Among the natural metals that have ingrained themselves in human history, the one that easily comes to mind is tin. The soft, silvery-white metal is abundant throughout the planet and has been mined extensively for a variety of uses. Tin is as strong as steel but is much more flexible, lending itself to various applications over the years. Tin has also often been alloyed with other metals, most notably to create bronze and pewter, but the pure tin sheet has since been found to have many uses.
Uses for the Tin Sheet
Though commonly associated with the grocery store tin can, the pure tin sheet has found itself being used in a variety of ways over the centuries, both commercially and privately.
- Jewelry – Costume jewelers often use a tin sheet to create attractive pieces of jewelry. Because of the sheet’s malleability, jewelers find it easy to mold the sheet into various shapes and designs.
- Radiation Shielding – Lead is most often used for radiation shielding but tin isn’t far behind. Due to tin’s high atomic number and its high density, the nuclear industry makes use of layers of tin metal sheets, alongside lead, to shield workers against the effects of harmful gamma radiation. Because of their flexibility, tin sheets are also used to reinforce parts of nuclear reactors that cannot be covered by other sturdier metals.
- Roof Building – The roofs of homes are often made using tin metal sheets because of their long life-span, their resistance to rust and harsh weather, and their attractive appearance.
- Residence Building – A number of homeowners also incorporate the tin sheet as a wall or ceiling feature due to its attractive and shiny appearance. Tin countertops and backsplashes are also used to give homes an industrial vibe while ensuring that the home remains rust-proof.
- Tableware – Tin tableware has recently become popular. Because of tin’s antibacterial properties, sheets of tin are now being adapted into plates and coasters. The plates are often curved at the edges, or are kept completely flat, depending on the needs of the customer. Due to the purity of the sheets used, the buyer has the option of molding the tin plates themselves after buying them. The plates are given some texture, like cloth, water, or snow, or kept glossy and plain.
- Vehicle Parts – In the automotive industry, tin is used to solder parts of engines and machines together due to its durability and malleability. Most other metals are unyielding, but tin can be adapted into whichever shape or form required by the part to ensure a tight fit.
From its humble beginnings as an alloy to its many uses now, tin has become an invaluable metal in the lives of human beings around the world.
