Study on the realization of tin point

Scopus: "Tin-point cells were fabricated using high grade tin samples purchased from some different metal sources. 

Temperature measurements during the solid-liquid equilibrium condition, under which the tin point is defined, were conducted for evaluating the quality of the cells. Different methods for the realization of tin point were compared by means of the fabricated cells."

Yunnan Tin halts production

Factiva: "China's top tin producer, Yunnan Tin Co Ltd halted production at its only smelting facility on Dec. 8 due to low prices and a lack of tin concentrates, sources reported, citing a director at its trade department on Tuesday. 

This facility in Yunnan province boast production capacity of 70,000 tons of tin, and the total tin output for 2008 is expected to be around 60,000 tons, according to the source. In November, the company announced the plan to cut its output by 30% in the fourth quarter due to the sliding tin prices and the sharp decrease in sales amid the global financial crisis. 

Last week, the Chinese government is reportedly considering buying all types of base metals as reserves to help boost domestic demands metals. The smelting facility is likely to reopen after February if the local government would buy its tin products under the stimulus plan, said the source."

Structural, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid tin: An ab initio molecular dynamics study

Scopus: "We report on a study of several structural, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid Sn at a thermodynamic state close to the triple point (573 K) and another one at a higher temperature (1273 K)."

Study on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of lead-calcium-tin-aluminum alloys

Scopus: "A detailed investigation of the effects on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of lead-calcium-tin-aluminum alloys of adding tin and calcium was undertaken. 

The experimental results show that the grains gradually became smaller as the content of calcium increased, and the content of tin decreased, in the alloy. The size and shape of grains were related to the ratio of tin to calcium content in the alloys. The linear sweep voltammetry and AC impedance measurements suggested that the preferred ratio of tin to calcium content, r, is between 9 and 15, and the optimum range of tin content in the alloys is 0.8-1.1%."

Researchers Measure the Nuclei of Tin, Cadmium and Indium

Azonano.com: "The discoveries, made at MSU's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory using an isotope purification device, will help to refine theoretical models about how elements are created in the cosmos. Until now, this was beyond the technical reach of nearly all of the world's nuclear science facilities.

To be published December 12 in Physical Review Letters, the paper details how the researchers were able to measure the nuclei of tin, cadmium and indium.

'Tin-100, in particular, has been sort of a holy grail of experimental nuclear physics,' said NSCL senior physicist Daniel Bazin of one of the isotopes, with 50 protons and 50 neutrons, described in the paper.

Within nuclear science, 50 is considered 'magic' because it's one of a handful of numbers associated with extra stability."

Analysis of tin additions to aluminum base foams

Scopus: "The main drawback of the powder metallurgy foaming process is the mismatch between the melting point of Al and gas-release temperature of the blowing agent (lower for TiH2), which can lead to cracking and hydrogen loss prior to foaming. To overcome this problem, the current study is investigating the addition of an immiscible element (Sn) that creates a link between the aluminum powders during hot compaction and foaming."

It was found that the best cell structures are obtained before the maximum expansion and they are maintained for a longer period of time since foaming is carried out at lower temperatures.

New High-Tin Copper Alloys for Springs

Factiva: "Copper alloys with high strength and high conductivity are an important functional material with full of potential applications. In the present investigation, a bronze with higher tin content (Cu-13.5 wt pct Sn) was prepared successfully by spray forming, the feasibility of cold rolling this alloy was investigated, and the cold rolling characteristics of this alloy have also been discussed.'

'The results indicate that the spray-formed Cu-13.5 wt pct Sn alloy, compared with the as-cast ingot, shows a quite fine and homogeneous single-phase structure, and, therefore shows an excellent workability. It can be cold-rolled with nearly 15% reduction in the thickness per pass and the total reduction can reach 80%. The classical border between the wrought and cast alloys is shifted to considerably higher tin contents by spray forming. After proper thermo-mechanical treatment, spray-formed Cu-13.5 wt pct Sn alloy exhibits excellent comprehensive mechanical properties. Particularly, it shows a low elastic modulus (similar to 88 GPa) and a high flow stress (over 800 MPa) after cold forming,' wrote X.F. Wang and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: 'This combination of properties is unique in the domain of metallic materials and could open new possibilities in spring technology field.'"

Cold-sprayed tin-bronze-based composite coatings

Scopus: "In this paper, tin-bronze/TiN and tin-bronze/quasicrystal (AlCuFeB) composite coatings were fabricated by cold spray process. 

Microstructure and microhardness of the prepared coatings were investigated. Ball-on-disc dry sliding wear tests were conducted in an ambient condition to examine the tribological behavior of the composite coatings. 

The results show that the microhardness and the density of composite coatings increase significantly compared to the pure tin-bronze coating. The friction coefficient of composite coating decreases when reinforcing particles were introduced. 

Furthermore, the bronze/quasicrystal composite coating has a lower friction coefficient and wear rate than the bronze/TiN coating. Tribological mechanisms of the composite coatings were discussed"

Nanocomposites and Nanoporous Materials VIII

Factiva: Selected, peer reviewed papers from the 8th International Symposium on Nanocomposites and Nanoporous Materials (ISNNM8), February 22-24, 2007, Jeju, Korea

The recent utilization of nano-sized powders and porous materials has led to the expectation that it will lead to basic breakthrough solutions for prospective nanomaterial products offering high performance and multi-functionalism. For this reason, many industrial countries have financially supported nanostructured materials development and their use in technical innovation.