Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Rose's Metal
Rose's Metal is a historic bismuth-lead-tin fusible alloy melting around 98 °C, predating the cadmium-free and lead-free alloys now standard in this family.
Reference datasheet — Rose's Metal 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.
Rose's Metal tempers and conditions
Rose's Metal is supplied in one standard condition, Cast.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Rose's Metal is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
IngotDefault | Ingot / bar | Supply form |
SHOT | Shot / pellets / granules | Supply form |
WIRE | Extruded wire / rod | Supply form |
What is Rose's Metal?
Rose's Metal is a historic bismuth-lead-tin fusible alloy melting around 98 °C, predating the cadmium-free and lead-free alloys now standard in this family. It was used for fusible safety devices, low-temperature soldering and melt-out casting work, and is still supplied as ingot, shot, wire and castings. Strength is low at 30 MPa tensile with 25% elongation and 11 HB, service is limited to about 45 °C and machinability rates 30. The lead content makes it RoHS-restricted and unsuitable for food or potable-water contact; Field's Metal is the non-toxic substitute at a lower melting point. Rose's Metal has a density of 9.7 g/cm³ (0.35 lb/in³), heavier than 70% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 98°C (208 °F). Rose's Metal has a yield strength of 18 MPa (2.61 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 25 GPa (3.63 Msi).
What is Rose's Metal used for?
- fusible safety plugs
- low-temperature soldering
- historical metallurgical demonstrations
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.7 % IACS, 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 — 45°C (113 °F), worse than 94% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low strength — 18 MPa (2.61 ksi), worse than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 25%, worse than 76% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Rose's Metal properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Rose's Metal has a density of 9.7 g/cm³ (0.35 lb/in³), heavier than 70% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 98°C (208 °F).
Mechanical10
Rose's Metal has a yield strength of 18 MPa (2.61 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 25 GPa (3.63 Msi).
Thermal6
Rose's Metal is rated for continuous service to 45°C (113 °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 20 µm/m·K (11.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Rose's Metal conducts electricity at 2.7 % IACS, worse than 99% 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 Rose's Metal takes about 120 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — less than 65% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
Rose's Metal's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 60% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability very good (80/100).
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. Rose's Metal is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Rose's Metal
Is Rose's Metal easy to machine?
Cuts easily but smears and loads tools — use very sharp high-rake tools, high speed, light cuts and coolant/chilling to avoid frictional melting.
Can Rose's Metal be welded?
Not welded; joints are made by remelting or by soldering with the alloy itself — the melt pot must stay below ~200 °C to limit oxidation and lead fume.
Can Rose's Metal be formed, bent or molded?
Gravity casts into steel, silicone or plaster molds with near-zero shrinkage; melts in a hot-water or low-temperature pot and can be extruded to wire at room temperature.
Rose's 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Biprincipal fusible constituent | 48 – 52 | 50 |
| Pb | 25 – 28 | 25 |
| Snbalance in most commercial mixes | 22 – 25 | 25 |
| Cdnot intentionally added; Rose's metal is cadmium-free | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Other impurities (Sb, Cu, Fe, Zn, As)total, typical commercial purity | ≤ 0.5 |
What surface finishes work on Rose's Metal?
Too soft for polishing or plating; surfaces dull quickly to a grey oxide — leave as-cast, and handle as a lead-bearing material (RoHS-restricted, no food or potable-water contact).
How much does Rose's Metal cost?
Rose's Metal is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Rose's Metal — frequently asked
What is Rose's Metal used for?
Rose's Metal is typically used for fusible safety plugs, low-temperature soldering and historical metallurgical demonstrations. In short: 98 °C fusible alloy; lead-bearing legacy grade; near-zero casting shrinkage.
What is the yield strength of Rose's Metal?
Rose's Metal has a typical yield strength of 18 MPa (2.61 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Is Rose's Metal easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 60% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Cuts easily but smears and loads tools — use very sharp high-rake tools, high speed, light cuts and coolant/chilling to avoid frictional melting.
Can Rose's Metal be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not welded; joints are made by remelting or by soldering with the alloy itself — the melt pot must stay below ~200 °C to limit oxidation and lead fume.
What surface finishes work on Rose's Metal?
Too soft for polishing or plating; surfaces dull quickly to a grey oxide — leave as-cast, and handle as a lead-bearing material (RoHS-restricted, no food or potable-water contact).
Can Rose's Metal be formed, bent or molded?
Gravity casts into steel, silicone or plaster molds with near-zero shrinkage; melts in a hot-water or low-temperature pot and can be extruded to wire at room temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of Rose's Metal?
Rose's Metal is rated for continuous use to about 45°C (113 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Rose's Metal cost?
Rose's Metal is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), 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
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Low-Melting/Fusible Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Lead, Tin and Their Alloys — solder and fusible alloy data — ASM International (1994)
- Low-melting-point fusible alloy series datasheets (Bi-Pb-Sn, 95–120 °C) — specialty fusible alloy producers (2023)
- GB/T 3131 / ASTM B32 — solder metal composition and impurity limits (reference for Sn-Pb-Bi melts) — SAC / ASTM (2020)
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.