Solder & Low-Melting Alloy WJ2
GB WJ2 · JIS H5401 WJ2
WJ2 is a mid-tin white metal to JIS H5401, a tin-antimony-copper Babbitt that trades some tin content for lower cost while keeping the soft-matrix, hard-particle bearing structure.
Reference datasheet — WJ2 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.
WJ2 tempers and conditions
WJ2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sand / gravity cast | Use for thick or one-off linings and bushings where a coarser structure and slightly lower hardness are acceptable. | 40 | 72 | 5 | 23 HB | 9 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast lining on steel/bronze shell | Preferred for production journal bearings: dense, gas-free lining with a strong tinned bond and thin (0.5–3 mm) wall that maximises fatigue capacity. | 47 | 88 | 4 | 26 HB | 9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways WJ2 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 |
CC | Chill cast | Surface finish |
What is WJ2?
WJ2 is a mid-tin white metal to JIS H5401, a tin-antimony-copper Babbitt that trades some tin content for lower cost while keeping the soft-matrix, hard-particle bearing structure. It is used for general industrial plain bearings and bushings and is supplied as ingot for chill, sand and centrifugal casting of linings. Default as-cast values are 80 MPa tensile, 4% elongation and 25 HB, with service to about 120 °C. Elongation and conformability are lower than WJ1, which remains the choice for the highest loads and speeds; WJ2 is not fusion weldable. WJ2 has a density of 7.38 g/cm³ (0.267 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 241°C (466 °F). WJ2 has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 52 GPa (7.54 Msi).
What is WJ2 used for?
- industrial gearbox bearings
- pump bearings
- compressor bushings
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High strength — 45 MPa (6.53 ksi), better than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Stiff — 52 GPa (7.54 Msi), better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 91% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 55 W/m·K (31.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 4%, worse than 91% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited formability — 35/100, worse than 85% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
WJ2 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
WJ2 has a density of 7.38 g/cm³ (0.267 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 241°C (466 °F).
Mechanical12
WJ2 has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 52 GPa (7.54 Msi).
Thermal6
WJ2 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 55 W/m·K (31.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 23 µm/m·K (12.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WJ2 conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, worse 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 WJ2 takes about 280 MJ of energy and emits 17 kg of CO₂ — more than 65% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
WJ2's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. WJ2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WJ2
Is WJ2 easy to machine?
Very easy to cut but gummy — use sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS tools, high speed, light feed and flood coolant; final bore is usually diamond-bored or hand-scraped to the shaft.
Can WJ2 be welded?
Not fusion welded in the normal sense; repairs are made by re-tinning the shell and puddling fresh WJ2 with a soft flame or babbitt torch, keeping the shell below ~300 °C.
Can WJ2 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only — melt at 420–480 °C under charcoal/flux cover, pour into a pre-tinned, preheated (~250 °C) shell and chill from the back to force directional solidification and avoid Cu6Sn5 segregation.
WJ2 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 | 8 – 10 | 9 |
| Cu | 5 – 6 | 5.5 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Asimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Biimpurity limit | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cdimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Snbalance, tin base | balance |
What surface finishes work on WJ2?
Left as machined/scraped with oil grooves; no anodising or plating is applied to the lining, while the steel backing is usually tin-flashed for bonding and corrosion protection.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy WJ2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- JIS
- H5401 WJ2
How much does WJ2 cost?
WJ2 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
WJ2 — frequently asked
What is WJ2 used for?
WJ2 is typically used for industrial gearbox bearings, pump bearings and compressor bushings. In short: cost-balanced JIS Babbitt; general industrial white metal.
What is the yield strength of WJ2?
WJ2 has a typical yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) — stronger than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is WJ2 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Very easy to cut but gummy — use sharp, high-rake carbide or HSS tools, high speed, light feed and flood coolant; final bore is usually diamond-bored or hand-scraped to the shaft.
Can WJ2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not fusion welded in the normal sense; repairs are made by re-tinning the shell and puddling fresh WJ2 with a soft flame or babbitt torch, keeping the shell below ~300 °C.
What surface finishes work on WJ2?
Left as machined/scraped with oil grooves; no anodising or plating is applied to the lining, while the steel backing is usually tin-flashed for bonding and corrosion protection.
Can WJ2 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only — melt at 420–480 °C under charcoal/flux cover, pour into a pre-tinned, preheated (~250 °C) shell and chill from the back to force directional solidification and avoid Cu6Sn5 segregation.
What is the maximum service temperature of WJ2?
WJ2 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does WJ2 cost?
WJ2 is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), 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 H 5401 White Metals — Japanese Standards Association (2015)
- ASTM B23 Standard Specification for White Metal Bearing Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.18: Friction, Lubrication and Wear Technology (bearing materials) — ASM International (2017)
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.