About Silver. Silver is among the earliest metals worked by humans, since it can be found in its native state in nature, with records dating back to 4,000 B.C.E in Egypt. Silver is known to be mined and extracted since 500 B.C.E in Greece, with production growing rapidly in modern times, after the discovery of large mines in the 1700s and 1800s. The metal has the highest known electrical and thermal conductivity, and the second-highest thermal reflectivity of any metal, as well as high oxidant power, great ductility and malleability, making Silver a very versatile material. However, due to its high cost, in some applications, such as in electronics, Silver can be replaced by copper or aluminum, which also exhibit good conductivity.

Silver Handling. Silver is an extremely valuable material, so its transportation is usually done using highly safe trucks with trained personal. Similarly, silver is usually kept in banks or other similar sources. Since it is a powerful oxidant, and chemically active, silver will tarnish in polluted atmospheres, affecting its appearance, so it should be kept in a well-controlled environment, away from heat and sunlight. Silver and fine silver shapes are shipped in a bonded carrier under security procedures and, depending on the material, with sulfur-free packaging materials.

Silver Production. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Silver are listed below.

Silver Uses. Commercially, Silver is traded in three different forms: ingots, paste, and powder. The ingot form is the most common and is prepared by the thermal melting of Silver, pouring it into a mold, and subsequent cooling, resulting in a bar-shaped structure containing a specific mass. This mass is typically marked on the ingot (usually in kilograms or troy ounces) along with the stamped hallmark. The paste form is widely used in conductive layers and electrodes in electronic circuits or sometimes in coatings. The powder form is extensively used in the manufacturing of the mentioned pastes, varying in applicability depending on the size of the Silver powder. Silver powder can also be used in some catalysts for chemical processes. Each of these forms also has various specifications based on the Silver, copper, other metals, or even other chemical content. For ingots, specifications also cover dimensions, and the minimum purity is 99.9% Silver. In the case of powder, besides purity, the size also matters (e.g., lamellar or flake, microcrystalline, and ultrafine). Silver may also be found in sterling form (7.5% copper) and metal alloys.