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Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 14 vs Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy

Solder & Low-Melting Alloy · grade comparison

Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 14 and Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy are both solder & low-melting alloy grades. Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy is the stronger of the two: yield strength 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) against 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) for B23 Grade 14, about 17% more. Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy is the more ductile: elongation 12% versus 3% for B23 Grade 14, and B23 Grade 14 is harder (21 HB vs 18 HB). B23 Grade 14 is lighter (9.73 g/cm³ vs 11.28 g/cm³ for Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy) and B23 Grade 14 is stiffer (29 GPa vs 16 GPa). On the shop floor, B23 Grade 14 machines more easily (excellent vs fair), Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy welds better (good vs not recommended), and Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than B23 Grade 14 (high, $$$$).

B23 Grade 14Choose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.

Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid AlloyChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.

B23 Grade 14 vs Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy: properties

B23 Grade 14Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

29 GPa4.2 Msi
16 GPa2.3 Msi

Shear Modulus

10.3 GPa1.5 Msi
5.6 GPa0.81 Msi

Bulk Modulus

42 GPa6.1 Msi
45 GPa6.5 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.42
0.44

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

65 MPa9.4 ksi
55 MPa8 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

30 MPa4.4 ksi
35 MPa5.1 ksi

Elongation at Break

3%
12%

Compressive Strength

105 MPa15.2 ksi
50 MPa7.3 ksi

Shear Strength

32 MPa4.6 ksi
35 MPa5.1 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

22 MPa3.2 ksi
12 MPa1.7 ksi

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

2 J1.5 ft·lbf
—

Hardness, Brinell

21 HB
18 HB

Hardness, Vickers

22 HV
19 HV

Reduction in Area

—
25%

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

9.73 g/cm³0.35 lb/in³
11.28 g/cm³0.41 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

237°C459 °F
318°C604 °F

Liquidus Temperature

270°C518 °F
327°C621 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

24 W/m·K13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
33 W/m·K19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

150 J/kg·K0.04 BTU/lb·°F
130 J/kg·K0.03 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

25 µm/m·K13.9 µin/in·°F
29 µm/m·K16.1 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

42 J/g18.1 BTU/lb
23 J/g9.9 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

120°C248 °F
80°C176 °F

Min Service Temperature

-50°C-58 °F
-40°C-40 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

6 % IACS
6.8 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

2.9×10⁻⁷ Ω·m11.4 µΩ·in
2.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m9.84 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

45 / 100
55 / 100

Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.55 V

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

92 / 100
45 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

160%
55%

Weldability

10 / 100
60 / 100

Formability (cold)

20 / 100
85 / 100

Castability

90 / 100
85 / 100

Polishability

60 / 100
20 / 100

Same in both: Brazeability / Solderability 90 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb
22 MJ/kg9,458 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

2.1 kg CO₂/kg
1.8 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

80 L/kg9.6 gal/lb
180 L/kg21.6 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

60%
85%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

7 kN·m/kg
5 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

3 MN·m/kg
1.4 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

16 kJ/m³
38 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

16.4 mm²/s
22.5 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

2
4

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every solder & low-melting alloy grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

125102050891011Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleB23 Grade 14Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityB23 Grade 14Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy
Default condition——
Relative cost$$$$ High$$ Standard
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——

B23 Grade 14 vs Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy — frequently asked

Is Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy stronger than B23 Grade 14?

Yes. Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy has a typical yield strength of 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) against 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) for B23 Grade 14 — about 17% more. Tensile strength is 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) vs 65 MPa (9.43 ksi).

Which is cheaper, B23 Grade 14 or Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy?

Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while B23 Grade 14 is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, B23 Grade 14 or Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy?

B23 Grade 14. Its machinability rates excellent (92/100) against fair (45/100) for Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy; for welding the order is Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy first (good, 60/100) then B23 Grade 14 (not recommended, 10/100).

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in B23 Grade 14 and Pb-Ca-Sn Battery Grid Alloy side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.