Northern Smelters under new ownership
Babbitt Metal
The original alloy devised by Babbitt himself was 4 lb copper, 8 lb antimony, and 24 lb tin (11.1% copper, 22.2% antimony, 66.6% tin). The name has come to mean many soft lining and anti-friction bearing metals as listed in our products list under Bearing Metal.
Bearing Metal
Bearing metal is also known as Babbitt Metal, White-metal, and Anti-friction alloy.
The grades we make as standard are:
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A metal – conforming to ASTM B23 no. 2: Highly ductile, fatigue resistant, used to take heavy loads at high speeds and for massive bearings and large con-rod bearings not subjected to shock. Used in a wide range of applications including setting knife guides for sawmills. People restoring old cars often seek bearing or Babbitt metal, and this is the one they need.
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A1 – conforming to ASTM B23 no. 3: Special tin-based alloy for use in crushers. Used for heavy duty quarry and metallurgical crushers.
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AR: Best quality whitemetal for heavy-duty, shock-loaded conditions and recommended for diesel engines.
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400: Highly ductile and corrosion resistant underwater metal, recommended where there is contact with salt water, such as stern shafts.
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No.4: Lead-based lower cost alloy widely used in windmills.
Other formulae are made to customer specification.
Assays are available if required.
White-metal
This is a generic name given to alloys of tin, lead and antimony and all copper-zinc alloys containing more than 60% zinc. It includes pewter, soft solder, Britannia metal, type-metals, antifriction alloys, bearing alloys and Babbitt metal.