A study of corrosion on a series of silver rings will be presented, discussing causes of tarnish but also providing methodology for isolating individual parts of the packaging (dissecting the packaging and using each part in a corrosion study) and using them individually to determine their impact on tarnishing of the product. The methodology employed can be utilized by companies with limited equipment and generally found in production operations. A general review of materials commonly used in packaging will also be provided, highlighting techniques to use to determine their impact on increasing or causing tarnish. Active anti-tarnish packaging materials will also be reviewed in the context of how they work.

Author: Keith Donaldson