Solder & Low-Melting Alloy WJ1
GB WJ1 · JIS H5401 WJ1
WJ1 is the highest-tin white-metal bearing alloy in JIS H5401, a tin-antimony-copper Babbitt whose hard SbSn and Cu6Sn5 particles sit in a soft tin matrix.
Reference datasheet — WJ1 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.
WJ1 tempers and conditions
WJ1 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bonded to steel or bronze shell | Choose for conventional plain bearings and thrust pads lined by gravity pouring onto a tinned, preheated shell. | 33 | 78 | 6 | 25 HB | 10 % IACS |
Thin-wall lining (<1 mm) on rigid backing | Use where high specific load and fatigue life are needed: a thin WJ1 layer on steel raises load capacity but reduces embeddability. | 35 | 85 | 5 | 26 HB | 10 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast lining | Pick for large journal/turbine bearings where centrifugal casting gives a denser, finer-grained, better-bonded lining. | 36 | 88 | 8 | 27 HB | 10 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways WJ1 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 | As-cast remelt ingot | Supply form |
What is WJ1?
WJ1 is the highest-tin white-metal bearing alloy in JIS H5401, a tin-antimony-copper Babbitt whose hard SbSn and Cu6Sn5 particles sit in a soft tin matrix. It is specified for heavily loaded, high-speed journal and thrust bearings and is bought as ingot for chill, centrifugal or thin-lining casting onto tinned steel shells. Typical as-cast properties are 75 MPa tensile, 6% elongation and 25 HB, with service to about 130 °C. It is not fusion weldable, and the high tin content makes it the most expensive grade in the series; WJ2 is the usual cost-driven alternative. WJ1 has a density of 7.36 g/cm³ (0.266 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F). WJ1 has a yield strength of 32 MPa (4.64 ksi) and a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — stronger than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 52 GPa (7.54 Msi).
What is WJ1 used for?
- turbine bearings
- generator bearings
- high-speed spindle bushings
Advantages
- Stiff — 52 GPa (7.54 Msi), better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High service temperature — 130°C (266 °F), better than 87% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 60/100, better than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Lightweight — 7.36 g/cm³ (0.266 lb/in³), better than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 88% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 40/100, worse than 83% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
WJ1 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
WJ1 has a density of 7.36 g/cm³ (0.266 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F).
Mechanical10
WJ1 has a yield strength of 32 MPa (4.64 ksi) and a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — stronger than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 52 GPa (7.54 Msi).
Thermal6
WJ1 is rated for continuous service to 130°C (266 °F). It conducts heat at 53 W/m·K (30.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 23 µm/m·K (12.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WJ1 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 54% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WJ1 takes about 300 MJ of energy and emits 17 kg of CO₂ — more than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
WJ1's machinability is excellent (85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. WJ1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WJ1
Is WJ1 easy to machine?
Bore and face with very sharp high-rake HSS or carbide tools, high speed, light feeds and generous flood lubricant to avoid smearing; diamond boring gives the best bearing surface.
Can WJ1 be welded?
Not fusion welded; repairs are made by re-melting/puddling with matching WJ1 filler at low torch heat, and the shell must be fluxed and tinned (pure Sn or Sn-Sb) for bond integrity.
Can WJ1 be formed, bent or molded?
Used as-cast — pour at about 420–460 °C onto a clean, tinned, preheated (~250–300 °C) shell and chill from the back to obtain fine, uniformly distributed SbSn and Cu6Sn5 phases; avoid overheating which coarsens Cu-Sn needles.
WJ1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sb | 5 – 7 | 6 |
| Cu | 3 – 5 | 4 |
| Pbimpurity max | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Feimpurity max | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Asimpurity max | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Biimpurity max | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Znimpurity max | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Alimpurity max | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cdimpurity max | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Sn | ≥ 88 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on WJ1?
No plating or anodizing; finish is a fine-bored or scraped/burnished running surface, optionally with oil grooves — ultrasonic or dye bond testing is normal before final machining.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy WJ1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- JIS
- H5401 WJ1
How much does WJ1 cost?
WJ1 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
WJ1 — frequently asked
What is WJ1 used for?
WJ1 is typically used for turbine bearings, generator bearings and high-speed spindle bushings. In short: highest-tin JIS white metal; highest service temperature here; for high-speed heavy loads.
What is the yield strength of WJ1?
WJ1 has a typical yield strength of 32 MPa (4.64 ksi) and a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — stronger than 73% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is WJ1 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Bore and face with very sharp high-rake HSS or carbide tools, high speed, light feeds and generous flood lubricant to avoid smearing; diamond boring gives the best bearing surface.
Can WJ1 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not fusion welded; repairs are made by re-melting/puddling with matching WJ1 filler at low torch heat, and the shell must be fluxed and tinned (pure Sn or Sn-Sb) for bond integrity.
What surface finishes work on WJ1?
No plating or anodizing; finish is a fine-bored or scraped/burnished running surface, optionally with oil grooves — ultrasonic or dye bond testing is normal before final machining.
Can WJ1 be formed, bent or molded?
Used as-cast — pour at about 420–460 °C onto a clean, tinned, preheated (~250–300 °C) shell and chill from the back to obtain fine, uniformly distributed SbSn and Cu6Sn5 phases; avoid overheating which coarsens Cu-Sn needles.
What is the maximum service temperature of WJ1?
WJ1 is rated for continuous use to about 130°C (266 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does WJ1 cost?
WJ1 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), 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
- JIS H5401 White metals (WJ1–WJ10) — Japanese Standards Association (1958)
- ASTM B23 Standard Specification for White Metal Bearing Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- GB/T 1174 (ZSnSb8Cu4 ) (1992)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Tin and Tin Alloys, Bearing Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- Tin-base babbitt bearing alloy datasheets — Various babbitt producers (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.