[Jewelry making - Article 00014] - Re: [Orchid] More Testimonials on Argentium Sterling

[Trevor F.]

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Hello Jaye,

>     Once a finished piece is baked at 300 degrees for 1/2 hour to raise
>     the germanium layer, how plastic is this outer layer once we get to
>     setting stones, be it prongs or bezels? Up to a 1mm transparent
>     coating was mentioned. Would tiny cracks result? 

    I think you've got the wrong idea about the results of heat treating
    AS. I don't have any technical data on the thickness of the germanium
    oxide layer but I'd bet that it would be measured in microns (one
    millionth of a meter). That's not particularly relevent to our needs
    though because the primary function of that germanium oxide is to act
    as a block to oxygen while the metal is being heated, thus inhibiting
    the formation of firescale. 

    I suspect you saw that 1mm figure in one of my posts (I don't think
    I've seen others tossing that figure about) so I apologize if I gave
    the impression that there was 1mm if transparent stuff sitting on the
    surface because that is certainly not the case. 

    No, what I meant was that the tarnish resistance of properly treated
    AS goes as deep as 1mm or more into the surface of the metal. And
    that material is as "plastic" as that rest of it: there is no
    discernable difference in mechanical properties between the
    heat-treated surface material and the inner bulk of metal. 

Cheers,
Trevor F.
in The City of Light
Visit TouchMetal.com at http://www.touchmetal.com
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