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Fired Silver Paint: Precipitated Silver and Flux in Polyvinyl Alcohol with Ammonia (Gray, Erie Resistor 1954, Ex. 1)
A paint for putting silver electrodes on ceramic, glass or mica. Fine silver powder and a little ceramic flux are held in polyvinyl alcohol dissolved in water, with a trace of ammonia to make the wet paint conduct. So a capacitor can be measured while it is being painted. On firing, the silver becomes a film held on by the flux. The silver settles, so stir while painting.
Source: Robert B. Gray, US 2,695,275 (Erie Resistor, 1954), Example 1. Not given: how the silver was precipitated, which flux, the form of the ammonia, and the firing heat. Ours: precipitated silver made by reducing silver chloride with zinc, bismuth subnitrate as the flux (one Gray names), and strong ammonia water. Picture drawn by Youblob.
Beginner
1 day
Instructions
1
1
Dissolve 4 g polyvinyl alcohol in the water
Dissolve 4 g polyvinyl alcohol in the water
For 100 g of paint: dissolve 4 g polyvinyl alcohol in the water, warming it to help it dissolve. The water is the balance, about 35 to 44 g. Warming is ours.
Materials for this step:
Polyvinyl Alcohol Powder4 g
Distilled Water1 as requiredTools needed:
Balance Scale
Borosilicate Beaker
Hot Plate
Borosilicate Glass Rod2
2
Grind in 50 g precipitated silver and the flux
Grind in 50 g precipitated silver and the flux
Grind 50 g precipitated silver and 2 to 10 g ceramic flux into the solution until smooth. Gray allows some silver chloride left in the silver. Ours: silver from the zinc route, and bismuth subnitrate, one of the fluxes Gray names. The right amount of flux depends on the ceramic.
Materials for this step:
Precipitated Silver50 g
Bismuth Subnitrate1 as requiredTools needed:
Balance Scale
Mortar and Pestle
Nitrile Gloves3
3
Add 0.2 to 1 % ammonia
Add 0.2 to 1 % ammonia
Stir in ammonia, 0.2 to 1 % of the paint. It evaporates from the film but makes the wet paint conduct. Ours: added as strong ammonia water. Sharp fumes: work in air, goggles.
Materials for this step:
Ammonia Solution - 25-28%1 as requiredTools needed:
Borosilicate Glass Rod
Chemical Splash GogglesNitrile Gloves4
4
Stir while painting
Stir while painting
The silver in this paint settles, so stir it while it is being applied.
Tools needed:
Borosilicate Glass RodMaterials
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Tools Required
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