Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)
UNS L13840 · ASTM B23 Grade 3
Babbitt Grade 3 (ASTM B23 Grade 3, UNS L13840) is a lower-cost tin-base babbitt of about 84 % Sn with increased antimony and lead content, which raises hardness at the expense of corrosion resistance.
Reference datasheet — Babbitt Grade 3 (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.
Values for the AS_CAST condition
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) tempers and conditions
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. AS_CAST is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
slow-cooled bushing / repair pour | Lower-cost route for solid bushings and field repairs; coarser intermetallics and slightly lower strength. | 41 | 63 | 4 | 25 HB | 8 % IACS |
AS_CASTDefault static (gravity) cast lining on steel/bronze back | Standard condition: melted and gravity-poured onto a tinned steel or bronze shell, then bored/scraped to size. | 45 | 70 | 3 | 27 HB | 8 % IACS |
spun lining in bearing shell | Preferred for large turbine/compressor bearings: dense, void-free, well-bonded lining with fine structure. | 47 | 75 | 3.5 | 28 HB | 8 % IACS |
poured into metal mould / water-cooled shell | Pick when fine, uniformly dispersed SnSb cubes are needed for maximum load capacity and fatigue life. | 48 | 78 | 3 | 29 HB | 8 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Babbitt Grade 3 (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 |
|---|---|---|
Ingot | Remelt stock | Supply form |
What is Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)?
Babbitt Grade 3 (ASTM B23 Grade 3, UNS L13840) is a lower-cost tin-base babbitt of about 84 % Sn with increased antimony and lead content, which raises hardness at the expense of corrosion resistance. It suits moderately loaded bearings that do not need full Grade 1 performance and is supplied as ingot for as-cast, chill-cast, sand-cast and centrifugal linings. It is the strongest of the three B23 tin grades at 45 MPa yield, 70 MPa tensile, 27 HB and a 150 °C service limit, with only 3 % elongation. The lead content and reduced corrosion resistance make Grade 1 or 2 the choice for marine and turbine service. Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) has a density of 7.46 g/cm³ (0.27 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F). Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 53 GPa (7.69 Msi).
What is Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) used for?
- Automotive engine bearings (older designs)
- Line shaft bearings
- Light-duty industrial bushings
- Bearing relining
Advantages
- Stiff — 53 GPa (7.69 Msi), better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High strength — 45 MPa (6.53 ksi), better than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), better than 92% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 91% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 30/100, worse than 88% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) properties
Typical room-temperature values for Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)-AS_CAST; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) has a density of 7.46 g/cm³ (0.27 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F).
Mechanical13
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 53 GPa (7.69 Msi).
Thermal6
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 55 W/m·K (31.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 22.1 µm/m·K (12.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, worse than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) takes about 280 MJ of energy and emits 17 kg of CO₂ — more than 65% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)'s machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
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 3 (Tin-Base) is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)
Is Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) easy to machine?
Bores and scrapes very easily with sharp, high-rake tools and generous flood lubricant; use light feeds to avoid smearing the soft matrix into oil grooves.
Can Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) be welded?
Not fusion-welded; repair by torch puddling with matching Grade 3 filler after thorough tinning, or replace the lining entirely.
Can Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only — pour at ~440–470 °C onto a clean, fluxed, hot-tinned steel back and cool directionally to avoid shrinkage voids and bond separation.
Babbitt Grade 3 (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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sbforms hard SnSb cuboids | 7.5 – 8.5 | 8.3 |
| Cuforms Cu6Sn5 needle network | 7.5 – 8.5 | 8.3 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.08 | |
| As | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Bi | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cd | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Snbalance tin | ≥ 82.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)?
Finish by boring/scraping to oil-film clearance; no anodizing or plating — protect ingots and linings from oxidation with light oil.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- L13840
- ASTM
- B23 Grade 3
- Also called
- Tin Babbitt Grade 3
How much does Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) cost?
Babbitt Grade 3 (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 3 (Tin-Base) — frequently asked
What is Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) used for?
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) is typically used for automotive engine bearings (older designs), line shaft bearings, light-duty industrial bushings and bearing relining. In short: hardest B23 tin babbitt; lower-cost tin babbitt; highest service temperature, 150 °C.
What is the yield strength of Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)?
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) has a typical yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Bores and scrapes very easily with sharp, high-rake tools and generous flood lubricant; use light feeds to avoid smearing the soft matrix into oil grooves.
Can Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not fusion-welded; repair by torch puddling with matching Grade 3 filler after thorough tinning, or replace the lining entirely.
What surface finishes work on Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)?
Finish by boring/scraping to oil-film clearance; no anodizing or plating — protect ingots and linings from oxidation with light oil.
Can Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only — pour at ~440–470 °C onto a clean, fluxed, hot-tinned steel back and cool directionally to avoid shrinkage voids and bond separation.
What is the maximum service temperature of Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base)?
Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Babbitt Grade 3 (Tin-Base) cost?
Babbitt Grade 3 (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 (Known Commercially as Babbitt Metal) — ASTM International (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Bearing alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- Tin-base babbitt bearing alloy datasheets (Grade 1/2/3/11) — Babbitt/white-metal 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.