Does copper migrate through silver?


Today I removed my ACME silver plated cryo receptacle from more than 20 days' burn in through my refrigerator. I noticed the silver was more 'orange' in color, as if copper had mixed with it. Is this possible or just an optical illusion?
psychicanimal

Showing 1 response by elwood

Lighten up boys. There is some solid state diffusion that can occur in the copper/silver system but at room temperature I do not think you have enough time to wait for it to cause you a problem. If you continue to be worried, contact your University's metallurgy department for a phase diagram of the system and an explanation. What you report is surely an oxidation layer that can be easily removed.