Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Sn60Pb40Sb vs Sn95Ag5
Solder & Low-Melting Alloy · grade comparison
Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Sn60Pb40Sb and Sn95Ag5 are both solder & low-melting alloy grades. Both yield at about 32 MPa — strength does not separate them. Sn60Pb40Sb is the more ductile: elongation 35% versus 30% for Sn95Ag5, and Sn95Ag5 is harder (17 HB vs 15 HB). Sn95Ag5 is lighter (7.4 g/cm³ vs 8.5 g/cm³ for Sn60Pb40Sb) and Sn95Ag5 is stiffer (50 GPa vs 31 GPa). On the shop floor, Sn60Pb40Sb machines more easily (fair vs poor) and Sn95Ag5 welds better (poor vs not recommended).
Sn60Pb40SbChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part is machined in volume.
Sn95Ag5Choose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.
Sn60Pb40Sb vs Sn95Ag5: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all solder & low-melting alloy grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all solder & low-melting alloy grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Elongation at Break
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 52 MPa7.5 ksi · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 32 MPa4.6 ksi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Min Service Temperature -55°C-67 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.5 V · Corrosion Resistance 45 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Same in both: Polishability 25 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3
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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Sn60Pb40Sb | Sn95Ag5 |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Sn60Pb40Sb vs Sn95Ag5 — frequently asked
What is the difference between Sn60Pb40Sb and Sn95Ag5?
Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Sn60Pb40Sb and Sn95Ag5 are both solder & low-melting alloy grades. Both yield at about 32 MPa — strength does not separate them. Sn60Pb40Sb is the more ductile: elongation 35% versus 30% for Sn95Ag5, and Sn95Ag5 is harder (17 HB vs 15 HB).
Which is cheaper, Sn60Pb40Sb or Sn95Ag5?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$$$, high); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
Which is easier to machine, Sn60Pb40Sb or Sn95Ag5?
Sn60Pb40Sb. Its machinability rates fair (35/100) against poor (20/100) for Sn95Ag5; for welding the order is Sn95Ag5 first (poor, 25/100) then Sn60Pb40Sb (not recommended, 10/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Sn60Pb40Sb and Sn95Ag5 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.