What is in the composition of the cupronickel?

Melchior is a compound of copper and nickel. In its composition there is no share of silver, although it has a silvery color. It contains, in addition to 18% nickel and 80% copper, various additives. This corrosion-resistant compound has a density of 8.9 g / cm3. Light in processing, having excellent viscousness and high plasticity, nickel is used for making cutlery, dishes, cigarette cases, thermocouples and ornaments.

A bit of history

Once upon a time, the composition of the nickel silver was wrapped in mystery behind seven seals.

In China, there lived a man who was fond of foundry. He was looking for something new, mixing metals and other natural ingredients. And he once discovered that the combination of bronze, nickel and zinc is remarkable for its lightweight castability, ductility and malleability.

The man just in time created his alloy, when the country announced the production of ersatz silver for casting a single metal coin. The imperial regent was delighted with the new alloy. And an order was given to set up the production of such a wonderful metal. The technology of its casting was carefully concealed.

Only after a few centuries, products from "Chinese silver" came to Europe and immediately attracted the attention of the nobility. Things from pakfonga (as they used to call rafting) were worth several times as expensive as real silver items.

Only in 1812 the French chemical engineers received a pure alloy of nickel and copper, that is, the now known composition of the nickel silver, which was called Mayshore.

Melchior ware

Metal dishes made of nickel silver are elegant and elegant, and also very durable and maintains the desired temperature of the dishes. The objects are covered with a silver layer, which makes them look very exquisite. However, from time to time they must be polished, so that a special shine will not be lost. It is not recommended to subject the dishes to sharp impacts, so as not to deform it.

You can find wonderful products made of nickel silver, used as dishes:

• Oval dishes are designed to serve hot fried fish on the table.
• Round dishes - for feeding roasted meat.
• Paschotnitsy - this is the pans, in which serve the broth cleaned hot eggs.
• Menazhnitsy - come with one or more partitions, they serve the main dish with one side dish or a complex one, spread out into several cells.
• Baranchiki - semiportal dishes of round or oval form with a lid (for snacks from fish, game, poultry in sauce).
• Sauce dishes - for serving sauces on the table: they are made for 1 or 2 servings.
• Jezwi - this is the Turks for coffee in the east, they have a narrow throat and a spout.
• Kokotnitsy - small pots, having a long handle, for hot appetizers (for example, for julienne).

Jewelry

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish silver objects from nickel silver ones. It is necessary to look at the sample: the composition of the nickel silver is designated by the abbreviation MSC. They make various silver ornaments: rings, bracelets, earrings, pendants with gold and silver coating, with inserts of precious stones or glass.

Also, the composition of nickel is important in the reinforcement of such items as sugar bowls, flower vases, etc.