ASSIGNMENT- 5 EPNS Cleaning Process

SUBMITTED BY- Pallavi Mishra

Roll Number- 1183
SUBMITTED TO- Mr. Anil Kumar Goyal
(Sr. Lecturer)

WHAT IS EPNS?
EPNS stands for Electroplated Nickel Silver.
It is a precious alloy of copper, zinc and nickel. The high
concentration of nickel present in the alloy used by Broggi 1818
improves its mechanical features and endurance. The galvanisation
process permits depositing pure silver at 999.99% with high
thickness and so this alloy can have almost unlimited uses.

Due to its nature, EPNS has features and behaviour very similar to
soild silver. In fact, specific weight, malleability, thermal
conductivity, warm colour, and pleasing aging are all features of a
noble metal. A table setting of EPNS silver is just as glimmering as if
it were the real silver.
 Cleaning Process
It needs to be cleaned and polished on a regular basis. When it gets
tarnished, more complex cleaning methods have to be employed.
Following are the cleaning and polishing methods that are used:
~ Regular cleaning
~ Silver- Dip method
~ Burnishing machine
~ Polivit method
~ Plate- Powder method

REGULAR CLEANING
~ Wash the article in a hot solution of synthetic detergent, scrubbing
with a piece of cotton cloth.
~ Then rinse in a clean boiling water.
~ Once the articles are clean, drain the water and wipe the article
dry while it is still warm, rubbing it hard with a lint-free cloth.

Silver- Dip Method

~ A silver dip solution, that is usually pink in colour, is used to clean
tarnished silver.
~ The articles are immersed completely for removal of tarnish. The
article should be taken out quickly, washed with warm water and
dried.
~ Enamel or plastic containers must be used when working with
silver dip since the dip attacks steel.
~ This solution should not be used too frequently since it is harder
on the article and can corrode the metal.

Burnishing Machine
~ It is a revolving drum with a safety shield. In this revolving drum,
highly polished steel balls are immersed in a detergent solution with
silver articles.
~ The machine rotates and the friction from the steel balls polishes
the silver. The articles are then rinsed with hot water and dried.
~ This machine is usually used for polishing large quantities of silver
articles.

Polivit Method
~ Polivit is an aluminium metal sheet containing holes, which is best
used in an enamel bowl or galvanized bowl.
~ The polivit is placed in the bowl together with some soda. The
article to be cleaned is then put in the bowl, ensuring that at least
one piece of silver has contact with the polivit.
~ A chemical reaction takes place between the polivit, soda, boiling
water and silver which causes the tarnish to disappear.
~ After 2-4 minutes, silver should be removed from the bowl and
placed into another bowl containing boiling water to rinse it.
~ After removing the article from the second bowl, the article should
be drained of all water and dried with a tea cloth.

Plate-Powder Method
~ This method is ideal for the articles that cannot be cleaned by the
above methods.
~ In this method, plate powder (which is pink in colour)is mixed
with spirit and is rubbed over the surface of the article. Once the
paste is dry, it is rubbed with a clean cloth and is rubbed with a
clean cloth and rinsed with hot water.
~ This method demands more labour and time and is more suitable
for items like cruet, toast rack etc.

Thank You.