Copper is added to silver primarily to increase its hardness and durability. Pure silver is very soft and easily damaged, making it unsuitable for many practical applications.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Increased Hardness: Pure silver is too malleable (easily shaped) for many uses, like jewelry or silverware. Adding copper creates a harder, more robust alloy that can withstand everyday wear and tear.
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Improved Durability: Copper makes silver less prone to scratching, bending, and other forms of damage. This is crucial for items intended for regular use.
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Reduced Fatigue: The addition of copper makes the alloy less susceptible to metal fatigue, which is the weakening of a material caused by repeated stress.
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The Case of Sterling Silver: The most common example of this is sterling silver, which is an alloy made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This specific ratio provides an optimal balance of hardness, durability, and tarnish resistance while maintaining the desirable appearance and properties of silver.
In summary, adding copper to silver is essential for making it more practical and long-lasting for various applications.
