Silver

Silver (CAS 7440-22-4), also designated E174 as a food-contact and cosmetic colorant, is a precious metal sourced in refined elemental form.

Where is Silver used?

• Personal care and cosmetics: surface colorant in decorative products such as nail preparations and body decoration
• Water treatment: silver-dosed media and coatings inhibit biofilm formation in filtration units and storage vessels
• Printed electronics and conductive ink formulations: silver particles or flakes produce conductive traces on flexible substrates
• Biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing: silver-based surface treatments on equipment and wound-contact materials reduce microbial load

Good to know: Argentum is the historical designation still referenced in pharmaceutical and laboratory contexts. Buyers typically specify purity at 99.9% or higher for electronics and pharmaceutical applications.

Commercial specifications

• Purity specified at 99.9% or higher for electronics and pharmaceutical applications
• Colloidal silver concentrations and powder mesh sizes vary by end-use
• Particle size and morphology specified to application requirements