The Silver Shortage - The best Investment in History

Besides Strontium (Sr), Silver (Ag) has some of the last remaining reserves in the world.

Silver is the best electrical conductor of all elements, and the best thermal conductor of all metals. The entire world industry requires over 900 million ounces per year.

Source: http://www.silverinstitute.org/site/supply-demand/silver-demand/

Its unique elemental properties make it impossible to substitute and its uses span almost every sector of industrial application.

Silver is used in Nanotechnology, Solar panels, Mirrors, Battery's, Electronics, Machinery, Chemical Processing, Medicine and Water purification.

Out of the 900 million ounces required, 487 million of that Silver is needed by the industrial industry. This is expected to reach 665 million by 2015.

Source: http://www.silverinstitute.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/futuresilverindustrialdemand.pdf

Silver in Nanotechnology

Silver Nanoparticals are used to sterilize up to 650 types of bacteria. It's biocidal (Destroys Life) applications are among the most studied today. Silver has antibiotic, antibacterial, anti fungal and anti microbial properties.

Reference: http://www.silverinstitute.org/site/silver-in-technology/silver-in-nanotechnology/

Silver used in Solar panels and Mirrors

Silver is the main ingredient in photovoltaic cells, (Solar panels). 90% of the crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (the most common cell) contain Silver. It is also added to mirrors in a process called Silvering.

The addition of Silver to windows reflects up to 95% of the sunlight transmitted indoors, thereby allowing residents to save on cooling costs, while keeping the internal heat inward.

Silver used in Battery’s and Electronics

Silver oxide and zinc batteries have twice the capacity of lead-acid batteries, making them the power source of choice for television and film crews, aircraft and submersibles. These batteries feature a water-based chemistry, and contain no lithium or flammable liquids. These are becoming the batteries of choice in mobile phones and laptop computers.

The excellent electrical conductivity of Silver makes it a natural choice of everything from printed circuit boards to switches and TV screens. Silver based inks are applied to composite boards to create electrical pathways. These inks can be used to produce ‘Radio Frequency Identification’ (R.F.I.D.) Tags. These are antennas which prevent theft and allow easy inventory control.

The Silver used in machinery

When steel ball bearings are electroplated with Silver, they become stronger than any other type of bearing. Placing a layer of silver between the steel ball bearing and its housing reduces friction between the two, increasing the performance and longevity of the engine. Jet engines, for example, rely on silver bearings because they can function continuously and at very high temperatures.

In the soldering and brazing of pipes, faucets, ducts and joints, Silver is provides safety, strength and quality unrivaled by any other material.

Silver used in Chemical Processing

Silver is an important catalyst in the production of two major industrial chemicals. More than 150 million ounces of Silver is used to produce ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, both essential ingredients in plastics.

A catalyst is a substance that facilitates a chemical process without itself undergoing any transformation. Because Silver is not affected by the reaction, it is almost completely recovered after it is used.

Approximately 90% of the Silver employed as an industrial catalyst is used for the production of ethylene oxide, from ethylene.