The Use Of Tin In The Glass Industry

Tin mining was once a dominant industry in south west England. This activity was in full swing even in Roman times and continued until the ores were exhausted last century. The Latin name for tin, stannum, led to this area being named "the Stannaries" and Sn for its chemical symbol. A major early use was the tin/copper alloy whose name heralded the Bronze Age; later, pewter with 90% tin was important and now its low melting point accounts for its use in solders. Over the years, however, it has also played an important role in glass production. This article discusses the use of tin in the glassmaking process.