Platinum sterling
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Platinum Sterling is a registered trademark name of ABI Precious Metals, Inc. The trademark covers a range of alloys whose primary constituents are platinum and silver, primarily used in jewellery.[1] The range of Platinum Sterling alloys was developed in 2003 by Marc Robinson, and its solder was created by Chuck Bennett.
Properties
[edit]The platinum is used to replace at least some of the copper present in a typical sterling silver alloy, which provides a greater light reflectivity (by refining the grain structure) and resistance to tarnish (thought to be caused by oxidation of copper) than standard sterling silver.
Platinum Sterling is a cheaper alternative to white gold.[citation needed] It is also allegedly hard wearing and very white and so does not require rhodium plating like white gold.[2][3]
Composition
[edit]The composition of Platinum Sterling is published; three alloys are commercially available, all containing standard 92.5% sterling silver and 1%, 3.5% or 5% platinum.[4] A small amount of gallium can also be added to the alloy to ease manufacturing. The patent application for Platinum Sterling claims:
A metal alloy having a composition consisting essentially of 90.5–95.5% silver by weight, about 0.5–6% platinum by weight, about 0.7–4% copper by weight, about 0.1–2% gallium by weight, about 1–3% tin by weight, about 1–2.5% germanium by weight, about 0.5–4% zinc by weight, and about 0.1–0.2% silicon by weight.
— [5]
The claim also states:
...the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a metal alloy comprising about 90.5–95.5% silver, about 0.5–6% platinum, about 0.7–4% copper, and about 0.1–2% gallium. In some embodiments, the alloy further comprises about 0.5–4% zinc, about 0–0.2% silicon, about 0–0.3% boron and about 0–1.5% indium. In other embodiments, the alloy further comprises about 0–3% tin and about 0–2.5% germanium.
See also
[edit]- Platinaire
- List of alloys
References
[edit]- ^ [1] Archived 2009-01-23 at the Wayback Machine ABI Precious metals marketing information for Platinum Sterling
- ^ [2] Spotlight on innovative metals.
- ^ "Benefits of Gold". Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 2010-10-24. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
- ^ [3] Details of patent for Platinum Sterling