During the winter of Napoleon's attack on Russia, the temperature dropped below minus 15°C. In an effort to keep the soldiers warm, the quartermaster distributed coats. However, there was one major issue: the buttons on the military coats were made of tin, which turned into powder at temperatures below minus 13.2°C. As a result, nearly all the buttons disintegrated, leaving the soldiers with inadequate clothing for the freezing temperatures. This fear of the cold caused the French soldiers to suffer defeat after defeat in battle. The "Button Legend" of the Jiaxing Button Museum in Zhejiang tells the tale of how something as simple as coat buttons played a pivotal role in war.
In the past, tin was a popular choice for making metal buttons due to its affordability. However, this material has its drawbacks. For instance, it is unsuitable for use in freezing temperatures, as it can crumble into a gray powder. On the other hand, if the temperature exceeds 161°C, tin becomes fragile and prone to breaking easily. Therefore, it is important to consider the limitations of materials before using them for certain applications.
The transformation of tin into powder at low temperatures is referred to as the "tin epidemic," a phenomenon that mimics the spread of a contagious illness. When tin afflicted by the epidemic comes in contact with healthy tin, it could lead to the deterioration of the latter. As a result, the use of tin in manufacturing metal buttons decreased significantly, with people opting for alternative materials. Nowadays, tin products are used selectively to avoid the spread of the epidemic.
Metal buttons nowadays usually consist of materials that boast stable properties, including copper and stainless steel. Copper, for instance, possesses excellent ductility, corrosion resistance, and thermal conductivity. Meanwhile, stainless steel ranks high in terms of rigidity, with 304 stainless steel being food-grade, safe, and not containing toxic elements. The stability of these materials not only facilitates processing but also results in end-products with outstanding appearance and performance.