For jewelry casting, manufacturers have a wide range of base metals and alloys to select from for their pieces. Most common metals that consumers are familiar with are gold, silver, platinum, and sterling silver. Yet there are many other types of alloys that may be used, including tin and zinc. When determining which alloy to…

When evaluating metals used to strengthen other alloys and to provide unique mechanical and physical properties, tin in higher purities is one metal that manufacturers take a close look at. Tin is an abundant metal as it is used in a number of manufacturing purposes and industries. This metal is often used as an outer…

While tin (Sn) is not mentioned as often as copper, it is another widely used metal for industrial applications. Tin is used most in electroplating, where the metal is used to coat other base metals to provide protection from other factors such as corrosion. Electroplating can also provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The tin…

Due to advanced manufacturing processes, companies today can use a range of base metals and alloys to create the right products and components to their industries. When obtaining the metals that will be used in casting, extruding and forming processes, manufacturers can request the alloys and base metals in various sizes and shapes. Ingots, cubes,…

Soldering is performed in a wide range of industries including plumbing, electronics, heating/AC and manufacturing processes. Selecting the right solder is based on many factors including the solder’s melting temperature range, the properties of the soldering wire for the application, bonding capabilities, and the strength and hardness of the solder. Tin lead wire is a…

Are you trying to decide if zinc solder would be right for your business? Zinc is useful in soldering applications that require lower temperatures. For example, if you wanted to solder aluminum or copper. The basic formulation is comprised of 70 percent tin and 30 percent zinc. Here at Belmont Metals in Brooklyn, we sell…

Babbitt metals are either lead or tin based, and the metal makes excellent bearings that are easy to pour as a DIY project. However, before you pour your bearings, you must select the correct babbitt metal in order to ensure your engine or piece of machinery operates correctly and efficiently. If you know the composition…

Semiconductors, machine bearings, and utensils are all made from varying amounts of metal alloys. Yet these items also possess one common factor: antimony. Antimony is a semi-metal element that comes in both a powdered form as well as a hard and brittle metal. Possessing a silvery, blush white appearance, this element is highly desired when…

Often when thinking about metal alloys, we consider the strength and durability of the metal to withstand a range of loads, stresses and extreme temperatures. Yet there are a range of manufacturing applications where an alloy needs to have a low melting characteristic. A low-melting alloy, also called fusible alloy, can take a liquefied or…

Low melting alloys are considered fusible alloys because they melt at temperatures below 300 degrees are often combined with other metals in order to increase certain properties. For example, Bismuth is often combined with tin and/or silver to create lead-free solders that are non-toxic. Low Melting Alloy Applications and Uses Low melting alloys can be…

Fusible alloys’ low melting point makes them useful in a wide variety of applications The melting point of aluminum is 1,220 degrees Fahrenheit. Carbon steel melts somewhere between 2,600 and 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature needs to rise all the way up to 6,150 degrees Fahrenheit to melt tungsten. Specialized furnaces are needed to…

Babbitt metals ensure machinery runs smoothly Bearings play an integral role in machine efficiency by reducing friction between moving parts. The earliest recorded examples of bearing usage date back to the Romans, and in the year 1500, Leonardo da Vinci sketched a design for a helicopter that incorporated ball bearings. Today, common types of bearings…

Using lead-free pewter alloys for making jewelry helps alleviate health concerns Adding lead to an alloy can help create characteristics—such as softness and lower melting temperatures—that are useful for many applications. However, lead also is a neurotoxin that is dangerous to animals and humans. Small children are more vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure…