Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Britannia Metal SPUN
Supply condition
SPUN = spun / work-hardened formed part
Condition of finished spun or hammered hollowware after heavy local cold work.
Values for the SPUN 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 | — |
Hardened | Standard mill sheet condition for spinning blanks, stampings and hollowware panels. | 45 | 75 | 35 | 28 HB | 9 % IACS |
SPUNThis page 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 SPUN?
Britannia Metal SPUN is Britannia Metal supplied in the SPUN condition — condition of finished spun or hammered hollowware after heavy local cold work. Britannia Metal SPUN has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 82 MPa (11.9 ksi) — stronger than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 50 GPa (7.25 Msi). Britannia Metal SPUN 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; SPUN is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 92/100, better than 101% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High strength — 52 MPa (7.54 ksi), better than 99% 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 — 75°C (167 °F), worse than 90% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 18%, worse than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 60/100, worse than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Britannia Metal SPUN properties
Typical room-temperature values for Britannia Metal SPUN; 21 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 SPUN 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 SPUN has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 82 MPa (11.9 ksi) — stronger than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 50 GPa (7.25 Msi).
Thermal6
Britannia Metal SPUN is rated for continuous service to 75°C (167 °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 SPUN conducts electricity at 8.8 % IACS, worse than 58% 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 SPUN 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 SPUN's machinability is good (68/100, better than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability good (60/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Britannia Metal SPUN
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 SPUN — frequently asked
What is Britannia Metal SPUN used for?
Britannia Metal SPUN 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 SPUN?
Britannia Metal SPUN has a typical yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 82 MPa (11.9 ksi) — stronger than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Britannia Metal SPUN 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 SPUN be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). 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 SPUN?
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 SPUN 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 SPUN?
Britannia Metal SPUN is rated for continuous use to about 75°C (167 °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.