Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F (As fabricated)
Temper · default condition
also Cerrosafe
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.
Values for the F condition
Other Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 tempers and conditions
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 is listed in 2 conditions; see the grade overview at Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefaultThis page 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-F?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 in the F temper — 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. Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F 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). Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F 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).
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-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F 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-F 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-F 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-F 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-F 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-F'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F
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.
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.
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) | — |
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F — frequently asked
What is Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F used for?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F 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-F?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F 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-F 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-F 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-F?
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-F 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-F?
Bi42.5Pb37.7Sn11.3Cd8.5-F 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.