316L STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY VS. STERLING SILVER VS. ZINC ALLOY
316L STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY
316L stainless steel is very resistant to rust, oxidation, and discoloration. No matter the force or frequency of use, it rarely reveals traces of dents or scratches, even after years of employment. It is often used in marine applications where the steel is constantly exposed to moisture. It is also used in food and beverage processing and chemical processing applications. It is a corrosion-resistant alloy which ideal for long-lasting jewelry designs.
Though people do not consider it as a precious metal, it is much more durable than silver or platinum.
This durability is due to a Chromium coating that is chemically bonded to the steel. The invisiable coating protects the steel underneath from oxidation (tarnishing and rusting). It also protects against scratching by taking the initial impact of a scratch and then resealing itself. This process, called passivation, is the spontaneous formation of a hard non-reactive surface film that prohibits further corrosion.
STERLING SILVER
Sterling silver is an alloy consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Pure silver is usually too soft to make anything functional or durable, and therefore alloying the silver with another metal allows it to have the strength of another metal, with the flexibility and lustrous appearance of silver. People use sterling silver to make jewelry, cutlery, and musical instruments. For further learning, visit WHY CHOOSE STERLING SILVER FOR JEWELRY.
ZINC ALLOY
Most jewelry makerswill hardly use zinc in its pure form, but they will blend it with other metals to come up with zinc alloys. Some of these casting alloys include copper, brass, bronze, soft solder, and German silver. Accordingly the resulting alloy will have acronyms such as ZAMAK.
Two of the best-known zinc alloys are brass. People make brass up of zinc and copper, and make nickel silver of nickel-copper and zinc.
Brass, an alloy of Zinc that contains between 55% and 95% Copper, is among the best known alloys as it is not usually named too many times as a top allergen to earring wearers or other jewelry.
The use of Brass dates back 2500 years and was widely used by the Romans and is commonly used today, particularly in musical instruments and many hardware applications that must resist corrosion. Brass is known for corrosion resistance, mainly because zinc reacts with carbon dioxide when they come into contact, preventing any further reaction and making the metal durable.
316L STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY VS. STERLING SILVER
Both stainless steel and sterling silver are alloy metals, meaning people make them of metals made from of a combination of two other metals. People make stainless steel from steel and chromium, and make sterling silver from silver and another metal, which is usually copper, though people will also use zinc or platinum.
BEAUTY AND STRENGTH
All high-tech applications aside, the very characteristics that make 316L surgical stainless steel good for medical use are the same reasons it is such an excellent medium for making jewelry. It may take a little more effort to bend and shape, but the result is guaranteed to hold the integrity of its design for a good long time. And its finish won’t corrode or degrade, no matter what you do to it. It is resistant to rust and other by-products of oxidation, such as tarnishing, which is an unfortunate characteristic of most silver jewelry.
NON-ALLERGENIC
While sterling silver is generally safe to wear, some people still have allergies to silver, nickel or copper. Some sterling silver jewelry manufacturers will plate their pieces with rhodium to prevent it from tarnishing, but this coating will likely erode over time. Additionally, there are plenty of ‘fakes’ out there – silver pieces that are marked 925, but actually have a higher degree of other metals, like nickel. As with most things, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Additionally, people who take certain medications are constantly having to replace their treasured jewelry because gold and silver will pit and discolor in the presence of certain chemicals. This issue is non-existent with surgical stainless steel.
HIGHLY DURABLE
Any accessory or piece of jewelry that is going to be put to a lot of use will last longer if pople make it from stainless steel. For key chains, bracelets, pendants or lanyards, people would prefer surgical stainless steel, as it can take a beating and still retain its finish and beauty.
ZINC ALLOY VS. STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY
STRENGTH
When it comes down to choosing between the two alloys, a maker will have to select the one that favors their market. Zinc alloys are strong, easy to mold, and they will not corrode when people let them out in the environment. They are cheap too and so people’s target here is the larger market. On the other hand, they need a careful combination as too much copper will lead to allergic reactions.
Where zinc is strong, stainless steel is stronger, thanks to the elements that come together to make it. The products which people make from stainless steel alloys can last for years and still look as good as new. They may be a tad expensive, but they are also esthetically appealing.
Naturally, stainless steel is a better alloy when the three are in contrast. If you want further know about why stainless steel is better for jewelry, meet WHY CHOOSE STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY to discover more surprise.
| Metal in Contact | Atmospheric (Rural) | Atmospheric (Industrial /Urban) | Immersed (Marine) | Immersed (Fresh Water) | Immersed (Sea Water） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum and aluminum alloys | 0 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 1 | 2 to 3 |
| Aluminum bronzes and silicon bronzes | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Brasses including high tensile (HT) brass ( manganese bronze) | 0 to 1 | 1 | 0 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Cadmium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cast Irons | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 3 |
| Cast Iron (austenitic) | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Chromium | 0 to 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Copper | 0 to 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Cupro-nickels | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Gold | (0 to 1) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (2 to 3) |
| Gunmetals, phosphor bronzes and tine bronzes | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Lead | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 2 | (0 to 2) |
| Magnesium and Magnesium alloys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nickel | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Nickel copper alloys | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloys | (0 to 1) | (1) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 3) |
| Nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys | (0 to 1) | (1) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 3) |
| Nickel silvers | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 3 |
| Platinum | (0 to 1) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (2 to 3) |
| Rhodium | (0 to 1) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (2 to 3) |
| Silver | (0 to 1) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (1 to 2) | (2 to 3) |
| Solders hard | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| Solders soft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Stainless Steel (austenitic and other grades containing approximately 13% chromium) | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| Stainless Steel (martensitic grades containing approximately 13% chromium) | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 1 | 0 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| Steels (carbon and low alloy) | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| Tin | 0 | 0 to 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 |
| Titanium and titanium alloys | (0 to 1) | (1) | (1 to 2) | (0 to 2) | (1 to 3) |
| Key: 0: Zinc and galvanized steel will suffer either no additional corrosion, or at the most only very slightly additional corrosion, usually tolerable in service. 1: Zinc and galvanized steel will suffer slight to moderate additional corrosion that may be tolerable in some circumstances. 2: Zinc and galvanized steel may suffer fairly severe additional corrosion and protective measures will usually be necessary. 3: Zinc and galvanized steel may suffer severe additional corrosion and the contact should be avoided. General Notes: Ratings in brackets are based on very limited evidence and hence are less certain than other values shown. The table is in terms of additional corrosion and the symbol “0” should not be taken to imply that the metals in contact need no protection under all conditions of exposure. Source: British Standard Institute, pp 6484: 1979, Table 23 | |||||
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