Tin Plating

 

TIN PLATING

 

Tin is a very popular choice for electroplating both ferrous and nonferrous surfaces.  It produces brilliant, dense, highly level, bright tin deposits which find wide application for both decorative and engineering uses.  It offers excellent solderability and superior protection against corrosion.

Tin plating is an extremely cost-effective process, as tin is a readily available resource and therefore much less expensive than pricier metals such as gold, platinum or palladium.

It is also widely used in the following industries:

  • Food processing
    It is non-toxic, ductile and corrosion resistant
  • Electronic components manufacture
    It has conductive properties and protects the base metal from oxidation, so preserving solderability
  • Telecommunications
  • Aerospace
  • Jewellery making

Either a shiny, bright, metallic-looking finish, or a dull matte appearance can be achieved depending on requirements.

At AnoChrome Finishing, our experienced team of metal finishers ensure that common tin plating issues are avoided:

  • Tin whiskers are small, sharp protrusions on the surface. These microscopic metal fibres aren’t visible to the naked eye, but can cause significant damage to the finished product. They are electrically conductive, and can therefore cause short circuits in electronic components.
  • Sometimes, the shape of an object makes it difficult to achieve uniform thickness, which is usually in the range of 10-20 microns.
  • While tin-plated metals offer excellent solderability, this reduces over time. The soldering lifespan can be extended by steps taken during the plating process.