Experiments on aesthetic-mechanical properties with recycled copper in AG-CU alloys for application in contemporary jewelry

Contemporary jewelry has opened up a range of possibilities for creating pieces with different materials and processes, but with a focus on sustainability, which is rarely explored by traditional jewelry. For silver, copper alloys can be used to modify its properties and reduce costs. Thus, this study aims to experiment with variations in the percentage grading of silver and copper, using copper recycled from electronic waste. The methodology of the work was divided into two stages: bibliographic research to understand concepts, and experimental development. For the experiment, six different gradations of the Ag-Cu alloy were calculated, analyzing the casting and rolling process, in addition to the aesthetic impacts revealed by the sanding and polishing processes, as well as a Vickers Hardness tests. As a result, Ag850 alloys with recycled copper were found to be used in the field of jewelry, having little impact on their mechanical and aesthetic properties, providing more sustainable alternatives through recycling, consequently reducing the environmental impact from the extraction of these ores.