Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 13
ASTM B23 Grade 13 · UNS L53390
ASTM B23 Grade 13 (L53390) is a lead-base babbitt with high antimony and low tin, giving hardness and load capacity at a lower tin content than Grades 7, 8 and 15.
Reference datasheet — B23 Grade 13 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
B23 Grade 13 tempers and conditions
B23 Grade 13 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Static (gravity) cast lining on steel/bronze backing | Choose for hand-poured or jig-poured bearing shells and re-babbitted repair work. | 28 | 62 | 6 | 21 HB | 6.6 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast lining | Choose for production bearing shells: finer structure, fewer pores, best bond and fatigue life. | 32 | 70 | 5 | 24 HB | 6.6 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways B23 Grade 13 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
IngotDefault | As-cast remelt stock | Supply form |
What is B23 Grade 13?
ASTM B23 Grade 13 (L53390) is a lead-base babbitt with high antimony and low tin, giving hardness and load capacity at a lower tin content than Grades 7, 8 and 15. It is used for industrial bearing shells poured statically or centrifugally and is supplied as ingot or as ready-lined shells. Typical values are 65 MPa tensile, 22 HB and service to 120 °C. The high antimony content makes the lining hard but low in ductility and sensitive to shock and misalignment, it cannot be fusion welded, and lead handling and RoHS restrictions apply; Grade 10 is the softer, more conformable choice. B23 Grade 13 has a density of 10.24 g/cm³ (0.37 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F). B23 Grade 13 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 29 GPa (4.21 Msi).
What is B23 Grade 13 used for?
- Industrial bearing shells
- Pump bearings
- Rolling mill bearings
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 85% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 60/100, better than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 25/100, worse than 91% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 88% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Heavy — 10.24 g/cm³ (0.37 lb/in³), worse than 83% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 6.6 % IACS, worse than 81% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
B23 Grade 13 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
B23 Grade 13 has a density of 10.24 g/cm³ (0.37 lb/in³), heavier than 83% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F).
Mechanical11
B23 Grade 13 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 29 GPa (4.21 Msi).
Thermal6
B23 Grade 13 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 24 µm/m·K (13.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
B23 Grade 13 conducts electricity at 6.6 % IACS, worse than 81% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 52% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of B23 Grade 13 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability7
B23 Grade 13's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 85% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the solder & low-melting alloy family
Yield strength against density for every solder & low-melting alloy grade FabDigit runs. B23 Grade 13 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with B23 Grade 13
Is B23 Grade 13 easy to machine?
Very easy to bore and scrape with sharp, high-rake tools and generous chip clearance; use light cuts and coolant to avoid smearing and heat build-up.
Can B23 Grade 13 be welded?
Not fusion-weldable in the structural sense; repairs are made by re-melting/re-pouring the lining or by lead-burning with matching filler at low heat.
Can B23 Grade 13 be formed, bent or molded?
Poured at roughly 420–480 °C into tinned, preheated shells; keep the melt stirred to avoid antimony-rich segregation and chill quickly for a fine structure.
B23 Grade 13 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Sn | 5 – 7 | 6 |
| Sb | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| As | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Bi | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Pbremainder, nominally ~84 % | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on B23 Grade 13?
Bore, then diamond-burnish or fine-scrape to the oil-film clearance; no plating or anodizing — protect stock from acidic oils and observe lead-handling/RoHS restrictions.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 13 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- L53390
How much does B23 Grade 13 cost?
B23 Grade 13 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
B23 Grade 13 — frequently asked
What is B23 Grade 13 used for?
B23 Grade 13 is typically used for industrial bearing shells, pump bearings and rolling mill bearings. In short: hardest low-tin lead babbitt; tin-lean substitute for Grade 7/8; free-machining bearing lining.
What is the yield strength of B23 Grade 13?
B23 Grade 13 has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is B23 Grade 13 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 85% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Very easy to bore and scrape with sharp, high-rake tools and generous chip clearance; use light cuts and coolant to avoid smearing and heat build-up.
Can B23 Grade 13 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not fusion-weldable in the structural sense; repairs are made by re-melting/re-pouring the lining or by lead-burning with matching filler at low heat.
What surface finishes work on B23 Grade 13?
Bore, then diamond-burnish or fine-scrape to the oil-film clearance; no plating or anodizing — protect stock from acidic oils and observe lead-handling/RoHS restrictions.
Can B23 Grade 13 be formed, bent or molded?
Poured at roughly 420–480 °C into tinned, preheated shells; keep the melt stirred to avoid antimony-rich segregation and chill quickly for a fine structure.
What is the maximum service temperature of B23 Grade 13?
B23 Grade 13 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does B23 Grade 13 cost?
B23 Grade 13 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B23 Standard Specification for White Metal Bearing Alloys (Known Commercially as Babbitt Metal) — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (bearing alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 18 — Friction, Lubrication, and Wear Technology — ASM International (2017)
- Babbitt bearing alloy ingot datasheets (lead-base grades) — Various babbitt producers (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.