49% Silver, is it silver plated?

[dercirujen]

Hi.

I scraped an old army radio cabinet and the antena connector gave me a result of 49% with the XRF gun. The tube had a 16% plating. but 49% would that be silver plated? or some type of silver alloy?
Also i scrapped the different relays and the buttons gave me an 83%.

My question would be the connector with 49% of silver how do I refine it?. better said. can I use electrolisis to strip it as silver plating? or do i need to chemically process it? with the latter i dont have any experience. does someone know how to calculate the price per kg for posting it on ebay?.





a section of the tube



silver contacts

 

[Golddigger76]

Those connectors are normally silver plated brass but if you use a file or grinder to cut into it you will be able to see if it is brass underneath the silver.
If they are military who knows.

 

[galenrog]

Gold digger is right. I started repairing electronics for the military over 45 years ago. The connectors shown are, in very nearly every case, silver plated brass. In a few cases, the plating was very heavy.

I have never seen solid silver or silver alloy connectors similar to what you posted. I do remember one or two systems that had silver plated copper connectors.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Lino1406]

Hi.

I scraped an old army radio cabinet and the antena connector gave me a result of 49% with the XRF gun. The tube had a 16% plating. but 49% would that be silver plated? or some type of silver alloy?
Also i scrapped the different relays and the buttons gave me an 83%.

My question would be the connector with 49% of silver how do I refine it?. better said. can I use electrolisis to strip it as silver plating? or do i need to chemically process it? with the latter i dont have any experience. does someone know how to calculate the price per kg for posting it on ebay?.



View attachment 57605View attachment 57609

a section of the tube
View attachment 57606
View attachment 57608

silver contacts
View attachment 57607
View attachment 57610

Higher reading just means a heavier silver film. No way it is bulk concentration

 

[dercirujen]

ahh ok thnx I though it was silver plated. but since it was the connector of the main antena of an equipment i was in doubt. Im gonna cut it in half.

 

[dercirujen]

Hi. I cut in half one of the large conectors and it was made of brass, it only measure 3% silver on the inside.
is there for silver plated scrap any sort of categorization?

 

[galenrog]

I have found no economically viable method for removing silver plating. A few methods, such as the water cell, show promise, but is still labor intensive and utilizes a significant amount of electricity. Others, especially those that use mild chlorides, such as salt, create silver chloride, which requires further processing.

Have fun.

Time for more coffee.