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

Depending on requirements, tin plating can give either a bright, shiny, metallic-looking finish, or a dull matte.

Tin plating is widely used in the following industries:

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

At Anodisers Runcorn, our metal finishers are skilled at avoiding common problems associated with tin plating:

• Sometimes the object’s shape makes it difficult to achieve uniform coating thickness, which is usually in the range of 10-20 microns.
• Tin plating’s excellent solderability decreases over time but the soldering lifespan can be extended by steps taken during plating.
• Tin whiskers are microscopic metal fibres that form small, sharp protrusions on the surface. They 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 if present.