Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5
also Cerrosafe
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 (Cerrosafe) is a lead- and cadmium-bearing fusible alloy with a wide freezing range of about 70–95 °C that expands slightly on cooling and then contracts, which is why gunsmiths use it for chamber casts.
Reference datasheet — Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 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
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 tempers and conditions
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. F 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefault As fabricated | Standard supplied and used condition: melt in hot water/oil bath and pour; measure the casting about one hour after solidification when it has returned to ~99.8 % of cavity size. | 30 | 40 | 2 | 13 HB | 1.7 % IACS |
Aged 1 h after pouring | Pick this state for metrology: after ~30 min the casting has contracted enough to release, and after ~1 h it has grown back to essentially the cavity dimension, which is when readings are taken; long-term storage causes further slow growth. | 30 | 42 | 2 | 14 HB | 1.7 % IACS |
What is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 (Cerrosafe) is a lead- and cadmium-bearing fusible alloy with a wide freezing range of about 70–95 °C that expands slightly on cooling and then contracts, which is why gunsmiths use it for chamber casts. Supplied in F and aged (AGED-1H) conditions, it gives 40 MPa tensile strength, 2% elongation and 13 HB. Elongation is low, service temperature is limited to about 40 °C, and the Cd/Pb content requires controlled handling; use Bi32.5In51Sn16.5 where a non-toxic alloy is needed. Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 has a density of 9.4 g/cm³ (0.34 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 70°C (158 °F). Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 26 GPa (3.77 Msi).
What is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 used for?
- gunsmithing chamber casts
- low-temperature mold making
- pattern replication
- fixture fabrication
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 4.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 1.7 % IACS, worse than 100% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 16 W/m·K (9.24 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited service temperature — 40°C (104 °F), worse than 97% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 has a density of 9.4 g/cm³ (0.34 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 70°C (158 °F).
Mechanical10
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 26 GPa (3.77 Msi).
Thermal6
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 is rated for continuous service to 40°C (104 °F). It conducts heat at 16 W/m·K (9.24 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 22 µm/m·K (12.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 conducts electricity at 1.7 % IACS, worse than 100% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 94% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 80%.
Manufacturability7
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 69% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); 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. Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5
Is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 easy to machine?
Cuts easily with sharp HSS tools at low speed, but smears and can soften from cutting heat — use flood coolant or chill the part, and take light cuts.
Can Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 be welded?
Not weldable in the conventional sense; repair or join only by remelting the same alloy at 80–100 °C.
Can Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast by melting in hot water or an oil bath at 80–100 °C and pouring into a dry, lightly oiled cavity; never overheat above ~150 °C to avoid Cd/Pb fume and alloy segregation.
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pb | 36.7 – 38.7 | 37.7 |
| Sn | 10.3 – 12.3 | 11.3 |
| Cdcadmium — toxic; controlled under RoHS-type regulations | 7.5 – 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Bibalance bismuth | ≥ 41.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5?
No plating or anodizing; wipe clean and lightly oil. Handle as lead/cadmium-bearing material — wash hands, ventilate melting, and return scrap for remelt or hazardous-waste recycling.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Cerrosafe
How much does Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 cost?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 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.
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 — frequently asked
What is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 used for?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 is typically used for gunsmithing chamber casts, low-temperature mold making, pattern replication and fixture fabrication. In short: dimensionally predictable chamber casts; wide 70–95 °C freezing range; cd/Pb-bearing, controlled handling.
What is the yield strength of Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 69% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Cuts easily with sharp HSS tools at low speed, but smears and can soften from cutting heat — use flood coolant or chill the part, and take light cuts.
Can Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Not weldable in the conventional sense; repair or join only by remelting the same alloy at 80–100 °C.
What surface finishes work on Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5?
No plating or anodizing; wipe clean and lightly oil. Handle as lead/cadmium-bearing material — wash hands, ventilate melting, and return scrap for remelt or hazardous-waste recycling.
Can Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast by melting in hot water or an oil bath at 80–100 °C and pouring into a dry, lightly oiled cavity; never overheat above ~150 °C to avoid Cd/Pb fume and alloy segregation.
What is the maximum service temperature of Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 is rated for continuous use to about 40°C (104 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F and Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 AGED-1H?
F is the default condition — standard supplied and used condition: melt in hot water/oil bath and pour; measure the casting about one hour after solidification when it has returned to ~99.8 % of cavity size. AGED-1H: pick this state for metrology: after ~30 min the casting has contracted enough to release, and after ~1 h it has grown back to essentially the cavity dimension, which is when readings are taken; long-term storage causes further slow growth. Yield strength is 30 MPa in F versus 30 MPa in AGED-1H.
How much does Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 cost?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 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
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (Low-Melting Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- Fusible alloy datasheet — Cerrosafe / Bi42.5-Pb37.7-Sn11.3-Cd8.5 — Fusible alloy producers (Cerro-type) (2022)
- Gunsmithing chamber-casting practice notes — Trade literature (2019)
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.