Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Pb90Sn10
ASTM B32 Sn10 · GB HLSnPb10-90 · ISO 9453-122
Pb90Sn10 is a high-lead, low-tin solder (ASTM B32 Sn10, HLSnPb10-90, grades Sn10A and Sn10B) whose elevated solidus makes it the first-stage alloy in step-soldering sequences.
Reference datasheet — Pb90Sn10 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.
Pb90Sn10 tempers and conditions
Pb90Sn10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antimony-restricted chemistry (Sb ≤ 0.12 %) per ASTM B32 | Pick where antimony is restricted (cryogenic service, zinc/galvanised contact, some medical/food specs). | 14 | 25 | 28 | 10 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Antimony-bearing chemistry (Sb 0.20–0.50 %) per ASTM B32 | Pick for slightly higher strength and creep resistance where antimony is permitted. | 17 | 29 | 22 | 12 HB | 8.2 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Pb90Sn10 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 |
FOIL | Rolled foil / ribbon | Supply form |
PREFORM | Stamped washers, discs, rings, spheres | Supply form |
WIRE | Solid wire | Supply form |
WIRE-CORED | Flux-cored wire | Supply form |
PASTE | Solder paste | Printing process |
POWDER | Atomised powder / spheres | Printing process |
What is Pb90Sn10?
Pb90Sn10 is a high-lead, low-tin solder (ASTM B32 Sn10, HLSnPb10-90, grades Sn10A and Sn10B) whose elevated solidus makes it the first-stage alloy in step-soldering sequences. It is chosen for step soldering in electronics assembly, battery terminal work and sealing duties, and is stocked as bar, solid and cored wire, foil, preform, paste and powder. Mechanical values are low — 26 MPa tensile, 15 MPa yield, 25 % elongation, 10 HB — and service is limited to about 100 °C. Low tin means slower wetting and a need for active flux; Pb95Sn5 gives an even higher remelt point if more headroom is required. Pb90Sn10 has a density of 10.75 g/cm³ (0.388 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 268°C (514 °F). Pb90Sn10 has a yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 26 MPa (3.77 ksi) — weaker than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 22 GPa (3.19 Msi).
What is Pb90Sn10 used for?
- step soldering in electronics assembly
- battery terminal soldering
- sealing applications
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 3.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 81% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 88% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Heavy — 10.75 g/cm³ (0.388 lb/in³), worse than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low strength — 15 MPa (2.18 ksi), worse than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 22 GPa (3.19 Msi), worse than 79% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 25%, worse than 76% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Pb90Sn10 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Pb90Sn10 has a density of 10.75 g/cm³ (0.388 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 268°C (514 °F).
Mechanical10
Pb90Sn10 has a yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 26 MPa (3.77 ksi) — weaker than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 22 GPa (3.19 Msi).
Thermal6
Pb90Sn10 is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 36 W/m·K (20.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 64% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 29.5 µm/m·K (16.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Pb90Sn10 conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, worse than 64% 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 Pb90Sn10 takes about 49 MJ of energy and emits 3.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability7
Pb90Sn10'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. Pb90Sn10 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Pb90Sn10
Is Pb90Sn10 easy to machine?
Cuts easily but smears badly — use very sharp positive-rake tools, high rake angles, kerosene/soluble oil lubricant and expect poor dimensional stability from creep.
Can Pb90Sn10 be welded?
Not fusion-welded; joints are made by soldering/dipping at 320–360 °C, and the alloy itself is used as a filler for step-soldering ahead of lower-melting Sn-Pb.
Can Pb90Sn10 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast, extruded or cold-rolled with essentially unlimited ductility; work at room temperature since it recrystallises immediately and cannot be work-hardened.
Pb90Sn10 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 / J-STD-006 Sn10 range | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| Sb≤0.12 % for the A chemistry; 0.20–0.50 % for the B (antimonial) chemistry | ≤ 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Bi | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Cu | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Ag | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| As | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Cd | ≤ 0 | |
| Pbbalance, nominally ~90 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on Pb90Sn10?
Reflowed surfaces self-dull to a matte grey oxide; clean rosin/RA residues with IPA or saponified wash, avoid acidic cleaners, and never polish or machine dry because of lead-dust exposure limits.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Pb90Sn10 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B32 Sn10
- ISO
- 9453-122
- GB (China)
- HLSnPb10-90
How much does Pb90Sn10 cost?
Pb90Sn10 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Pb90Sn10 — frequently asked
What is Pb90Sn10 used for?
Pb90Sn10 is typically used for step soldering in electronics assembly, battery terminal soldering and sealing applications. In short: high-solidus step-solder alloy; lowest tin cost driver; weak, low-temperature service only.
What is the yield strength of Pb90Sn10?
Pb90Sn10 has a typical yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 26 MPa (3.77 ksi) — weaker than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Pb90Sn10 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 60% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Cuts easily but smears badly — use very sharp positive-rake tools, high rake angles, kerosene/soluble oil lubricant and expect poor dimensional stability from creep.
Can Pb90Sn10 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not fusion-welded; joints are made by soldering/dipping at 320–360 °C, and the alloy itself is used as a filler for step-soldering ahead of lower-melting Sn-Pb.
What surface finishes work on Pb90Sn10?
Reflowed surfaces self-dull to a matte grey oxide; clean rosin/RA residues with IPA or saponified wash, avoid acidic cleaners, and never polish or machine dry because of lead-dust exposure limits.
Can Pb90Sn10 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast, extruded or cold-rolled with essentially unlimited ductility; work at room temperature since it recrystallises immediately and cannot be work-hardened.
What is the maximum service temperature of Pb90Sn10?
Pb90Sn10 is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Pb90Sn10 cost?
Pb90Sn10 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), 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 and Fluxed/Non-Fluxed Solid Solders — IPC/JEDEC (2013)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 3: Alloy Phase Diagrams / Sn-Pb solder property tables — ASM International (1992)
- NIST Database of Solder Properties with Emphasis on New Lead-Free Solders — NIST/Colorado School of Mines (2002)
- Sn10Pb90 high-temperature solder bar/wire technical data — Kester / AIM / Indium Corporation (2023)
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.