Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)
UNS L13910 · ASTM B23 Grade 1
Babbitt Grade 1 (ASTM B23 Grade 1, UNS L13910) is the highest-tin alloy in the tin-base babbitt family, about 91 % Sn with antimony and copper additions for hardness and load capacity.
Reference datasheet — Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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.
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) tempers and conditions
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
slow-cooled section | Coarser SbSn/Cu6Sn5 structure; only for lightly loaded or repair castings. | 27 | 60 | 9 | 15 HB | 9 % IACS |
poured into metal mould / test bar | Use for test bars and thick bushings where a finer, harder structure is wanted. | 30 | 70 | 7 | 17 HB | 9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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 ingot per ASTM B23 | Supply form |
LINING | Bearing lining | Supply form |
WIRE | Wire / rod | Supply form |
What is Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)?
Babbitt Grade 1 (ASTM B23 Grade 1, UNS L13910) is the highest-tin alloy in the tin-base babbitt family, about 91 % Sn with antimony and copper additions for hardness and load capacity. It is chosen where corrosion resistance and conformability matter most, and is supplied as ingot for chill-cast, sand-cast or centrifugally applied bearing linings and as wire for spray and repair work. At 66 MPa tensile, 17 HB and a 120 °C service limit it is the softest and weakest of the B23 tin babbitts, so it embeds debris well but carries less unit load. Cost tracks the tin price; Grade 2 is the usual step up in hardness. Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) has a density of 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 223°C (433 °F). Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 66 MPa (9.57 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 52 GPa (7.54 Msi).
What is Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) used for?
- High-speed engine main bearings
- Turbine bearings
- Marine shaft bearings
- Precision plain bearings
Advantages
- Stiff — 52 GPa (7.54 Msi), better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 91% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 60/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Lightweight — 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), better than 87% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 55/100, worse than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) has a density of 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 223°C (433 °F).
Mechanical10
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 66 MPa (9.57 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 52 GPa (7.54 Msi).
Thermal6
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 56 W/m·K (32.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 23 µm/m·K (12.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, worse than 54% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 16 kg of CO₂ — more than 59% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)'s machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability good (55/100).
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. Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)
Is Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) easy to machine?
Very easy to cut; use sharp high-rake tools, high speed, light feed and flood coolant to stop smearing, and bore linings after casting rather than scraping.
Can Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) be welded?
Not fusion welded — repair by torch/puddle build-up with matching babbitt, or metal-spray; keep the steel backing tinned and clean.
Can Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) be formed, bent or molded?
Melt at 400–430 °C and pour at ~440 °C into a fluxed, pre-tinned and pre-heated shell; stir before pouring to avoid Cu6Sn5 segregation and cool the shell to promote bonding.
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sb | 4 – 5 | 4.5 |
| Cu | 4 – 5 | 4.5 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.08 | |
| As | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Bi | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cdmax, where specified | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Sn | ≥ 90 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)?
Bores are finish-bored or diamond-burnished; do not plate or anodise — protect stored surfaces with light oil, since the tin surface dulls but does not scale.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- L13910
- ASTM
- B23 Grade 1
- Also called
- Tin Babbitt Grade 1
How much does Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) cost?
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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.
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) — frequently asked
What is Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) used for?
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) is typically used for high-speed engine main bearings, turbine bearings, marine shaft bearings and precision plain bearings. In short: highest-tin B23 babbitt; best corrosion resistance; most conformable bearing lining.
What is the yield strength of Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)?
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 66 MPa (9.57 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Very easy to cut; use sharp high-rake tools, high speed, light feed and flood coolant to stop smearing, and bore linings after casting rather than scraping.
Can Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not fusion welded — repair by torch/puddle build-up with matching babbitt, or metal-spray; keep the steel backing tinned and clean.
What surface finishes work on Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)?
Bores are finish-bored or diamond-burnished; do not plate or anodise — protect stored surfaces with light oil, since the tin surface dulls but does not scale.
Can Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) be formed, bent or molded?
Melt at 400–430 °C and pour at ~440 °C into a fluxed, pre-tinned and pre-heated shell; stir before pouring to avoid Cu6Sn5 segregation and cool the shell to promote bonding.
What is the maximum service temperature of Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base)?
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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 Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) cost?
Babbitt Grade 1 (Tin-Base) 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 (Babbitt Metal) — ASTM International (2021)
- GB/T 1174 (ZSnSb4Cu4) — SAC/ (1992)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Tin and Tin Alloys, Bearing Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 18 — Friction, Lubrication and Wear Technology (Plain Bearing Materials) — ASM International (2017)
- Babbitt bearing alloy ingot datasheets (tin-base Grade 1) — various babbitt producers (2024)
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.