ABSTRACT
Tin is a very good electrical conductor, but when applying tin to electrical contacts and other conductive parts it is recommended to take several precautions due to the specific physical properties of tin. Tin plating is not recommended for continuous service at high temperature. At elevated temperature, the performance of tin-coated electrical contacts is degraded by the aging effects due to a rapid increase in the diffusion rate of copper and tin. Tin-plated aluminum busbars are often used in electrical applications as a cost-effective replacement of more expensive tin-plated copper. Tin pest is an autocatalytic, allotropic transformation of the element tin, which causes deterioration of tin objects at low temperatures. The most effective alloying elements retarding tin pest are bismuth, antimony, and lead. If the electrical contact is going through many mating and unmating cycles, increasing contact wear resistance becomes very important.
