The electronics workhorse
Tin plating deposits a layer of pure tin that is solderable, electrically conductive, and corrosion-resistant — widely used in electronics, electrical connectors, bus bars, and RF components where solder adhesion and low contact resistance are critical. Coordinated through our trusted finishing vendors in matte and bright options.
Matte vs. bright
Bright tin is the familiar shiny finish on consumer electronics components. Matte tin has a larger grain structure that is significantly less prone to tin-whisker growth — the microscopic filaments that can short tight-pitch electronics over time. Aerospace, defense, and medical electronics specs commonly require matte tin for exactly this reason.
- Matte tin — reduced whisker risk, preferred for high-reliability electronics
- Bright tin — smooth, reflective surface for general electrical applications
- Excellent solderability and low contact resistance
- Good corrosion resistance for electrical assemblies
Substrates and pairings
Tin plates readily onto copper, brass, and bronze; steel for corrosion protection; and aluminum with an appropriate underplate. A natural finishing step for our electronics machining work — for uniform coating in complex internal geometry, see electroless nickel.