What is tin plague and how it managed to win

Have you ever heard of such a thing as "tin plague"? Not? Do not think anything bad. This phenomenon has nothing to do with a real plague that destroyed at one time half of Europe. This physical phenomenon manifests itself with tin at a certain temperature. Interesting? Then I will tell you now about this phenomenon in more detail.

A bit of history to better understand

So, before you start to explain the physics of the process, let's dig deeper into the history of tin.

This metal is known to mankind for thousands of years and at one time was a strategically important resource. Because of its plasticity at room temperature, it is actively used, e.g., in the manufacture of buttons for clothing, and so all kinds of ornaments. D.

For example, in 1910 the English explorer polar R. Scott organized and personally led a polar expedition to the South Pole with the aim to conquer it. Hike stretched over many months and walking expedition left small caches of provisions and fuel in cans, sealed tin stoppers.

In 1912, researchers still have conquered the pole, but they were not the first (ahead of Roald Amundsen). But this is not the most important. Going back on previously created route, they found that in the near canisters with fuel stock opened and empty. Reaching the next caches saw the same thing, fuel cans were empty.

Unfortunately, the expedition just simply frozen, and not being able to keep warm.

other facts

At the end of the 19th century from the Netherlands in the Russian Empire it was sent to a composition loaded with pure tin ingots. As soon as the train arrived in Moscow, when the inspection of cars instead of tin there was a gray powder.

At about the same time it was equipped expedition to explore Siberia. But at the first heavy frost had a mishap, all turned into a pewter gray powder.

Already in the 20th century at a military warehouse happened PE, with all uniforms were gone pewter buttons. Instead, they still found a gray powder. Having studied it was concluded that the metal was struck so-called tin plague.

Well, how it was interesting? What kind of phenomenon is: tin plague. Let's move on to the explanation.

What is tin plague

For a long time, scientists could not explain what is tin plague and only after the death of the polar expedition was carried out large-scale study to unravel the secret.

metal Structure

Only after a thorough study of metals by means of X-rays failed to consider the metal lattice. And it was given a scientific explanation.

It was found that absolutely any metal may have a different crystal form. The most stable modification at a temperature above ambient and equal is tin. It has sufficiently viscous and ductile structure.

But as soon as the temperature is below -13 degrees Celsius crystalline structure begins to change.

The atoms begin to be located in space at a greater distance, and is formed by the following modification of the metal - gray tin.

The metal is completely loses its original properties and, in fact, converted into a semiconductor. At the same time begin to increase internal stresses and this results in the fact that the tin literally disintegrates into powder. Exactly tin plague occurs.

The speed of this transformation is dependent on the temperature. So the fastest decomposition occurs at a temperature –33 degrees Celsius. It is this effect has led to the death of the expedition, completely destroyed the tin car and destroyed many valuable exhibits.

How to beat a tin plague

The scientific community has long been beating on finding "medicine" of this phenomenon and finally the British Association of Manufacturers managed to find a solution.

They just created a new alloy in which tin is added to other metals to stabilize the permanent properties of tin.

The resultant alloy steel called "Pewter" and it is composed of 95% tin, 2% copper and 3% antimony. Again, the resulting alloy is widely used in the manufacture of various jewelery, household items, and so on. N.

For example, the famous statuette "Oscar" is made of this alloy and coated with gold plating.

That's all I wanted to tell you about this interesting phenomenon as the tin plague. If you liked the material, put Like and share articles on social networks. Thanks for attention!