Ag970 soft annealed (+A)

Ag970 (fineness 970/1000), also AgCu3, due to its low copper content (3% by mass) still corresponds to the color of the fine silver, which on the other hand considerably surpasses its hardness and tensile strength. Because of its high solidus point and the strongly decreasing importance of the Ag-950 alloys, the Ag alloy alloyed with 3% Cu is today the only commercially available alloy which is not suitable for Niello but also for enamelling and therefore it has also the name EMAILSILVER. The alloy is particularly suitable for cold work (driving, cisiling). The tarnish resistance of this alloy is the highest of all commercially available silver alloys. Ag970 / AgCu3 has great importance for use in electrical engineering for contact materials. Tends at temperatures above 150°C for oxidation, so that the contact resistance of the material remains small only at low temperatures. Compared to fine silver and fine grain silver (AgNi0,15), it has higher hardness and strength, higher resistance to abrasion and abrasion, and less sweat at higher temperatures.