Babbitt Bearing Metals

Babbitt metal is used as the lining for bearing shells of cast iron, steel and bronze. AIM manufactures high-purity lead-free and lead and tin-based alloys to any specifications.

High-tin Babbitt is used for high unit load and high operating temperatures. They display excellent corrosion resistance, easy bonding, and less tendency for segregation and welding. They are preferred for use under steady load conditions in steam and gas turbines, electric motors, blowers, and pumps.

Lead-based Babbitt is prone to separate into elemental lead and tin and has a lower thermal conductivity.

Babbitt Bearing Metals 

 

Application

Users of Babbitt ingot melt the metal in iron kettles from which they can ladle or pump the molten alloy. The bearing shell or backing is pre-coated with tin for tin-base bearings or with lead/tin for lead-base bearings.

While the coating is still molten, the white metal is cast onto the backing and allowed to solidify from the bond inward. This prevents contraction cavities at the bond and restricts the growth of intermetallic compounds at the interface between the bearing shell and the Babbitt.

The lining is then machined to a mirror-bright finish and specified thickness. Babbitt can also be sprayed onto the bearing shell with the use of a flame arc gun and Babbitt wire.

 

Chemical  Composition (%)

Tin-Base

Lead-Base

ALLOY NUMBER (GRADE)

1

2

3

11

7

8

13

15

Tin

90.0 To 92.0

88.0 To 90.0

83.0 To 85.0

86.0 To 89.-0

9.3 to 10.7

4.5 to 5.5

5.5 to 6.5

0.8 to 1.2

Antimony

4.0 To 5.0

7.0 To 8.0

7.5 To 8.5

6.0 To 7.5

14.0 to 16.0

14.0 to 16.0

9.5 to 10.5

14.5 to 17.5

Lead

0.35

0.35

0.35

0.35

remainder

remainder

remainder

remainder

Copper

4.0 To 5.0

3.0 To 4.0

7.5 To 8.5

5.0 To 6.5

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.6

Iron

0.08

0.08

0.08

0.08

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

Arsenic

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.30 to 0.60

0.30 to 0.60

0.30 to 0.60

0.30 to 0.60

Bismuth

0.08

0.08

0.08

0.08

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

Zinc

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

Aluminum

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

Cadmium

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

Total Named Elements, Min.

99.80

99.80

99.80

99.80

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