Obtenção e caracterização de ligas de ouro aplicadas ao setor joalheiro no estado do Pará

Abstract

Gold has main application as adornment in jewelry pieces but in its pure state doesn’t have the hardness required for this use, being generally fused with other metals to form alloys. The aim of this research was to elaborate and characterize optical, structural and mechanical properties of gold alloys and introduce the use of intermetallic Au-20% Al, seeking to improve the production of jewelry industry. Four (4) gold alloys were prepared: one (1) intermetallic Au-20% Al violet colored and three (3) with usual coloration in jewelry manufacture (Au-25% Ag - light green, Au-12,5% Cu - red, Au-12,5% Ag-12,5% Cu - yellow). Au-20% Al alloy was produced in microproducers of the state of Pará workshops, while the others were fused in Materials Laboratory of Chemical Engineering School in Federal University of Pará (UFPA). The structural properties were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed dendritic cell structure for Au-25% Ag and Au-12,5% Cu alloys, dendritic structure for Au-12,5% Ag-12,5% Cu alloy and cellular structure for Au-20% Al alloy. The mechanical properties were obtained through Vickers microhardness tests, evidencing the highest hardness for Au-20% Al alloy, intermetallic of AX2 type. The optical properties evaluated by colorimetric tests showed visible light spectrum in the range from violet color (Au-20% Al), greenish yellow (Au-25% Ag), red (Au-12,5% Cu) and yellow (Au-12,5% Ag-12,5% Cu).