Using copper as an alloying component increases the mechanical stability of silver significantly. The most important among the binary AgCu alloys is that of AgCu3, known in europe also under the name of hard-silver. This material still has a chemical corrosion resistance close to that of fine silver. In comparison to pure silver and fine-grain silver AgCu3 exhibits increased mechanical strength as well as higher arc erosion resistance and mechanical wear resistance <xr id="tab:tab2.14Mechanical Properties of Silver and Silver Alloys"/> (Table 2.14).

<figtable id="tab:tab2.14Mechanical Properties of Silver and Silver Alloys">