Tinning
What is tinning? It is one of the quite commonly used electroplating techniques. It is mainly based on the deposition of coatings using acidic and alkaline solutions, both containing tin ions. The electrolytic coating is created by electrolysis on electrically conductive substrates. It takes place when the object is immersed in a solution with the addition of specific ions. As a result of the process, a layer of metal appears on the surface. In some environments, the tin coating works as an anti-corrosion coating; it is also a coating with good solderability and good electrical conductivity.
In the case of coating with this technique, carefully prepare the surface of the tinned detail. A properly applied layer shows excellent adhesion and tightness.
What do we offer?
Our company performs electroplating tinning.
The coatings applied in our processes can be used for decorative, protective and technical purposes. Depending on the application, we offer our customers different coating thicknesses.
Tinning is widely used in the electrical industry. It is common to cover copper wires with tin to improve solderability and protect contact surfaces against oxidation and protect against sulfur during gumming. The technique is also used for solutions in the energy, electrical and food industries.
Why is it worth it?
The first and most crucial argument favouring tinning is the possibility of increasing the service life of the protected element. A properly applied coating provides adequate protection against corrosion. It is essential, especially for elements that are in constant contact with moisture due to their place of operation and assembly (e.g. are exposed to the effects of precipitation).
The second benefit, which will be ensured by proper tinning, is a significant improvement in the aesthetics of the protected module. As one of the critical electroplating techniques, it allows you to create a durable, uniform and coherent protective layer (coating), which gives individual elements an exquisite appearance.
It should also be remembered that tinning allows the use of specific coating properties, thanks to which this method is very actively used by the food industry (e.g. creating a protective coating for cutlery), electrical engineering and energy industries.
The following advantages allow such a broad application:
- chemical non-reactivity – the possibility of using elements that are in constant contact with food (e.g. cutlery) to create protective coatings;
- possibility of increasing the degree of contact conductivity of copper conductors (widely used in the electrical industry);
- adequate protection against the harmful effects of sulfur during gumming.
We also note that iron and steel components can be tinned without any subcoating. On the other hand, brass elements require the use of an appropriate nickel or copper subcoating.
