Alpaca silver is a copper-nickel alloy used in various products, including coins, machinery, and musical instruments. It was first used in China and made its way to Europe, where it was adopted by German companies. It is also used in jewelry as a less expensive alternative to real silver.
Alpaca silver is a common name for a metal alloy, a combination of metals, of copper, nickel and occasionally other metals such as zinc, tin, lead or cadmium. The alloy can also be called nickel silver, nickel silver, new silver and paktong. It is used in a variety of commercially manufactured products as well as in technical industries.
Alpaca silver was first used in China as a substitute for sterling silver. It made its way to Europe via traded goods, where it was traded under the name paktong or white copper. In the 18th century, several German companies adopted the use of a similar alloy, and in the 18th a competition was held to find out which alloy was the best imitation of silver. Berndorf, a German manufacturer, sold his nickel silver products under the name Alpaca silver and the term became commonly used throughout Europe. In 1823, a process called electroplating was developed, which allowed a thin metallic coating to be plated on both metallic and non-metallic objects, opening up many new markets for nickel-plated products.
For many years, this silver was a component of several European coins, including the Portuguese escudo and the deutschmark. With the currency changeover to the Euro, these coins are now effectively out of circulation. A form of the alloy is also used in US nickel, although the 75% copper and 25% nickel composition is called copper-nickel in America.
In some forms of composition, Alpaca silver is found in industrial and technical machinery. The alloy can be found in various boat components and is useful in plumbing systems, due to its corrosion resistant composition. It is also used in heating coils, as the combination of metals is highly resistant to electricity.
In commercial products, this silver is often found in musical instruments. A nickel silver saxophone is believed to have an exceptionally powerful sound, and many well-known manufacturers carry at least one model. Since nickel silver does not require lacquering, it is the most common material used for woodwind keys. Oboes, clarinets and bassoons are likely to have silver components.
Because of its visual similarity to sterling silver, Alpaca silver is often used in jewelry as a less expensive alternative to real silver. Its stainless steel finish makes the jewelry easy to clean, requiring only lemon juice or a mild soap to remove any marks or tarnishes. Alpaca silver is popular with South American jewelry companies and is used to create beautiful, traditional and modern pieces.
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