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Cold limits for tin plate

2003

Mil-T-10727 and ASTM B545 [affil link] for tin plate warn that it losses adhesion below -40 F. I need to use it to -67 F. I am plating a brass tube, and it is used to crimp against coaxial cable in a telecom application. The braided cable is tin plated copper, or in some cases bare copper. I wonder if the adhesion warning is primarily when ferrous materials are plated.

Ben Egbert
- Spokane, Washington, U.S.

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2003

As far as I know, the temperature issue with Tin is not the adhesion, but that the Tin in very low temperatures tends to dissolve by becoming a tin dust. This is solved by using Bismuth on the tin process.

I hope this helps.

Carlos Cielak
plating shop - Mexico City, DF, Mexico