FabDigit

Precious Metal 800 Silver

EN Silber 800

800 Silver (Silber 800) is a silver–copper alloy at 80% silver, the common continental European fineness standard used in Germany, Italy and Austria.

High cost $$$$

Reference datasheet — 800 Silver is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.

Values for the Annealed condition

800 Silver tempers and conditions

800 Silver is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. Annealed is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.

Compare all 7 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
As cast
For cast holloware, figurines and jewellery bodies; coarse dendritic structure with lower strength and some porosity.1152501568 HB76 % IACS
AnnealedDefault
soft, recrystallised (600–650 °C, quenched)
Default stock condition for sheet, wire and blanks that will be raised, spun, drawn or stamped.1303004075 HB78 % IACS
Quarter hard
Choose when moderate stiffness is needed but further bending or light forming still follows.25035020100 HB77 % IACS
Half hard
Standard temper for flatware blanks, hinges and parts needing dent resistance with some residual ductility.33040012118 HB76.5 % IACS
Hardened
Pick for knife handles, wear surfaces and stiff strip where no further forming is required.4204705142 HB75 % IACS
Spring hard
For springy clasps, pin stems and catches where elastic recovery matters most.4805203155 HB75 % IACS
Pre-hardened
Highest hardness/wear resistance from Cu-rich precipitation; used for cutlery blades, hinge pins and worn contact areas.5105804175 HB85 % IACS

What is 800 Silver?

800 Silver (Silber 800) is a silver–copper alloy at 80% silver, the common continental European fineness standard used in Germany, Italy and Austria. The higher copper content gives the highest hardness in this group — 75 HB, 130 MPa yield, 300 MPa tensile, 40% elongation — while keeping good formability (score 92) for spun and drawn tableware, along with 320 W/m·K and 78% IACS. Tarnish and firescale resistance are lower than 925 sterling and parts cannot carry a sterling hallmark; move to 830/835 or 925 when higher silver content is specified. 800 Silver has a density of 10.15 g/cm³ (0.367 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of precious metal grades. It melts at 779°C (1,434 °F). 800 Silver has a yield strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — weaker than 72% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 79 GPa (11.5 Msi).

What is 800 Silver used for?

  • European tableware
  • religious objects
  • jewelry
  • decorative silverware

Advantages

  • Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 40%, better than 92% of precious metal grades
  • Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades
  • Conducts heat well — 320 W/m·K (184.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of precious metal grades
  • High electrical conductivity — 78 % IACS, better than 79% of precious metal grades

Limitations

  • Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 88% of precious metal grades
  • Low stiffness — 79 GPa (11.5 Msi), worse than 86% of precious metal grades

800 Silver properties

Typical room-temperature values for 800 Silver-Annealed; bars are the position among precious metal grades.

Physical3

800 Silver has a density of 10.15 g/cm³ (0.367 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of precious metal grades. It melts at 779°C (1,434 °F).

Density10.15 g/cm³0.37 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)779°C1,434 °F
Liquidus Temperature810°C1,490 °F

Mechanical12

800 Silver has a yield strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — weaker than 72% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 79 GPa (11.5 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus79 GPa11.5 Msi
Shear Modulus29 GPa4.2 Msi
Bulk Modulus104 GPa15.1 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.37
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)300 MPa43.5 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)130 MPa18.9 ksi
Elongation at Break40%
Reduction in Area60%
Shear Strength200 MPa29 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)130 MPa18.9 ksi
Hardness, Brinell75 HB
Hardness, Vickers80 HV

Thermal6

800 Silver is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 320 W/m·K (184.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 18.9 µm/m·K (10.5 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity320 W/m·K185 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity262 J/kg·K0.06 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)18.9 µm/m·K10.5 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion125 J/g53.7 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)250°C482 °F
Min Service Temperature-200°C-328 °F

Electrical3

800 Silver conducts electricity at 78 % IACS, better than 79% of precious metal grades.

Electrical Conductivity78 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity2.2×10⁻⁸ Ω·m0.866 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responsenon-magnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 88% of precious metal grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.05 V
Corrosion ResistanceGood60/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryResistant to water, neutral salts, alkalis and most organic acids; tarnishes rapidly in sulfur-bearing air, eggs and rubber (Ag₂S); attacked by nitric acid, hot concentrated sulfuric acid, halogens and ammonia/cyanide with oxidants; copper phase leaches in acidic media leaving a silver-rich surface.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of 800 Silver takes about 1,200 MJ of energy and emits 90 kg of CO₂ — less than 66% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)1,200 MJ/kg515,908 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)90 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water260 L/kg31.2 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content50%

