What Industries Use Silver?
Published on 2/5/2020 by APMEX
What Industries Use Silver?
Silver’s use in the investment sector is well established, and it is often the first thing that people think of. But Silver is an important Precious Metal for many reasons. There are plenty of applications where Silver is used besides commerce.
Silver’s price is driven by factors including industrial demand. The same properties that make it a natural choice for money make it a useful metal for various applications. It is ductile and easily able to be drawn out into wire. It is less reactive than many metals and extremely conductive of both heat and electricity. Gold can be a better option in some applications, but Gold is much more expensive, and Silver’s price makes it more usable.
Silver nitrate is essential for photovoltaic cells, and solar demand affects the metal’s price. Solar technology uses Silver as part of its collection mechanism.
Silver is used for its antimicrobial qualities in a variety of applications. Caustic pencils, used for warts and corns, are one application. Silver is also part of many deodorants. Lab coats used in medical applications often have Silver embedded. Some seals on food products also have Silver embedded in the seal. It’s also used to slow down the rotting process for some wood used in the outdoors.
Catalysts of all types benefit from Silver’s qualities as well. Silver is used to create catalysts for industrial applications covering many different manufacturing types, including the most common plastics we use in our everyday lives. Ethylene oxide from catalysts is used for polyester. Other catalysts are used for formaldehyde, which is in many textiles, adhesives, insulators and more.
Silver is used in a variety of pigments, especially in stained glass. It also sees use in photography and printing. Both regular and 3D printing use Silver in inks. Silver oxide is also used for long-lasting batteries.
Silver’s use in the investment sector is well established, and it is often the first thing that people think of. But Silver is an important Precious Metal for many reasons. There are plenty of applications where Silver is used besides commerce.
Silver’s price is driven by factors including industrial demand. The same properties that make it a natural choice for money make it a useful metal for various applications. It is ductile and easily able to be drawn out into wire. It is less reactive than many metals and extremely conductive of both heat and electricity. Gold can be a better option in some applications, but Gold is much more expensive, and Silver’s price makes it more usable.
The Varied Applications of Silver
Electronics are the most common application of Silver, mainly due to its high conductivity. Silver is used in critical electronic circuits across a wide variety of industries, including the automotive industry. Silver in its metal form can be used for wires and contacts but broken down into Silver nitrate; it’s also useful in paste form.Silver nitrate is essential for photovoltaic cells, and solar demand affects the metal’s price. Solar technology uses Silver as part of its collection mechanism.
Silver is used for its antimicrobial qualities in a variety of applications. Caustic pencils, used for warts and corns, are one application. Silver is also part of many deodorants. Lab coats used in medical applications often have Silver embedded. Some seals on food products also have Silver embedded in the seal. It’s also used to slow down the rotting process for some wood used in the outdoors.
Catalysts of all types benefit from Silver’s qualities as well. Silver is used to create catalysts for industrial applications covering many different manufacturing types, including the most common plastics we use in our everyday lives. Ethylene oxide from catalysts is used for polyester. Other catalysts are used for formaldehyde, which is in many textiles, adhesives, insulators and more.
Silver is used in a variety of pigments, especially in stained glass. It also sees use in photography and printing. Both regular and 3D printing use Silver in inks. Silver oxide is also used for long-lasting batteries.
