# Metallurgy question:

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallurgy-question/299199>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 13, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallurgy-question/299199 "2005-04-13T23:10:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallurgy-question/299199/1 "2005-04-13T23:10:23Z")

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So, I wear a lot of big jewelry, and my jewelry collection has long since outgrown its large box. I was thinking about hanging a sheet of [expanded metal](http://www.mcnichols.com/products/expanded/flat/em_flat_cu.htm) on my wall, getting a bunch of small [S-hooks](http://www.appaltree.net/aba/s_hook/s_hook_9.htm) to hook into it, and hanging all of my jewelry off the S-hooks.

However, I vaguely remember something about some metals making other metals that they are in contact with corrode quickly, called a galvanic something-or-other? Obviously, I don’t want my jewelry to corrode.

Does anyone know what metal/metals would be okay to use for this purpose? My jewelry includes pieces that I know are silver and pewter, several I think are tin, and a whole bunch that I have no idea whatsoever what they are composed of (mostly silver-toned, though).

What do the metalurgists on the board say?

mischievous

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallurgy-question/299199/2 "2005-04-13T23:32:59Z")

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[Prevention of galvanic corrosion by design](http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Aircraft/galv-design.htm)  
[Table of anodic indeces](http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> For controlled environments, such that are temperature and humidity controlled, 0.50 V can be tolerated. Caution should be maintained when deciding for this application as humidity and temperature do vary from regions

You should be all right with steel S-hooks and expanded metal. If you prefer aluminum expanded metal, paint it.

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**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallurgy-question/299199/3 "2005-04-13T23:38:47Z")

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I am addicted to earrings. To keep track of my french wire earrings and some of my necklaces, I have a large cork bulletin board in my dressing room - I hang the earrings and chains from plastic push pins. You can cover the board with cloth if you like.

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**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallurgy-question/299199/4 "2005-04-14T03:46:32Z")

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**snakescatlady** ,I thought about a cork board, or even just hammering nails into the wall, but I like the industrial look of expanded metal, and it will go well in my gothy bedroom. I just want to make sure it doesn’t harm my jewelry.

Thanks, **squink** , that was exectly the sort of info I was looking for.

mischievous