Tin is an abrasion resistant element. It maintains this feature in the air and shows a nice appearance in the materials it is used. It is applied on protective metals which are prone to abrasion and color changes besides being decorative. The most preferred area is tin cans.

The tin element is also resistant to food acids. Especially before the Second World War, tin cans and soldiers' steel sheets were coated with tin by hot dipping method. The only disadvantage of this method is that it requires the use of excess tin. Therefore, thanks to the developing technologies, the electrolytic method was later found and the hot-dip method was abandoned. With the application of electrometal coated tin, less tin was used and a more standard coating was started and thus a less porous coating was obtained. In this way, tin plating by electrolytic method replaces tin plating by immersion method.

Today, all materials that will come into contact with food are coated with tin. However, in order to remove the pores in the tin and to obtain healthier boxes, a lacquer process is also applied.

XRF rays, a kind of X-ray, are part of the electromagnetic wave spectrum, including visible light. Since each element has its own energy level (spectrum), the elements are easily distinguished by XRF method. In this way, tin coating thickness measurement in cans is determined by XRF method.

In the advanced laboratories, tin coating thickness measurements are made for a surface in tin cans by XRF method. These measurements are based on standards published by local and foreign organizations. The standard used in this respect is:

 

• TS 13718 Cans