It is common for silver accessories on fox bracelets to oxidize and turn black. This is mainly because silver reacts chemically with sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide in the air to produce black silver sulfide. In addition, fatty acids and amides in human sweat, as well as chemicals contained in cosmetics and perfumes, can also accelerate the oxidation process of silver accessories. Understanding the principle of oxidation is the first step to effective repair. Only by understanding the "cause" can we choose the appropriate "treatment" method.
For slightly oxidized silver accessories, common household materials can complete the repair. Wiping with toothpaste is a simple and effective method. Choose white toothpaste without abrasive particles, squeeze it on a soft cloth and gently rub the blackened area in circles. The calcium fluoride and surfactant in the toothpaste can decompose the silver sulfide particles. After wiping, rinse with clean water and wipe dry. Soaking in white vinegar is also feasible. Put the bracelet in a container, pour white vinegar to immerse the silver part, soak for 10-15 minutes, then take it out and gently brush the oxidized part with a soft brush. Acetic acid can react with silver sulfide to form water-soluble sulfide. The aluminum foil plus salt method is also worth trying. Place a layer of aluminum foil in a container with the shiny side facing up, put in oxidized silver jewelry, add hot water and sprinkle a spoonful of salt to stir. Aluminum and silver form a primary battery, reducing the silver ions in silver sulfide to elemental silver. This method has a significant cleaning effect on complex structures.
If the degree of oxidation is severe, professional tools and chemicals are needed. The silver-polishing cloth for silver jewelry contains fine abrasive particles and silver maintenance ingredients. When used, it can effectively remove the oxide layer by wiping along the texture of the fox bracelet in one direction, but excessive friction should be avoided to cause wear of the plating. Although silver washing water can quickly dissolve the oxide layer, it is highly corrosive and is only suitable for pure silver accessories. The soaking time should not exceed 1 minute, and it should be rinsed with clean water immediately after soaking. The ultrasonic cleaning machine uses high-frequency vibration to deeply clean the sulfide in the gap. With a neutral cleaning agent, it is suitable for processing the complex hollow structure of the fox bracelet.
If the repaired silver accessories appear matte or scratched, the gloss can be restored through physical polishing. Wool wheel polishing is suitable for large flat surfaces. Use an electric polisher with a wool wheel, dip in polishing wax and polish at a low and uniform speed to quickly remove fine scratches; agate knife calendering is suitable for fine parts. Tilt the agate knife at a 45-degree angle and push along the silver surface to make the rough parts smooth. During the polishing process, the strength should be controlled to avoid damaging the silver accessories. After polishing, the residual wax needs to be thoroughly cleaned.
Daily protection is the key to preventing silver accessories from oxidizing again. When not wearing, the fox bracelet should be placed in a sealed jewelry box or a pure cotton bag to prevent direct contact with the air. Silica gel desiccant or anti-silver oxidation paper can also be placed. Develop good habits when wearing, avoid wearing it when swimming, bathing, or exercising. After spraying perfume or applying sunscreen, wait for the chemicals to evaporate before wearing it. Wipe the accessories with a dry soft cloth every week, and use a special silver jewelry maintenance fluid for maintenance every month to form a protective film to isolate sulfides.
If you want to improve the antioxidant capacity of silver accessories from the source, you can use special processing techniques. The electroplating protective layer is a layer of rhodium or iridium electroplated on the surface of pure silver. It has high hardness and strong chemical inertness, which can effectively block sulfide corrosion; the alloy composition is improved, and copper and a small amount of palladium are added to silver to make an anti-oxidation silver alloy, which not only maintains the luster of silver but also is more resistant to oxidation; the nano-coating technology forms a molecular barrier by attaching a silicon dioxide nanofilm on the surface of silver, which significantly reduces the rate of sulfidation reaction.
When repairing silver accessories, some wrong operations need to be avoided. Do not use hard tools such as steel wool and sandpaper to polish, otherwise deep scratches will be left; avoid mixing acidic and alkaline detergents to prevent the formation of salt crystals that are difficult to remove; if the bracelet is inlaid with gemstones, contact with silver washing water or alcohol will damage the gemstones, and local isolation repair is required; do not use high temperature to treat the oxidized parts to prevent the silver from melting or damaging other accessories. As long as you master the correct repair and protection methods, you can keep the silver accessories of the fox bracelet shiny for a long time.
