How to Make Silver Different Colors

How to Make Silver Different Colors by Electrochemical Anodizing.

Without using paint you can give a silver surface various colors by anodizing it.

WARNING: Anodizing solution is corrosive, so wear gloves at all times when working with it. It is also somewhat toxic, so keep it away from children and pets too.

To make the solution, just mix two tablespoons of sodium hydroxide (lye) and one tablespoon of sulfur with half a cup of water (~100mL). Stir for about ten minutes until the solution turns orange. Then filter the solution to remove excess sulfur.

You can get sulfur from online sources (including ebay) or from some drugstores. Sodium hydroxide is the primary component of some types of drain cleaners. But read the label carefuly, drain cleaners come in many types and alot of them don't have sodium hydroxide. You can also buy sodium hydroxide online, it's sold for making home biodiesel or homemade soap.

After you made your solution, thoroughly clean your silver article and place it into the solution. Attach the positive terminal of a 3V battery to the article and dip the negative wire into the solution. Move the negative wire around the solution to give the silver an even coat, or keep it in a single spot to apply rainbow effects.

What's happening is the electric current is oxidizing the silver and causing it to pick up the sulfur dissolved into the solution. As it does this it thickens and alters the way light reflects off the surface. What color of light is reflected is determined by how thick the sulfide layer is. The thickness of the layer is determined by how long you anodize it. So you can control the color by controlling the time you apply the current.

The process can be used to tint silver items to give them an antique look or simply just to make them exotic colors.

Practice before you do this on something valuable.

If you make a horrible mistake, you can restore the silver by electrochemistry at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGCx9HZwYBo

Always use batteries for this process to keep safe. Also don't use higher voltage batteries, you might end up "burning" a layer of silver off your item and ruining delicate designs.

We've done it with copper, but the color is not as brilliant, silver gives the best effect for the video. We haven't tried it with steel and aluminum just goes dark without getting color.

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Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Cara membuat perak warna yang berbeda oleh elektrokimia Anodizing.Tanpa menggunakan cat Anda dapat memberikan permukaan perak berbagai warna oleh anodizing itu. Peringatan: Anodizing solusi korosif, sehingga memakai sarung tangan setiap saat ketika bekerja dengan itu. Hal ini juga agak beracun, jadi Jauhkan dari anak-anak dan hewan peliharaan juga.Untuk membuat solusi, hanya campuran dua sendok makan natrium hidroksida (Alkali) dan satu sendok makan belerang dengan setengah cangkir air (~ 100mL). Aduk selama sekitar sepuluh menit sampai solusi yang berwarna jingga. Kemudian saring solusi untuk menghilangkan sulfur kelebihan.Anda bisa mendapatkan belerang dari sumber-sumber online (termasuk ebay) atau dari beberapa toko obat. Natrium hidroksida adalah komponen utama dari beberapa jenis pembersih Tiriskan. Tapi membaca label carefuly, pembersih Tiriskan datang dalam banyak jenis dan banyak dari mereka tidak memiliki natrium hidroksida. Anda juga dapat membeli natrium hidroksida online, itu dijual untuk membuat biodiesel rumah atau buatan sendiri soap.Setelah Anda membuat solusi Anda, benar-benar bersih artikel Anda perak dan tempat ke dalam larutan. Melampirkan positif terminal baterai 3V artikel dan mencelupkan kawat negatif ke dalam larutan. Memindahkan kawat negatif di sekitar solusi untuk memberikan perak sebuah mantel bahkan, atau menyimpannya dalam satu tempat untuk menerapkan efek pelangi. What's happening is the electric current is oxidizing the silver and causing it to pick up the sulfur dissolved into the solution. As it does this it thickens and alters the way light reflects off the surface. What color of light is reflected is determined by how thick the sulfide layer is. The thickness of the layer is determined by how long you anodize it. So you can control the color by controlling the time you apply the current.The process can be used to tint silver items to give them an antique look or simply just to make them exotic colors.Practice before you do this on something valuable. If you make a horrible mistake, you can restore the silver by electrochemistry at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGCx9HZwYBoAlways use batteries for this process to keep safe. Also don't use higher voltage batteries, you might end up "burning" a layer of silver off your item and ruining delicate designs.We've done it with copper, but the color is not as brilliant, silver gives the best effect for the video. We haven't tried it with steel and aluminum just goes dark without getting color.Thanks for watching, subscribe, rate and comment!If you like my videos, check out http://www.nurdrage.com