Let's clear up something that causes a LOT of unnecessary confusion.
"TIN" is NOT the same as "tin". Moreover, "Tin" is nothing more than a capitalized version of "tin".
TIN is an three letter acronym for "titanium nitride" coating. It is applied via a carefully controlled electro-thermal process using sophisticted application techinques.
"tin" is actually an alloy of the element Tin (Sb on the periodic element chart). It is NOT anywhere's close to TIN in robustness although it does provide some surface lubricity when electroplated or hot dip applied. It is good to plate cans with to prevent corrosion and it is also a good bonding plate when you go to plate steel or copper with other elements.
"tin" has been used as a protective, anti-sieze coating however it is fairly soft - the siezure resistance is more the result of molecular "friendliness" than all out robustness or hardness. At one time, a noted piston maker used it to flash plate pistons for initieal start up scuff/siezure resistance. It has also been alloyed with lead/babbit to create a highly conformable, siezure resistant bearing overlay/plating material.
"tin" is remarkably friendly in that it will adhere to copper, iron, steel and many aluminum based and some other non-ferrous materials when hot dipped or electro plated. It can also be alloyed with these materials under the right circumstances.
TIN on the other hand, is NOT so simply applied although it adheres well and is quite more robust when subjected to SEVERE scuffing and loading conditions. It is truly HARD, tough stuff. It is characteristically "gold" in color whereas "tin" is dull/matte silver when plated but "tin' can be buffed to a lustre.
For tap coating, you'd want TIN coating, especially if you're going to tap ferrrous metals or other metals that have a proclivity to sieze to a ferrous based tool steel tap material.
"tin" coating probably woulld not survive the loading/rubbing that TIN would without rubbing/being wiped off.  |