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What is Rhodium and why is it used in badge manufacturing?
Rhodium is a rare, precious and durable metal that is used extensively for its brilliant silver tone.
Gold and silver are well-known metals, and while rhodium might not sound familiar it is used all around us! Rhodium’s use cases range from jewelry to catalytic converters, but it is also used very effectively on badges. This article will briefly explain what makes rhodium special and why it is a popular silver-tone finish for public safety badges.
What is Rhodium?
Rhodium is a rare and precious metal found in the Earth’s crust. It is a member of the platinum group of metals. It might be rare but because of its properties, it is highly desirable for industrial and decorative purposes. Rhodium is a tough and durable metal that does not oxidize and it is also hypoallergenic.
While you may be unfamiliar with rhodium you see it more often than you realize. In the jewelry industry, rhodium brightens white gold and silver jewelry. It is applied over these base metals to add shine and prevent tarnishing.
What color is Rhodium?
As a member of the platinum family, you might have already guessed that rhodium has a silver tone. What sets rhodium apart is its brightness. It has a highly reflective shine making it almost a silvery-white bright metal. Rhodium is such a good reflector that it is used on the inside of searchlights, which helps with illumination.
This brightness is known as “luster,” or in other words, rhodium is a “lustrous metal.” The luster makes rhodium a good choice for jewelry, where reflectivity and brightness make a piece almost appear to sparkle.
Why is it used for badges?
What makes rhodium a great choice for jewelry, also makes it a great choice for badges. Here are five reasons why rhodium is so popular for use in badges.
- Color and Shine: Rhodium is a beautiful, shiny, bright silver. Nothing compares to rhodium for a brilliant silver tone for a badge.
- Durability: Rhodium is a tough metal. A badge electroplated with rhodium will last a long time with its resistance to scratches and dings. If anything, friction might wear down the rhodium layer over the years but a few simple actions can limit that friction.
- Hardness: Rhodium is a hard metal, making it more durable than other silver-tone metals.
- Tarnish Resistant: Rhodium does not corrode or tarnish. Air and moisture will not lessen the shine of your badge, nor will it need any special cleaning process. A simple wipe with a soft cloth and soapy water, or Windex, will clean your badge.
- Hypoallergenic: While this might be of lesser importance with a badge, if you are an officer allergic to nickel then a layer of rhodium protects against any skin rashes from touching your badge to pin it to a uniform shirt.
How is Rhodium applied to badges?
Rhodium is applied to badges using the electroplating method. Solid rhodium is dissolved into an acidic solution and then electroplated onto the surface of the badge. In the badge industry, the rhodium layer is typically applied over a nickel base coating. Rhodium is a very specialized finish and is done by only highly experienced electroplaters with specially designed equipment. Smith & Warren is proud to offer this excellent finish.
After reading this, we hope you are as enthusiastic about rhodium as the perfect “silver” for your badge as we are about using it as an electroplated layer. If you have any questions about rhodium or any of our finishes, please contact us. We would be happy to discuss badge finish choices with you.