| When we think of Silver we normally think of | | | | and fungal growth within their products. Silver has |
| silver plated utensils or ornaments and sometimes | | | | even found its way into medical dressings where |
| of silver coins. However this is only a small % of | | | | the silver inhibits bacterial growth. |
| total silver consumption. | | | | 30% of the worlds industrial use of silver was |
| Silver has a number of properties that make it | | | | used in the production of photographic paper - |
| highly useful as metal with industrial applications. | | | | both colour and black and white film. With the |
| Silver has the highest thermal conductivity among | | | | switch over to digital photography there has been |
| metals, high reflectivity and highest electrical | | | | a temporary reduction in demand for silver, |
| conductivity. These properties have seen it applied | | | | however this is quickly being taken up by new |
| in numerous uses including a coating on windows | | | | industrial uses for silver. |
| (think of those mirror glass skyscrapers popular in | | | | One of the main problems in the use of silver as |
| the 80'), in high end electrical components including | | | | an industrial metal is that the processes tend to |
| silver membrane switches, and as a catalyst in a | | | | "consume" the silver. That is it is not available for |
| number of industrial chemical processes (for | | | | recycle. Because silver is often used in very small |
| example the oxidization of ethylene gas into into | | | | quantities in individual products - it is not |
| ethylene oxide - the major ingredient for | | | | economically viable or even sometimes industrially |
| polyester.) | | | | possible to recycle the silver. This means that as |
| Silver also has antibacterial properties that are | | | | silver is consumed their is less of it available. Many |
| now being more greatly exploited, particularly | | | | people believe this demand will exceed the ability |
| given the declining effectiveness of antibiotics. | | | | to supply the metal driving the price up to |
| Such applications have included adding silver to | | | | unheard of levels, similar to the concept of "peak |
| sports clothing where it helps prevent bacterial | | | | oil", many believe we have past "peak silver" and |
| and fungal infections. Some air conditioner and | | | | that long term the metal will become increasingly |
| even white goods manufacturers have started to | | | | in greater demand whilst the amount available |
| include silver in their products to prevent bacterial | | | | continues to reduce. |