Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 14
ASTM B23 Grade 14 · UNS L54710
ASTM B23 Grade 14 (L54710) is a very-low-tin lead–antimony babbitt from the ASTM B23 bearing-alloy family, used as a cast lining rather than a structural alloy.
Reference datasheet — B23 Grade 14 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.
Values for the F condition
B23 Grade 14 tempers and conditions
B23 Grade 14 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefault As fabricated | Standard supply condition: remelt ingot poured as a bearing lining or bushing by gravity/hand pouring. | 30 | 65 | 3 | 21 HB | 6 % IACS |
spun lining in a tinned steel or bronze shell | Pick for production bushings and large journal bearings needing dense, void-free lining and consistent bond. | 32 | 70 | 3.5 | 22 HB | 6 % IACS |
poured against a cooled steel shell | Pick when a finer, harder microstructure and better bond strength are needed for higher unit loads. | 34 | 72 | 4 | 23 HB | 6 % IACS |
What is B23 Grade 14?
ASTM B23 Grade 14 (L54710) is a very-low-tin lead–antimony babbitt from the ASTM B23 bearing-alloy family, used as a cast lining rather than a structural alloy. It suits lightly loaded, low-cost bearings and bushings and is supplied as ingot or as chill-cast and centrifugally cast linings. Typical values are 65 MPa tensile, 3% elongation, 21 HB and service to 120 °C. The low tin content cuts cost but also conformability and resistance to acidic lubricants; it is not arc weldable and lead handling rules apply. Grade 10 or a tin-base B23 babbitt is the step up for heavier loads. B23 Grade 14 has a density of 9.73 g/cm³ (0.352 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 237°C (459 °F). B23 Grade 14 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 3% and the elastic modulus is 29 GPa (4.21 Msi).
What is B23 Grade 14 used for?
- Light-duty bushings
- General machinery bearings
- Low-load sleeve bearing linings
- Chill-cast bearing linings
- Centrifugally cast bearing liners
- Re-lined bearing shells
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.1 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 60/100, better than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 94% 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
- Low electrical conductivity — 6 % IACS, worse than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
B23 Grade 14 properties
Typical room-temperature values for B23 Grade 14-F; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
B23 Grade 14 has a density of 9.73 g/cm³ (0.352 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 237°C (459 °F).
Mechanical13
B23 Grade 14 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 3% and the elastic modulus is 29 GPa (4.21 Msi).
Thermal6
B23 Grade 14 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 25 µm/m·K (13.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
B23 Grade 14 conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 84% 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 14 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
B23 Grade 14's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability poor (20/100).
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 14 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with B23 Grade 14
Is B23 Grade 14 easy to machine?
Cuts very easily with sharp, high-rake tools and flood lubricant; use low pressure to avoid smearing, and control lead swarf/dust exposure.
Can B23 Grade 14 be welded?
Not arc-weldable; repair is by re-tinning and re-pouring the lining, or by babbitt build-up with a low-temperature torch.
Can B23 Grade 14 be formed, bent or molded?
Used as a cast lining only — pour at roughly 380–430 °C onto a clean, fluxed and tinned steel back; avoid overheating to limit antimony segregation and dross.
B23 Grade 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sntin | 9.3 – 10.7 | 10 |
| Sbantimony, forms hard SbSn/Sb phases | 14 – 16 | 15 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| As | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Bi | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Pbremainder, nominally ~75 % | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on B23 Grade 14?
Bore and burnish to final clearance; no anodizing or plating — the running surface is left as machined, and lead handling/health rules apply.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 14 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- L54710
How much does B23 Grade 14 cost?
B23 Grade 14 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
B23 Grade 14 — frequently asked
What is B23 Grade 14 used for?
B23 Grade 14 is typically used for light-duty bushings, general machinery bearings, low-load sleeve bearing linings, chill-cast bearing linings, centrifugally cast bearing liners and re-lined bearing shells. In short: cheapest B23 lead babbitt; light-load bearing lining; very easy to bore.
What is the yield strength of B23 Grade 14?
B23 Grade 14 has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 65 MPa (9.43 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is B23 Grade 14 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Cuts very easily with sharp, high-rake tools and flood lubricant; use low pressure to avoid smearing, and control lead swarf/dust exposure.
Can B23 Grade 14 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not arc-weldable; repair is by re-tinning and re-pouring the lining, or by babbitt build-up with a low-temperature torch.
What surface finishes work on B23 Grade 14?
Bore and burnish to final clearance; no anodizing or plating — the running surface is left as machined, and lead handling/health rules apply.
Can B23 Grade 14 be formed, bent or molded?
Used as a cast lining only — pour at roughly 380–430 °C onto a clean, fluxed and tinned steel back; avoid overheating to limit antimony segregation and dross.
What is the maximum service temperature of B23 Grade 14?
B23 Grade 14 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does B23 Grade 14 cost?
B23 Grade 14 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), 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)
- SAE J460 Bearing and Bushing Alloys — SAE International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Lead and Lead Alloys, Bearing Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.18 — Friction, Lubrication, and Wear Technology — ASM International (2017)
- Machinery's Handbook, Babbitt and Bearing Metals tables — Industrial Press (2020)
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.