Q:Why is copper silver coated? A: heat.

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Those wires meant for aerospace, will be subject to heat. Also, the application of Teflon insulator, is so hot during extrusion, that it will tarnish. Increasing resistance.

It is used for aerospace. And they are not allowed to splice. So, some cable mfgs could exist just on partial rolls. And have a bragging point.
Silver coating is 10, or is that 5% better conductivity. So, create a need.

Yes, I do use it. But, it is for the low capacitance, shielding and good insulator.

There are a few metals that will not tarnish in a bad way. Silver oxide is conductive, tellurium wont tarnish. Rhodium is good. Gold of course. Nickle aint bad, unless you want it back. Gold is soft, so it should not be used for any purpose that includes frequent use.

Teflon's principle raison de etre is that it wont create deadly plume in fire, where aerospace is concerned. It also is specified in most plenum uses, as it is within drop ceiling space. It also holds up to pulling thru walls etc.

So, even if Madison avenue types have found new reasons to prefer some materials, there original purpose was other than ours.

As in most hobbies and such, creating materials, and components for the sole purpose of our uses, would be prohibitive. Best to use surplus of those that blow stuff and people up. Or go to space, if you prefer.
 
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Silver oxide does still conduct and that is fine for outer space.

However should you not live in outer space that stuff that accumulates as tarnish on silver is silver sulfide which is an insulator ie no better than the 'green moss' copper turns into.
 
the unplated Cu would oxidize at Teflon extrusion temperatures and be unsolderable

Ag plating allows for soldering the wire afterwards without extreme flux

but for hobby use there is another issue - the solder wicks like crazy up the Ag plated strands making the wire solid, stiff and subject to fatigue failure further from the joint than you may expect, the leverage of the solder stiffened region increases the stress

combined with the difficulty of stripping and likelihood of nicking the wire before soldering without pro tools, any nick adds a stress concentration that can have fatigue failure happen with ordinary handling before boxing up a project - or worse shortly after...
 
...that stuff that accumulates as tarnish on silver is silver sulfide which is an insulator ie no better than the 'green moss' copper turns into.

I've heard this stated before but I have a question.

Both silver sulfide (insulator) and silver oxide (conductor) are black.

I don't really know how the sulfur would get on my silver but there is a lot of oxygen in the air.

Could you explain this please?
 
Quick web searches state the green moss (verdigris) on copper conducts electricity only when wet.

But the question of electrical or thermal conduction has not been answered

More web searches show silver slightly better at conducting heat than copper.
 
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There must be some way around the solderability issue with unplated copper in teflon insulation as I have plenty of the stuff on hand and have never had any problems soldering it. I use a lot of silver plated stranded copper in teflon as well, no solderability issues either.

Note I am not using lead free solder, and I have noticed that the solder can wick up under the insulation under some circumstances - best not to use where vibration is a big issue without securing the stuff so it can't vibrate.

Knicking is a problem with any wire I've found, best not to if possible. (I do all the time unfortunately but have recently invested in better wire strippers - time will tell.)
 
I've heard this stated before but I have a question.

Both silver sulfide (insulator) and silver oxide (conductor) are black.

I don't really know how the sulfur would get on my silver but there is a lot of oxygen in the air.

Could you explain this please?

I'm not a chemist but it seems silver just does not oxidise readily.
Silver oxide is used regularly (batteries for example) but it has to be made in a rather roundabout way starting off with silver nitrate and alkali hydroxide.
Silver oxide itself is not a particularly stable compound.

If you live anywhere where they use internal combustion engines or burn other carbon-based fuels like wood you'll find that there is more than sufficient sulphur in the air for silver sulfide to form.
 
Silver coated copper seems to solder well. Is that one reason for its use?
Black copper oxide is very hard and very insulating and VERY difficult to remove effectively before soldering.
Tinned copper and tin plated copper and silver plated copper are easy to solder to after many decades of storage/operation.
This becomes especially important for stranded wires.
 
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I'm not a chemist but it seems silver just does not oxidise readily.
Silver oxide is used regularly (batteries for example) but it has to be made in a rather roundabout way starting off with silver nitrate and alkali hydroxide.
Silver oxide itself is not a particularly stable compound.

If you live anywhere where they use internal combustion engines or burn other carbon-based fuels like wood you'll find that there is more than sufficient sulphur in the air for silver sulfide to form.
I wonder if that is why we now have only ultra low sulphur in our road fuels?

Could the government actually have been thinking about our soldering ease?
 
I posted the ESA cable spec a bit ago, I will also delve into some other specs.
The silver plated copper is NOT for skin effect or any other reason other that temperature range and if my failing memory serves me it is a requirement because tin can react with the higher temp plastics used... Citation needed.. I will double check.
 
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