Manufacturability8

800 Silver's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability excellent (92/100).

MachinabilityFair45/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)55%
WeldabilityVery good70/100
Formability (cold)Excellent92/100
CastabilityExcellent85/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityExcellent90/100
PolishabilityExcellent95/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — not anodisable; surfaces are protected by rhodium/fine-silver plating or anti-tarnish lacquer

Common Calculations5

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated30 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated7.8 MN·m/kg
Modulus of Resiliencecalculated107 kJ/m³
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated120.3 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated64

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.

Strength versus weight in the precious metal family

Yield strength against density for every precious metal grade FabDigit runs. 800 Silver is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.

50100200500101520Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale800 Silver

Working with 800 Silver

Is 800 Silver easy to machine?

Cuts cleanly with sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS tools and light oil mist; gummy and prone to smearing in the annealed state, so machine in half-hard or age-hardened condition for best finish.

Can 800 Silver be welded?

Excellent for laser and micro-TIG welding and for silver brazing; avoid overheating in reducing flames to limit hydrogen embrittlement, and use borax/boric flux to control copper oxidation.

Can 800 Silver be formed, bent or molded?

Very ductile when annealed — deep drawing, spinning, raising and stamping are routine; interanneal at 600–650 °C with quench roughly every 50 % reduction to avoid cracking.

800 Silver chemical composition (wt %)

Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Aghallmark fineness 800/1000, negative tolerance not permitted under EN ISO 920280 – 8180
Znoptional deoxidiser/colour modifier in some continental mill alloys0 – 1.50
Sioccasional anti-firescale/deoxidiser micro-addition0 – 0.050
Cu≈19–20 % nominalbalance

What surface finishes work on 800 Silver?

Takes a mirror polish easily; depletion-gild or flash-plate with fine silver or rhodium to hide fire-scale and slow sulfide tarnishing, and store with anti-tarnish paper or lacquer.

Equivalent designations

Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal 800 Silver in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.

EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
Silber 800

How much does 800 Silver cost?

800 Silver is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

800 Silver — frequently asked

What is 800 Silver used for?

800 Silver is typically used for european tableware, religious objects, jewelry and decorative silverware. In short: hardest common silver fineness; low-cost European standard; strong spinning and drawing alloy.

What is the yield strength of 800 Silver?

800 Silver has a typical yield strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — weaker than 72% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.

Is 800 Silver easy to machine?

Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades). Cuts cleanly with sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS tools and light oil mist; gummy and prone to smearing in the annealed state, so machine in half-hard or age-hardened condition for best finish.

Can 800 Silver be welded?

Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent for laser and micro-TIG welding and for silver brazing; avoid overheating in reducing flames to limit hydrogen embrittlement, and use borax/boric flux to control copper oxidation.

What surface finishes work on 800 Silver?

Takes a mirror polish easily; depletion-gild or flash-plate with fine silver or rhodium to hide fire-scale and slow sulfide tarnishing, and store with anti-tarnish paper or lacquer.

Can 800 Silver be formed, bent or molded?

Very ductile when annealed — deep drawing, spinning, raising and stamping are routine; interanneal at 600–650 °C with quench roughly every 50 % reduction to avoid cracking.

What is the maximum service temperature of 800 Silver?

800 Silver is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

What is the difference between 800 Silver Annealed and 800 Silver-PH?

Annealed is the default condition — default stock condition for sheet, wire and blanks that will be raised, spun, drawn or stamped. PH: highest hardness/wear resistance from Cu-rich precipitation; used for cutlery blades, hinge pins and worn contact areas. Yield strength is 130 MPa in Annealed versus 510 MPa in PH.

How much does 800 Silver cost?

800 Silver is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Sources

  1. EN ISO 9202 — Jewellery: fineness of precious metal alloys — ISO/CEN (2019)
  2. Gesetz über den Feingehalt der Gold- und Silberwaren (German hallmarking law, 800 fineness) — Bundesgesetzblatt
  3. ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Silver and Silver Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol.3 — Alloy Phase Diagrams (Ag-Cu system) — ASM International (1992)
  5. Jewellery master-alloy and mill-product data for Ag-Cu 800/925 sheet and wire — Legor / Umicore (2023)

Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.