Tin: the story on HearLore

Tin

A bar of tin makes a crackling sound when it is bent by hand. This noise is known as the tin cry. It happens because the crystals inside the metal twine against each other during deformation. The metal itself is soft enough to be cut with little force. It melts at about 232 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest melting point in group 14 of the periodic table. At room temperature, the stable form is beta-tin, also called white tin. This version has a silvery-white color and a body-centered tetragonal crystal structure. When temperatures drop below minus 13 degrees Celsius, the metal transforms into alpha-tin. This gray form is brittle and has a diamond cubic crystal structure. The transformation can cause the material to crumble into powder over time. This phenomenon is called tin pest or tin disease. Some sources claim that tin buttons on soldiers' uniforms disintegrated during Napoleon's Russian campaign of 1812. The cold weather caused the metal to change its internal structure and lose its strength. Impurities like antimony or bismuth can prevent this transformation from occurring. Commercial grades of tin contain small amounts of these elements to ensure durability.

Bronze Age Trade Networks

Tin extraction dates back to the beginnings of the Bronze Age around 3000 BC. Early bronze objects had a tin content of less than 2 percent. These were likely unintentional alloys formed from polymetallic ores containing trace metals. Adding a second metal to copper increased hardness and lowered the melting temperature. This innovation allowed for more complex shapes cast in closed molds. Arsenical bronze appeared first in the Near East where arsenic was common with copper ore. Health risks quickly became apparent, so people began searching for safer tin ores. Cassiterite was the most likely original source of tin. It often accumulates in alluvial channels as placer deposits because it is harder and heavier than surrounding granite. Alluvial deposits could be collected by methods similar to gold panning. A trade network linked distant sources of tin to markets across Bronze Age cultures. Cornwall in the first centuries AD served as a main source of tin according to some etymological evidence. Bolivia replaced silver as the main export commodity in the early 20th century. Tin mining magnate Simón Iturri Patiño was believed to be one of the five wealthiest men in the world during the late 1920s.

What is the tin cry and why does it happen?

The tin cry is a crackling sound produced when bending a bar of tin by hand. This noise occurs because the crystals inside the metal twine against each other during deformation.

When did Napoleon's Russian campaign affect tin buttons on soldiers' uniforms?

Tin buttons disintegrated during Napoleon's Russian campaign of 1812 due to cold weather. The low temperatures caused the metal to transform into brittle alpha-tin and lose its strength over time.

How much tin was used in solder globally in 2018?

Just under half of all tin produced worldwide in 2018 was used in solder applications. Tin with lead forms a eutectic mixture at the weight proportion of 61.9 percent tin and 38.1 percent lead.

Why were organotin compounds banned by the EU in 2003?

The European Union banned the use of organotin compounds in 2003 after they were recognized as persistent organic pollutants. Tributyltin caused imposex where female shellfish developed male sexual characteristics and damaged mammalian reproductive systems.

What happened to the International Tin Council in 1985?

The International Tin Council collapsed in 1985 when it reached its credit limit. Tin prices fell to $4 per pound following the crisis and remained around that level through the 1990s.

Tin

Bronze Age Trade Networks

Continue Browsing

Common questions

What is the tin cry and why does it happen?

When did Napoleon's Russian campaign affect tin buttons on soldiers' uniforms?

How much tin was used in solder globally in 2018?

Why were organotin compounds banned by the EU in 2003?

What happened to the International Tin Council in 1985?

Solder And Food Preservation

Toxic Organometallic Derivatives

The Crash Of Price Controls