Nickel silver is a silver-colored metal made from a combination of copper, nickel and zinc. It was first used by the Chinese from 1636 onwards (the Qing Dynasty). Through trade, nickel silver was also introduced into Europe, almost 200 years later.
At first, this alloy was often used for making silver-plated cutlery and other tableware. Today, its many uses include making parts for musical instruments, plumbing fittings, telecommunications and electrical equipment, doorknobs, handrails, and heating coils, among other things.
Nickel silver is suitable for casting, rolling, stamping, forging, extruding, drawing, and machining. In fact, it’s perfect across a large number of products and industries.
Composition and properties
Because it looks like real silver while costing much less, nickel silver is often used to make costume jewelry. Another thing that makes it ideal for jewelry is that it’s malleable and easy to work with. Craftsmen can do their own nickel silver turning with a minimum of difficulty, easily shape the pieces however they want, and create different patterns and textures.
For example, Sterling Silver Ear Cuffs are trendy this year – but they’re also pricey. With nickel silver, designers can deliver exquisite pieces for a fraction of the price.
Nickel silver has three essential components: zinc (10-35%), nickel (5-30%), and copper (50-80%). The more copper it contains, the more ductile and the more corrosion-resistant it will be, and the more nickel it contains, the more silvery its coloring will be. Higher levels of zinc make it stronger and harder but less ductile. Higher zinc levels lower the melting point and slightly improve its resistance to corrosion.
All nickel silver contains copper, nickel and zinc, but sometimes it contains small amounts of lead, manganese and tin as well.
Turning and machining
Although machines such as lathes and drills make it much easier for enthusiasts to produce professional results in their home workshop, even the most skilled craftsmen are still only human, and humans sometimes make mistakes. For this reason, a number of industries prefer to automate their manufacturing processes.
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) refers to the process of controlling machining tools – like drills, mills, lathes, grinders, etc. – through a computer. CNC machining is a precise, efficient, and versatile process, especially when it comes to manufacturing unique, customized components. It’s also very valuable for factories, which need to produce a large number of parts at a rapid pace without compromising accuracy.
Nickel silver (and other nickel alloys) can withstand high and low temperatures and are resistant to corrosion. For this reason, nickel silver makes a vital contribution to the petrochemical, chemical and power industries, among others.
The versatility of nickel silver
As we know, all that glitters isn’t just gold – and now we also know that some things that look like silver aren’t silver, either. Rather, they may be nickel silver.
However, in many respects, nickel silver is as good as ‘real’ silver, or better. It’s extremely hard and resistant to corrosion from the environment, but at the same time, highly ductile and malleable.
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