[Jewelry making - Article 00822] - Re: [Orchid] First Argentium Sterling Adventure

[Noel]

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>     Oxygen combines with the germanium and the silver. Silver will not
>     form a stable oxide compound but the germanium does. So as the
>     metal cools back down the silver releases any oxygen it has picked
>     up but the germanium does not. Germanium has a much greater
>     affinity for oxygen than the copper in the Argentium so it prevents
>     the copper combining with or holding on to any oxygen. 

>     I know it is a nitpick but I can't help it :-) 

    Actually, I wouldn't say this is a nitpick at all! This actually
    explains the whole thing about how AS can have a "layer" of
    germainium oxide, but still look like normal sterling. There isn't a
    layer of germanium oxide like the nylon on tiger tail-- there is a
    layer of sterling in which oxygen has penetrated and bound to
    germanium, preventing more oxygen from binding with the copper,
    causing tarnish. Right? Thanks so much-- now it makes sense. 

Noel
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