A Spotlight on Silver

Silver is generally known for its use in coins, silverware and jewellery.

However, today these account for less than 50% of all silver consumption. 

Silver has a number of unique properties that make it the ideal material for a plethra of uses. Whether in laundry detergent or inside jet engines, silver has become a material of innovation and is now appearing in a number of unexpected places and products including; 

Electronics

Silver’s excellent thermal and electrical conductivity make it the metal of choice for electrical components, switches and contacts. The smallest quantities are needed for contacts in switches for many household items. Silver contacts are used in everything from consumer appliances to automobiles. Tiny particles, called nanosilver, are used in printed electronics such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Additionally, batteries produced with silver oxide are used to power cameras, watches, as well as laptops and even electric cars. The tremendous increase in mobile devices, media storage and other new personal electronics that function on silver components has also driven its demand.  

Energy

When silver is dissolved into nitric acid, it produces silver nitrate which can be converted into powder or flakes. This, in turn, is converted into a silver paste which is used in the production of photovoltaic cells in solar panels. With more homes and businesses converting to solar technology, silver is in greater demand to meet this need.
Silver is also used in nuclear energy for the control rods that capture neutrons and slow the fission rate in reactors.

Investment Mechanism

As precious metals continue to be a popular safe-haven in an unstable economy, investors have been purchasing silver in a number of forms. Silver bullion and coins remain a popular investment choice today thanks to its long-lasting quality and high luster. Many individuals choose to buy and store 99.9 percent pure silver bars, coins or medallions. 

As a commodity, many also invest in silver through stocks and mutual funds. This enables investors and traders to use silver-inclusive funds and futures as hedges against volatile stock portfolios. Additionally, as the Fed keeps rates near zero, precious metals including silver have become a more profitable investment tool.

 Source: https://resource-erectors.com/

Automotive Industry

Motor vehicles depend on silver as much as they depend on fuel. More than 36 million ounces of silver are used each year in auto manufacturing, according to The Silver Institute. For example, every electrical connection in a modern car is activated with silver-coated contacts. Starting the engine, adjusting power seats, opening power windows, and closing a power trunk are all accomplished using a silver membrane switch.Silver also contributes to automotive safety. Silver-ceramic lines fired into the back windows (and front windshields of newer vehicles) generate heat to melt ice and keep the glass fog-free, the institute says.

Advent Research Materials is a leading supplier of high purity silver. 

You can buy our silver products in multiple pure metal forms including silver foil and silver sheet, silver wire, silver wool and silver rods as well as silver sputtering targets and silver woven mesh/gauze. Prices can be found on our website