, relied on silver’s photosensitivity.

As Silver is relatively more abundant than gold, this makes using it in all applications cost-effective. The availability and versatility ensure that silver can be manipulated in numerous forms – powder, paste, flakes, salts, alloys, printable sheets, and even colloids. It’s also harnessed as a catalyst. 

Electronics need Silver to Function!

Silver has to be extracted from the mines. It can also be a by-product in the lead and zinc mines. No matter how the silver is mined from earth, for the electronics industry it needs to be extremely refined. We are talking about a purity of 99.99%. The smelting of silver is how the refining is done and the process yields silver bars or grains. Silver nitrate is particularly interesting as it can be morphed to create contact and conductive pastes which find its place in circuitry and applications such as photovoltaic cells for solar energy production. 

Whether you’re flipping a light switch or using a touch-sensitive membrane in your microwave, there is silver involved in making that happen. 

Printed circuitry uses silver as its conductive links. Nanosilver consists of particles with a billionth of a meter. These are embedded into circuit boards where they form conductive links between critical electronic components such as capacitors. Moreover, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags require silver too. These are so crucial in logistics that they are the industry norm as of now. With a good range, they work better than barcodes as they need to be in direct line of sight. 

From plasma TVs to LEDs, every component requires silver in their creation. 

What’s more?

Silver is not superconducting. But did you know that using silver in combination with other materials results in faster electricity transmission rates? This paves the way for applications such as magnetic energy generation and magnetic levitation trains.

Automobiles use a fair share of Silver. 

In the automotive world, silver metallic contacts govern electronic features and features such as autogenerative braking. They even play a crucial role in the bearings that are used in the engines. Since there are extreme levels of mechanical and thermal stresses involved, silver electroplated with iron is used.

Silver’s lubricating properties reduce friction between bearings and their housings which helps in smoother functioning of such mechanical engine components

It also has applications in electric vehicles and batteries. Silver-zinc and silver oxide batteries are high-performing and are excellent alternatives to conventional batteries 

Recent research shows that silver’s potential substitution for platinum in catalyzing the oxidation of substances collected in diesel engine filters enhances efficiency.

Energy Generation

Silver’s applications extend into the energy sector too. Silver paste, used in solar panels, facilitates the capture and transmission of electrical current generated by photovoltaic cells when exposed to sunlight. The reflective nature of silver channels solar energy into collectors that utilize salts to generate electricity. 

Control rods that are used in nuclear fission reactors capture neutrons and regulate the fission rate within nuclear reactors. These control rods, when inserted into the reactor core, slow down the nuclear reaction, while their removal accelerates it.

Photography relies on Silver

It may seem obsolete now. The biggest firm Kotak pivoted decades back unsuccessfully and is out of business now. But silver halide crystals in photographic film respond to light, capturing latent images that develop into photographs. This process is highly reliable and plays an important role in consumer photography, film production, and X-ray technology.

Medicinal Uses 

Silver’s antibacterial properties, along with its non-toxic properties, have been harnessed in medicine for millennia. From wound care, where silver foil once aided healing, to contemporary applications in surgical equipment, wound dressings, and ointments, silver safeguards against infections. Silver ions can even facilitate the regeneration of damaged tissue and bone. Although it is crucial to note that while silver is not inherently toxic, excessive and prolonged ingestion can lead to argyria, a condition characterized by a grey-blue discoloration of body tissues. Thus, colloidal silver as a dietary supplement is discouraged by medical professionals.

Mirrors and Glasses

Silver’s high reflectivity, particularly when polished, gives rise to mirrors. Since the 19th century, transparent glass surfaces have been coated with a thin layer of silver, although modern mirrors may use other metals like aluminum. Many contemporary building windows feature a transparent silver coating that reflects sunlight, contributing to energy efficiency by reducing the AC usage.

In aerospace, silver-coated tiles give radiation protection from the sun

A Chemistry Catalyst

Silver is an important catalyst in chemical processes that enable the production of ethylene oxide and formaldehyde. Ethylene oxide contributes to the creation of molded plastics, flexible plastics, and antifreeze, while formaldehyde is critical in the manufacture of solid plastics, resins, and protective coatings. Silver acts as a catalyst and enhances the speed of these reactions without undergoing depletion.

Silver Commodity Investments

While the gold and silver standard of currency is a relic of the past, silver retains its value as a commodity. People today opt for silver as an investment, either through financial instruments or by purchasing and storing 99.9% pure silver bullion in the form of bars, coins, or medallions. 

And of course, Jewelry!

Lastly, silver is used in making jewelry. Many craftsmen still continue to design intricate design pieces using this valuable metal. 

Lastly, Conclusion

Silver has ushered itself into the heart of modern technology, medicine, energy, and more. Whether it’s your smartphone or solar panels, silver’s radiance shines through! Silver has time and again proven its worth as a precious resource in the 21st century and beyond.