Lead Based Babbitt

Generally, these compositions range from 10 to 15%antimony, up to 10%tin and the

remaining amounts being lead. Compared to tin babbitts, lead-base materials are less
costly and because they are softer than the tin based Babbitts, they have less tendency
to score a shaft. However, lead based Babbitt does not hold up well on high speed shafts
or under great loads. Lead based Babbitt will work fine for most light duty and low speed
applications such as a band saw arbor. For high speed arbors over 1000 RPM, tin based
Babbitt is preferred.

Tin Based Babbitt

These materials are composed of 80 to 90%tin, with about 3 to 8%copper and 4 to 14%
antimony added. An increase in the copper or antimony increases hardness and tensile
strength and decreases ductility. Increasing the percentage of these hardening alloys
above this range decreases both cracking resistance and fatigue strength according to
the paper.
Tin Based Babbitt is the best choice for high-speed applications (such as jointers and
planers) and hard to lubricate bearings. In reality, probably overkill for band saw bearings
but sure would not hurt to be safe than sorry. While the higher tin content does make
this Babbitt more expensive, when you consider the cost of time and labor for pouring
bearings, probably money well spent. Cost for tin based products is much higher than the
lead based.

Recycling Babbitt
Many people who pour babbitt bearings are interested in reclaiming old babbitt from
worn bearings and re-using the material on new bearings. Because there is rarely
enough babbitt left in the old shells to complete a new pour, to save money, some people
will be tempted to mix the old metal with new. This is not advisable.
Very seldom will somebody know the exact composition of their old babbitt, much less if
it is even a tin based or lead based product. Inevitably, when somebody tries to mix old
and new Babbitt, they end up mixing a lead alloy with tin-based babbitt. Mixing these two
causes the low melting 63Sn/37Pb eutectic to be formed. This babbitt will selectively
melt out of the lining and leave a sponge like bearing. The 63/37 melts at 361F and the
Grade 2 babbitt does not completely melt until 669F. A premature bearing failure is the
result.
Users should not mix unknown babbitts and all pots, mixers, and ladles should be free of
lead. Even if the babbitt is a known tin-based babbitt, no more than 30%of a pour should
be recycled alloy. A larger amount can cause excessive dross to be trapped in the

ASTM Babbitt Analysis Chart - ASTM B-23

Tin Base Babbitt Grades
ALLOY NUMBER (GRADE)

Chemical
Composition, %

11

UNS-L13910

UNS-L13890

UNS-L13840

UNS-L13870

90.0-92.0

88.0-90.0

83.0-85.0

86.0-89.0

4.0-5.0

7.0-8.0

7.5-8.5

6.0-7.5

0.35

0.35

0.35

0.50

4.0-5.0

3.0-4.0

7.5-8.5

5.0-6.5

Iron

0.08

0.08

0.08

0.08

Arsenic

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

Bismuth

0.08

0.08

0.08

0.08

Zinc

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

Aluminum

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

Cadmium

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

99.80

99.80

99.80

99.80

Tin
Antimony
Lead
Copper

Total named
elements, min

Chemical
Composition, %

Lead Base Babbitt

ALLOY NUMBER (GRADE)

13

15

UNS-L53585

UNS-L53565

UNS-L53346

UNS-L53620

9.3-10.7

4.5-5.5

5.5-6.5

0.8-1.2

14.0-16.0

14.0-16.0

9.5-10.5

14.5-17.5

remainder*

remainder*

remainder*

remainder*

Copper

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.6

Iron

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

Arsenic

0.30-0.60

0.30-0.60

0.25

0.8-1.4

Bismuth

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

Zinc

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

Aluminum

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

Cadmium

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

Tin
Antimony
Lead