Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Pb60Sn40
ASTM B32 Sn40 · GB HLSnPb40-60 · ISO 9453-114
Pb60Sn40 (B32 Sn40, HLSnPb40-60) is a general-purpose tin-lead soft solder with a moderate pasty range of roughly 55 °C, priced below higher-tin grades because of its reduced tin content.
Reference datasheet — Pb60Sn40 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.
Pb60Sn40 tempers and conditions
Pb60Sn40 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low-antimony composition | Choose when soldering zinc- or galvanised-coated parts, or where antimony is restricted; the standard general-purpose 40/60. | 24 | 38 | 45 | 12 HB | 10.1 % IACS |
Antimonial | Pick for slightly higher strength and creep resistance in radiators and heavy sheet-metal work; do not use on zinc or galvanised surfaces. | 30 | 45 | 30 | 14 HB | 9.6 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Pb60Sn40 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
BARDefault | Bar / Ingot | Supply form |
CORED | Flux-cored wire | Supply form |
FOIL | Foil / ribbon / stamped preform | Supply form |
WIRE | Solid wire | Supply form |
PASTE | Solder paste | Printing process |
What is Pb60Sn40?
Pb60Sn40 (B32 Sn40, HLSnPb40-60) is a general-purpose tin-lead soft solder with a moderate pasty range of roughly 55 °C, priced below higher-tin grades because of its reduced tin content. It is used for plumbing, sheet-metal and body-solder work where a slow-freezing filler can be wiped or paddled into shape, and is supplied as bar, SN40A and SN40B grades, solid and cored wire, foil and paste. Capability is limited to 38 MPa tensile, 45 % elongation, 12 HB and a 100 °C service ceiling, and the lead content bars potable-water and food-contact use. Choose Pb50Sn50 for better wetting and a shorter freezing range. Pb60Sn40 has a density of 9.29 g/cm³ (0.336 lb/in³), heavier than 62% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 183°C (361 °F). Pb60Sn40 has a yield strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) and a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — weaker than 66% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 24 GPa (3.48 Msi).
What is Pb60Sn40 used for?
- plumbing joints
- sheet metal seaming
- automotive body solder
- radiator repair
Pb60Sn40 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Pb60Sn40 has a density of 9.29 g/cm³ (0.336 lb/in³), heavier than 62% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 183°C (361 °F).
Mechanical10
Pb60Sn40 has a yield strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) and a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — weaker than 66% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 24 GPa (3.48 Msi).
Thermal6
Pb60Sn40 is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 52% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 24.5 µm/m·K (13.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pb60Sn40 conducts electricity at 10.1 % IACS, better than 57% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Pb60Sn40 takes about 145 MJ of energy and emits 7.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 59% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability7
Pb60Sn40's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 60% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability excellent (90/100).
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. Pb60Sn40 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Pb60Sn40
Is Pb60Sn40 easy to machine?
Rarely machined — extremely soft and gummy; use sharp high-rake tools, high speed, low feed and paraffin lubricant, and avoid lead dust exposure.
Can Pb60Sn40 be welded?
Not fusion-welded; joints are made by remelting the solder itself with a torch, iron or solder pot at 260–330 °C using zinc-chloride or rosin flux.
Can Pb60Sn40 be formed, bent or molded?
Casts, extrudes and rolls easily at room temperature; the wide 55 °C pasty range lets it be wiped and shaped on plumbing joints but requires the work to be held still until fully frozen.
Pb60Sn40 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SnASTM B32 grade Sn40 | 39.5 – 40.5 | 40 |
| SbSn40A; Sn40B is 1.8–2.4 % Sb | 0 – 0.12 | 0.05 |
| Bi | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Cu | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Ag | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.02 | |
| As | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Pbbalance, nominally 60 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on Pb60Sn40?
Solder surfaces tarnish grey; brush-clean and remove corrosive flux residues with hot water or solvent — do not use on potable water lines or food-contact parts (lead).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Pb60Sn40 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B32 Sn40
- ISO
- 9453-114
- GB (China)
- HLSnPb40-60
How much does Pb60Sn40 cost?
Pb60Sn40 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Pb60Sn40 — frequently asked
What is Pb60Sn40 used for?
Pb60Sn40 is typically used for plumbing joints, sheet metal seaming, automotive body solder and radiator repair. In short: low-tin, low-cost solder; wide 55 °C pasty range; body-solder and seam filler.
What is the yield strength of Pb60Sn40?
Pb60Sn40 has a typical yield strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) and a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — weaker than 66% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Pb60Sn40 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 60% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Rarely machined — extremely soft and gummy; use sharp high-rake tools, high speed, low feed and paraffin lubricant, and avoid lead dust exposure.
Can Pb60Sn40 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not fusion-welded; joints are made by remelting the solder itself with a torch, iron or solder pot at 260–330 °C using zinc-chloride or rosin flux.
What surface finishes work on Pb60Sn40?
Solder surfaces tarnish grey; brush-clean and remove corrosive flux residues with hot water or solvent — do not use on potable water lines or food-contact parts (lead).
Can Pb60Sn40 be formed, bent or molded?
Casts, extrudes and rolls easily at room temperature; the wide 55 °C pasty range lets it be wiped and shaped on plumbing joints but requires the work to be held still until fully frozen.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pb60Sn40?
Pb60Sn40 is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Pb60Sn40 cost?
Pb60Sn40 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), 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 B32 — Standard Specification for Solder Metal — ASTM International (2020)
- J-STD-006 — Requirements for Electronic Grade Solder Alloys — IPC (2013)
- GB/T 3131 — SAC/ (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (Solder alloy properties) — ASM International (1993)
- NIST Database of Solder Properties — NIST (2002)
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.