Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Britannia Metal-H (Hardened)
Heat-treated state
Standard mill sheet condition for spinning blanks, stampings and hollowware panels.
Values for the H condition
Other Britannia Metal tempers and conditions
Britannia Metal is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Britannia Metal.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Choose for maximum ductility in deep drawing, hand raising and intricate spinning. | 22 | 55 | 45 | 19 HB | 9 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Default supply as ingot for melting and casting of figurines, tankards and tableware bodies. | 28 | 60 | 25 | 23 HB | — |
HThis page Hardened | Standard mill sheet condition for spinning blanks, stampings and hollowware panels. | 45 | 75 | 35 | 28 HB | 9 % IACS |
Spun / work-hardened formed part | Condition of finished spun or hammered hollowware after heavy local cold work. | 52 | 82 | 18 | 31 HB | 8.8 % IACS |
What is Britannia Metal-H?
Britannia Metal-H is Britannia Metal heat treated to H — standard mill sheet condition for spinning blanks, stampings and hollowware panels. Britannia Metal-H has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 50 GPa (7.25 Msi). Britannia Metal-H has a density of 7.35 g/cm³ (0.266 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 235°C (455 °F). F is the default condition FabDigit quotes; H is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 100% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High strength — 45 MPa (6.53 ksi), better than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 65/100, better than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Stiff — 50 GPa (7.25 Msi), better than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Lightweight — 7.35 g/cm³ (0.266 lb/in³), better than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 80°C (176 °F), worse than 88% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Britannia Metal-H properties
Typical room-temperature values for Britannia Metal-H; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Britannia Metal reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Britannia Metal-H has a density of 7.35 g/cm³ (0.266 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 235°C (455 °F).
Mechanical11
Britannia Metal-H has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 50 GPa (7.25 Msi).
Thermal6
Britannia Metal-H is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 70% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 22.5 µm/m·K (12.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Britannia Metal-H conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, worse than 54% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Britannia Metal-H takes about 290 MJ of energy and emits 17 kg of CO₂ — more than 69% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Britannia Metal-H's machinability is good (68/100, better than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (28/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Britannia Metal-H
Is Britannia Metal easy to machine?
Machines easily but is gummy — use sharp high-rake HSS tools, high speed, light cuts and paraffin/oil to avoid smearing and built-up edge.
Can Britannia Metal be welded?
Not arc welded; parts are soft-soldered or 'burned in' with a low-temperature torch using a matching tin-antimony filler, keeping the work below ~250 °C.
Can Britannia Metal be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent for spinning, deep drawing, stamping and gravity/centrifugal casting into steel, rubber or plaster moulds; low pouring temperature (~300–330 °C) and minimal shrinkage.
What surface finishes work on Britannia Metal?
Polishes to a bright silver-like lustre with fine abrasives and rouge; can be brushed, oxidised/antiqued chemically or electroplated with silver, but it is not anodizable.
Britannia Metal 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sbsolid-solution / SbSn hardening | 4 – 8 | 5.5 |
| CuCu6Sn5 network, raises hardness and creep resistance | 0.25 – 2.5 | 1.5 |
| Bioptional, some historic/modern pewters | 0 – 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Pbrestricted for food-contact / lead-free pewter | 0 – 0.05 | 0 |
| Znimpurity limit, causes dross | 0 – 0.01 | 0 |
| Feimpurity limit | 0 – 0.02 | 0 |
| Asimpurity limit | 0 – 0.05 | 0 |
| Snbalance tin | ≥ 90 (balance) | — |
Britannia Metal-H — frequently asked
What is Britannia Metal-H used for?
Britannia Metal-H is typically used for antique-style tableware, decorative hollowware, candlesticks and trays and historical reproduction items. In short: lead-free pewter precursor; spins and casts easily; low-temperature casting alloy.
What is the yield strength of Britannia Metal-H?
Britannia Metal-H has a typical yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Britannia Metal-H easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (68/100, better than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Machines easily but is gummy — use sharp high-rake HSS tools, high speed, light cuts and paraffin/oil to avoid smearing and built-up edge.
Can Britannia Metal-H be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (28/100). Not arc welded; parts are soft-soldered or 'burned in' with a low-temperature torch using a matching tin-antimony filler, keeping the work below ~250 °C.
What surface finishes work on Britannia Metal-H?
Polishes to a bright silver-like lustre with fine abrasives and rouge; can be brushed, oxidised/antiqued chemically or electroplated with silver, but it is not anodizable.
Can Britannia Metal-H be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent for spinning, deep drawing, stamping and gravity/centrifugal casting into steel, rubber or plaster moulds; low pouring temperature (~300–330 °C) and minimal shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of Britannia Metal-H?
Britannia Metal-H is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Britannia Metal-F and Britannia Metal SPUN?
F is the default condition — default supply as ingot for melting and casting of figurines, tankards and tableware bodies. SPUN: condition of finished spun or hammered hollowware after heavy local cold work. Yield strength is 28 MPa in F versus 52 MPa in SPUN.
Sources
- ASTM B560 Standard Specification for Modern Pewter Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Tin and Tin Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- The Properties of Tin and Tin Alloys (ITRI/International Tin Association technical data) — International Tin Association (2018)
- Lead-free pewter casting and sheet alloy data — pewter alloy producers (2023)
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.