A photo from open sources
It is believed that tin was known to mankind in first millennium BC. About its amazing properties in all the time legends were made, which scientists could explain in the XX century, when they began to be used to study the properties of metals x-ray analysis.
Since ancient times, people have noticed that tin products, such as dishes, in the cold, they suddenly started to “get sick”: they became stained, and then and “ulcers”, which, growing, turned the thing into a gray powder. If a “cold” tin object was leaned against a “healthy” one, that one also began to “hurt”. That’s how the concept was born called “pewter plague”, from which sometimes things themselves suffered, but and people.
Much later, scientists found that at temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius white plastic tin gradually turns into a “dirty” powder. Its new modification, what the X-ray analysis “told” to the researchers has a crystal lattice in which atoms are less tightly bound. Than lower air temperature, the “tin plague” leaks more intense and faster, reaching maximum speed at 33 degrees of frost.
“Tin Plague” and people
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It is believed that the “pewter plague” has contributed a lot to death the British Terra Nova expedition led by Robert Scott, organized in the years 1911-1912 to the South Pole. Moving on Antarctic ice to their goal, polar explorers left warehouses with food supplies and kerosene. On the way back team found that the fuel tanks were empty because they were sealed tin, and he was struck by a mysterious destruction. But without kerosene the exhausted members of the expedition could not warm themselves and cook for themselves hot food …
Even more impressive is the legend that Napoleon’s army Bonaparte suffered a complete defeat in Russia, because the uniforms of soldiers and officers were tin buttons. Of course, this circumstance could not play a decisive role in the tragedy of the French, but significantly increased the suffering and loss of the Napoleonic army during retreat time in severe Russian frosts. This legend is very chemistry professors like to tell at universities, although she’s according to historians, there are many weaknesses. For instance, the fact that by that time the “pewter plague” was undeniable well known in the northern countries of Europe and ignore this great the strategist Napoleon simply could not. But on the other hand, he doesn’t foresaw, otherwise he simply would not have gone to Russia. So how they say there is no smoke without fire.
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Recent Cases of the Tin Plague
Numerous metal insidious legends confirm documented cases. So, at the end of the 19th century from Holland to Several wagons with tin ingots set off for Moscow. But on Arriving in Russia instead of white metal bars in the wagons only gray powder for no reason. Or another fact: in the beginning of the XX century around the military depots of St. Petersburg a real scandal erupted when during the audit it turned out that there are no buttons on all forms and uniforms. Warehouse workers even wanted to sue but examination of a strange gray powder on clothes confirmed that this is the tin from which were Buttons made, ”the“ pewter plague ”worked again.
In the end, mankind coped with this “ailment” of metal. Try finding a pure tin product today – you have nothing will work out. And even tin solder contains impurities of others metals that easily prevent this amazing metamorphosis, peculiar only to tin. The most resistant alloy is considered to be a computer, which consists of 93 percent tin, 2 percent copper and 5 percent antimony. Household items, utensils, jewelry and etc. And even the famous Oscar figurines and the Cup America’s “cast from a puter and only then coated with silver and in gold. So the treacherous “pewter was defeated plague””…
Time Napoleon Bonaparte Russia
