Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 16
ASTM B23 Grade 16 · UNS L54890
ASTM B23 Grade 16 (UNS L54890) is a lead-antimony babbitt with essentially no tin, the most economical grade in the ASTM B23 lead-base bearing alloy series.
Reference datasheet — B23 Grade 16 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 AS-CAST condition
B23 Grade 16 tempers and conditions
B23 Grade 16 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. AS-CAST is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS-CASTDefault As-Cast (chill cast test specimen) | Baseline condition for property quotation — chill-cast babbitt as poured, no subsequent treatment. | 30 | 45 | 2 | 21 HB | 6 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast lining on steel/bronze shell | Choose for production bearing shells: dense, gas-free lining with fine structure and the best bond/fatigue behaviour of the cast options. | 33 | 50 | 2.5 | 22 HB | 6 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways B23 Grade 16 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Ingot | Ingot for remelting | Supply form |
STATIC-LINED | Statically (hand) poured lining on tinned shell | Surface finish |
What is B23 Grade 16?
ASTM B23 Grade 16 (UNS L54890) is a lead-antimony babbitt with essentially no tin, the most economical grade in the ASTM B23 lead-base bearing alloy series. It is bought as ingot for hand pouring and supplied as centrifugally or statically lined bearing shells; as-cast values are 45 MPa tensile strength, 30 MPa yield, 2% elongation and 21 HB. Strength, ductility and the roughly 120 °C service limit are all low, so it suits lightly loaded, low-speed journals only. Move to a tin-base B23 babbitt where loads, sliding speeds or temperatures increase. B23 Grade 16 has a density of 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 245°C (473 °F). B23 Grade 16 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 24 GPa (3.48 Msi).
What is B23 Grade 16 used for?
- Low-load bushings
- Non-critical bearing relining
- Slow-speed sleeve bearings
- General machinery journal linings
- Pump and fan bearing shells
- Hand-poured replacement bearing liners
- Line-shaft and pillow-block bearings
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 85% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 55/100, better than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 20/100, worse than 95% 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
- Heavy — 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), worse than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
B23 Grade 16 properties
Typical room-temperature values for B23 Grade 16-AS-CAST; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
B23 Grade 16 has a density of 10.1 g/cm³ (0.365 lb/in³), heavier than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 245°C (473 °F).
Mechanical13
B23 Grade 16 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 24 GPa (3.48 Msi).
Thermal6
B23 Grade 16 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 26 µm/m·K (14.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
B23 Grade 16 conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of B23 Grade 16 takes about 28 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
B23 Grade 16's machinability is excellent (85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); 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 16 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with B23 Grade 16
Is B23 Grade 16 easy to machine?
Cuts very easily with sharp, high-rake, well-relieved tools at high speed and light feed; use kerosene/soluble-oil lubrication, avoid smearing, and capture chips/dust as lead waste.
Can B23 Grade 16 be welded?
Not fusion-weldable in any practical sense; joining is by tinning and re-pouring (rebabbitting) or lead-solder repair — never weld over a babbitt lining.
Can B23 Grade 16 be formed, bent or molded?
Pour at roughly 400–440 °C into a clean, pre-heated and tin-fluxed shell; keep the melt stirred, skim dross, and cool the bore quickly to avoid Sb-phase segregation and shrinkage voids.
B23 Grade 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sbprincipal hardening addition; hypereutectic Pb-Sb | 15 – 17 | 16 |
| Snessentially tin-free — residual only; this is what makes the grade cheap | ≤ 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Asgrain refiner / hardener in lead-base babbitts (range varies with edition) | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Cuimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Biimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Pbbalance; Grade 16 appears in historical ASTM B23 editions — confirm chemistry against the edition invoked by the order | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on B23 Grade 16?
Bore/scrape to final clearance and oil-groove; no anodizing or conversion coating — surfaces are left as machined, and the alloy is unsuitable for painting or decorative plating.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy B23 Grade 16 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- L54890
How much does B23 Grade 16 cost?
B23 Grade 16 is a premium-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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 16 — frequently asked
What is B23 Grade 16 used for?
B23 Grade 16 is typically used for low-load bushings, non-critical bearing relining, slow-speed sleeve bearings, general machinery journal linings, pump and fan bearing shells and hand-poured replacement bearing liners. In short: cheapest B23 babbitt; near tin-free lead base; low-duty bearing linings.
What is the yield strength of B23 Grade 16?
B23 Grade 16 has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is B23 Grade 16 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Cuts very easily with sharp, high-rake, well-relieved tools at high speed and light feed; use kerosene/soluble-oil lubrication, avoid smearing, and capture chips/dust as lead waste.
Can B23 Grade 16 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Not fusion-weldable in any practical sense; joining is by tinning and re-pouring (rebabbitting) or lead-solder repair — never weld over a babbitt lining.
What surface finishes work on B23 Grade 16?
Bore/scrape to final clearance and oil-groove; no anodizing or conversion coating — surfaces are left as machined, and the alloy is unsuitable for painting or decorative plating.
Can B23 Grade 16 be formed, bent or molded?
Pour at roughly 400–440 °C into a clean, pre-heated and tin-fluxed shell; keep the melt stirred, skim dross, and cool the bore quickly to avoid Sb-phase segregation and shrinkage voids.
What is the maximum service temperature of B23 Grade 16?
B23 Grade 16 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 16 cost?
B23 Grade 16 is a premium-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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 (Babbitt Metal) — ASTM International (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (bearing alloys, lead & lead alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Friction, Lubrication and Wear Technology (plain bearing materials) — ASM International (1992)
- UNS L54890 lead alloy property listing — SAE/ASTM Unified Numbering System (2017)
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.