[Jewelry making - Article 00248] - Re: [Orchid] How do you melt silver coins?

[James Binnion]

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>     From many years ago the 19th century experiments of Messrs's..M. P.
>     E. Berthelot and L. J. G. Vieille made clear the reaction upon the
>     explosion of acetylene and precious metals and found that if liquid
>     acetylene was contained and heated to a high temperature by a
>     platinum, or fine gold wire raised to a red heat, the whole mass
>     decomposes and gives rise to such tremendous pressures that no
>     cylinder can contain the mass of metal or the gases hovering above
>     the metals...but that was contained,. 

    Silver, copper and mercury will combine with acetylene at room temp
    and atmospheric pressure to form acetylides of those metals (Ag2C2
    or Cu2C2. These compounds are very unstable and will explode if
    shocked. This is why copper pipe and silver brazed joints are not
    allowed for use in transporting acetylene gas. However the rate of
    production at room temp and pressure is very low and is certainly not
    an issue when using a torch as the acetylene is converted to carbon
    monoxide and hydrogen and then to carbon dioxide and water vapor by
    the combustion process and never reaches the workpiece as acetylene. 

    http://www.msha.gov/Accident_Prevention/Tips/acetylenegas.htm
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_acetylide
    http://ctea.ca/AcetyleneMaterialSafetyData.htm

James Binnion
jbin AT mokume-gane.com
James Binnion Metal Arts
http://www.mokume-gane.com
360-756-6550
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