Tinned Copper VS Bare Copper

The Advantages of Tinned Copper are Impossible to Deny. Follow Along as we Show Just How Important it is.

What is Tinned Copper?

Well, the short answer is that tinned copper is copper coated by a base alloy such as solder better known as tin. Sounds simple but there’s more to it than that. Copper itself has many beneficial characteristics making it highly desirable however it does have short comings. This is where tinning comes into play. Tinning is done for several reasons. Primarily, it strengthens the copper’s natural properties, making it better equipped to resist humidity, high temperatures and wet environments which is why it is found in high quality  marine wire.

When it comes to dealing with wire and cable, the shear variety of sizes and styles can be staggering. One of the most important aspects of choosing the correct wire for your project is longevity. This is especially true when dealing with  marine wire. How long will the wire last? How often and how difficult will it be to replace? It is questions like these that led to the development of tinning copper. What are the benefits of tinned copper verses bare copper?

Benefits of Tinned Copper

Using Tinned Copper is an easy and effective way of preventing a copper conductor from tarnishing or becoming oxidized. You probably have seen copper when it is oxidized, it turns green. The Statue of Liberty is a famous example of copper oxidation. What causes this to happen? It is a chemical reaction of the metal surface with the oxygen present in the air that causes some of the metal to corrode, or oxidize, and form the respective metal oxide on the surface.

Did you know that 12-gauge tin coated copper wire can last up to ten times longer than a similar 12-gauge bare copper wire? As tin resists corrosion and doesn’t oxidize the plating helps to protect the copper underneath. This wards off additional wear and tear that would detract years off the life off a bare copper cable. This is especially important where the operating temperatures of the wire exceed 100 degrees Celsius. At higher temperatures, the corrosion resistance of copper declines, making a tin coating valuable for protecting the wire in this state. Tinned copper is also highly desirable for any marine electronics. This is why it is chosen when manufacturing  marine wire.

Why is Copper Tinned?

Copper offers great conductivity and is fairly resistant to corrosion. These facts coupled with its durability make it ideal for electrical applications. The issue arises when copper is used in a wet environment or an area with high humidity. In these conditions, copper will corrode and weaken much faster. Is there a way to prevent this? Yes. By tinning the copper. Can I tin my own copper wire? Yes and no. The ends of the wire can be stripped back with a wire stripping tool and can easily be tinned. Only a few tools and steps are needed for this process. However, it does not act as much of a protectant like the entire wire coated in tin would. Copper wire is tinned using a process known as electroplating.

References

http://www.sharrettsplating.com/blog/the-tin-plating-process-a-step-by-step-guide/

https://www.distributorwire.com/blog/tinned-copper-vs-bare-copper/

http://www.belden.com/blog/broadcastav/in-defense-of-tinned-copper.cfm

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/642208-tinned-wire.html#b