Tin Chemistry

Tin (II) oxide’s reducing agent and catalyst properties make it ideal for use in a wide range of applications, including catalysts, life sciences, pigments, plating and process chemicals. It is also used as a colourant in the glass industry to make ruby glass.

Tin (II) oxide is a black, crystalline powder that is used as a source of Sn2+ ions in solid state description reactions to produce complex oxides, or in reactions with weak acids to manufacture stannous compounds.

Typical applications include use as a catalyst for the esterification of oleochemicals, for example in the manufacture of plasticisers, lubricants, cosmetics and surfactants; in life sciences as a raw material for anti-caries additives used in, for example, toothpaste; as a key component in complex inorganic oxide pigments, for example zinc tin oxide pigments; in plating materials, to manufacture tin methane sulphonate for electroplating, or as a source of tin for replenishing electroplating baths based on tin methane sulphonate; and in process chemicals as an acid soluble raw material for organic and inorganic solid tin salts.

Tin (II) chloride has a wide variety of uses. It plays an important role in life sciences, as a reducing agent in azo-coupling reactions for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, such as indole derivatives. For electronics applications, it is a reducing component for sensitising solutions used for electroless plating of non-conductors, for example in the metallisation of plastic, through hole plating in microelectronics. It can also be used for electroplating steel in high-speed continuous production lines.

It is a reducing agent in the manufacture of mirrors and a source of tin for tin oxide coated-effect pigments. As a polymer additive it works as a cross-linking catalyst for the dynamic vulcanisation of elastomeric compounds, thermoplastics and phenolic resins. And in process chemicals it is a reducing agent in cement production, converting chromium (VI) to chromium (III).

Our tin (II) chloride is available as an anhydrous white powder or a clear solution in customised concentrations. We can also produce a grade of solution specifically for mirror coatings.

Our zinc stannate product, FLAMTARD S, is a flame-retardant synergist that can reduce the flammability of polyamide engineering plastics. It can be used in applications such as polyamide electronic connectors, relays, switch gear, circuit breakers and electric vehicle transmission components.

It is insoluble in water and thermally stable up to 1000°C.  In the presence of a Br flame retardant source, zinc and tin ions can be volatilised or liberated from their stannate structure between 400°C and 600°C to exert catalytic gas phase activity. This means FLAMTARD S is suitable for exploring partial antimony replacement in halogenated FR polyamides. It also poses no human health or environmental hazards.

Specific applications include as a transparent conductive oxide used in the manufacture of films for solar cells, touch screens, and energy efficient glass; as a smoke suppressant and flame-retardant synergist with co-flame retardants; for polymer processing at temperatures above 220 °C; as a co-additive in phosphate flame retardant containing polymer formulations to optimise char formation; and as a solid lubricant additive in friction materials.

It is available as a powder.

Our zinc hydroxy stannate product, FLAMTARD H, is a flame-retardant synergist that can increase char consistency and strength, and reduces the risk of flame ignition and smoke development.

It can be used in paints, PVC wall coverings, flooring, wire & cable, artificial leather and in rigid technical profiles. It can also be used as a transparent conductive oxide in the manufacture of films for solar cells, touch screens and energy efficient glass, for polymer processing at temperatures below 220°C, and as a solid lubricant additive in friction materials.

It poses no human health or environmental hazards and has been listed as a sustainable product by OEKO-TEX, one of the most trusted names in the certification of safe and sustainable raw ingredients for the leather and textile industry.

It is available as a powder.