Solder & Low-Melting Alloy ZSnSb4-4
ZSnSb4-4 is a low-antimony tin-base Babbitt to GB/T 1174, with a softer, tougher tin matrix and fewer hard SbSn crystals than the higher-antimony grades.
Reference datasheet — ZSnSb4-4 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.
Values for the F condition
ZSnSb4-4 tempers and conditions
ZSnSb4-4 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statically (gravity) cast lining, tinned backing | Repair and small-batch route: hand-poured into tinned shells or moulds; slightly coarser structure and more porosity risk than centrifugal casting. | 28 | 58 | 7 | 20 HB | 9 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Standard as-cast condition of test bars and poured bearing linings per GB/T 1174; the reference state for all listed properties. | 30 | 62 | 8 | 20 HB | 9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ZSnSb4-4 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Ingot | Remelt ingot / bar supply form | Supply form |
CC | Centrifugally cast bearing lining on steel/bronze backing | Surface finish |
What is ZSnSb4-4?
ZSnSb4-4 is a low-antimony tin-base Babbitt to GB/T 1174, with a softer, tougher tin matrix and fewer hard SbSn crystals than the higher-antimony grades. It suits moderately loaded bearings, bushings and slide linings and is supplied as ingot for chill, static or centrifugal casting onto steel or bronze backings. Default as-cast values are 62 MPa tensile, 30 MPa yield, 8% elongation and 20 HB, with service to about 120 °C. Load capacity is the lowest of the GB/T tin Babbitts and the alloy is not fusion weldable; move to ZSnSb8-4 or ZSnSb11-6 for higher unit pressures. ZSnSb4-4 has a density of 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 223°C (433 °F). ZSnSb4-4 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 62 MPa (8.99 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 51 GPa (7.4 Msi).
What is ZSnSb4-4 used for?
- light-duty bearings
- bushings
- machine tool slides
Advantages
- Stiff — 51 GPa (7.4 Msi), better than 91% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Lightweight — 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), 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
- Good corrosion resistance — 55/100, better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 30/100, worse than 88% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 84% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 18 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 76% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
ZSnSb4-4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ZSnSb4-4-F; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
ZSnSb4-4 has a density of 7.34 g/cm³ (0.265 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 223°C (433 °F).
Mechanical13
ZSnSb4-4 has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 62 MPa (8.99 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 51 GPa (7.4 Msi).
Thermal6
ZSnSb4-4 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 72% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 23 µm/m·K (12.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ZSnSb4-4 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 ZSnSb4-4 takes about 310 MJ of energy and emits 18 kg of CO₂ — more than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
ZSnSb4-4's machinability is excellent (85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. ZSnSb4-4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ZSnSb4-4
Is ZSnSb4-4 easy to machine?
Very easy to cut but gummy — use sharp, high-rake, well-polished tools, high speed, light feed and flood lubricant; final bore usually diamond-bored or hand-scraped.
Can ZSnSb4-4 be welded?
Not fusion welded; linings are repaired by local re-tinning and re-pouring, or by low-heat babbitt torch build-up with the same alloy.
Can ZSnSb4-4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only: pre-tin the steel/bronze shell with pure tin flux, pour at about 430–460 °C with the shell preheated ~250 °C, and chill from the back to avoid shrinkage and Cu–Sb segregation.
ZSnSb4-4 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 | 4 – 5 | 4.5 |
| Cu | 4 – 5 | 4.5 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Asimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Biimpurity limit | ≤ 0.08 | |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Snbalance, ≈90–92 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on ZSnSb4-4?
No anodising or plating; finish by boring/scraping to the oil-film clearance, then light polishing and thorough flushing to remove embedded swarf.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy ZSnSb4-4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- ZChSnSb4-4
How much does ZSnSb4-4 cost?
ZSnSb4-4 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.
ZSnSb4-4 — frequently asked
What is ZSnSb4-4 used for?
ZSnSb4-4 is typically used for light-duty bearings, bushings and machine tool slides. In short: softest GB/T tin Babbitt; highest elongation of family; moderate-load bearing lining.
What is the yield strength of ZSnSb4-4?
ZSnSb4-4 has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 62 MPa (8.99 ksi) — stronger than 61% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is ZSnSb4-4 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (85/100, better than 89% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Very easy to cut but gummy — use sharp, high-rake, well-polished tools, high speed, light feed and flood lubricant; final bore usually diamond-bored or hand-scraped.
Can ZSnSb4-4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not fusion welded; linings are repaired by local re-tinning and re-pouring, or by low-heat babbitt torch build-up with the same alloy.
What surface finishes work on ZSnSb4-4?
No anodising or plating; finish by boring/scraping to the oil-film clearance, then light polishing and thorough flushing to remove embedded swarf.
Can ZSnSb4-4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only: pre-tin the steel/bronze shell with pure tin flux, pour at about 430–460 °C with the shell preheated ~250 °C, and chill from the back to avoid shrinkage and Cu–Sb segregation.
What is the maximum service temperature of ZSnSb4-4?
ZSnSb4-4 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.
What is the difference between ZSnSb4-4-F and ZSnSb4-4-SC?
F is the default condition — standard as-cast condition of test bars and poured bearing linings per GB/T 1174; the reference state for all listed properties. SC: repair and small-batch route: hand-poured into tinned shells or moulds; slightly coarser structure and more porosity risk than centrifugal casting. Yield strength is 30 MPa in F versus 28 MPa in SC.
How much does ZSnSb4-4 cost?
ZSnSb4-4 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 B23 Standard Specification for White Metal Bearing Alloys (Alloy 1) — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Tin and Tin Alloys / Bearing Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
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.