Fusible alloy

Easily fused metal alloy

A fusible alloy is a metal alloy capable of being easily fused, i.e. easily meltable, at relatively low temperatures. Fusible alloys are commonly, but not necessarily, eutectic alloys.

Sometimes the term "fusible alloy" is used to describe alloys with a melting point below 183 °C (361 °F; 456 K). Fusible alloys in this sense are used for solder.

## Introduction

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Fusible alloys are typically made from low melting metals. There are 14 low melting metallic elements that are stable for practical handling. These are in 2 distinct groups: The 5 alkali metals have 1 s electron and melt between +181 (Li) and +28 (Cs) Celsius; The 9 poor metals have 10 d electrons and from none (Zn, Cd, Hg) to three (Bi) p electrons, they melt between -38 (Hg) and +419 (Zn) Celsius. From a practical view, low-melting alloys can be divided into the following categories:

* Mercury-containing alloys
* Only alkali metal-containing alloys
* Gallium-containing alloys (but neither alkali metal nor mercury)
* Only bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium, zinc, indium, and sometimes thallium-containing alloys
* Other alloys (rarely used)

A practical reason here is that the chemical behaviour of alkali metals is very distinct from poor metals. Of the 9 poor metals Hg (mp -38 C) and Ga (mp +29 C) have each their distinct practical issues, and the remaining 7 poor metals from In (mp +156 C) to Zn (mp +419 C) can be viewed together. Of elements which might be viewed as related but do not share the distinct properties of poor metals: Po is estimated to melt at 254 C and might be poor metal by properties but is too radioactive (longest halflife 125 years) for practical use; At same reasoning as Po; Sb melts at 630 C and is regarded as semimetal rather than poor metal; Te is also regarded as semimetal not poor metal; of other metals, next lowest melting point is Pu, but its melting point at 640 Celsius leaves a 220 degree gap between Zn and Pu, thus making the "poor metals" from In to Zn a natural group.

Some reasonably well-known fusible alloys are Wood's metal, Field's metal, Rose metal, Galinstan, and NaK.

## Applications

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Melted fusible alloys can be used as coolants as they are stable under heating and can give much higher thermal conductivity than most other coolants; particularly with alloys made with a high thermal conductivity metal such as indium or sodium. Metals with low neutron cross-section are used for cooling nuclear reactors.

Such alloys are used for making the fusible plugs inserted in the furnace crowns of steam boilers, as a safeguard in the event of the water level being allowed to fall too low. When this happens the plug, being no longer covered with water, is heated to such a temperature that it melts and allows the contents of the boiler to escape into the furnace. In automatic fire sprinklers the orifices of each sprinkler is closed with a plug that is held in place by fusible metal, which melts and liberates the water when, owing to an outbreak of fire in the room, the temperature rises above a predetermined limit.[1]

Bismuth on solidification expands by about 3.3% by volume. Alloys with at least half of bismuth display this property too.[2] This can be used for mounting of small parts, e.g. for machining, as they will be tightly held.[citation needed]

Further information: Bismuth–indium

## Low-melting alloys and metallic elements

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### Well-known alloys

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Alloy | Melting point | Eutectic? | Bismuth
% | Lead
% | Tin
% | Indium
% | Cadmium
% | Thallium
% | Gallium
% | Antimony

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Rose's metal | 98 °C (208 °F) | No | 50 | 25 | 25 | — | — | — | — | —
Cerrosafe | 74 °C (165 °F) | No | 42.5 | 37.7 | 11.3 | — | 8.5 | — | — | —
Wood's metal | 70 °C (158 °F) | Yes | 50 | 26.7 | 13.3 | — | 10 | — | — | —
Field's metal | 62 °C (144 °F) | Yes | 32.5 | — | 16.5 | 51 | — | — | — | —
Cerrolow 136 | 58 °C (136 °F) | Yes | 49 | 18 | 12 | 21 | — | — | — | —
Cerrolow 117 | 47.2 °C (117 °F) | Yes | 44.7 | 22.6 | 8.3 | 19.1 | 5.3 | — | — | —
Bi-Pb-Sn-Cd-In-Tl | 41.5 °C (107 °F) | Yes | 40.3 | 22.2 | 10.7 | 17.7 | 8.1 | 1.1 | — | —
Gallium | 29.8 °C (86 °F) | Pure metal | — | — | — | — | — | — | 100 | —
Galinstan | −19 °C (−2 °F) | No | <1.5 | — | 9.5–10.5 | 21–22 | — | — | 68–69 | <1.5

### Other alloys

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See also: Solder alloys

Starting with a table of component elements and selected binary and multiple systems ordered by melting point:

Low melting alloys and metallic elements  Composition in weight-percent  | Melting point  | Eutectic?  | Name or remark

|
|
|

Cs 73.71, K 22.14, Na 4.14 [3] | −78.2 °C
(−108.8 °F) | yes | "CsNaK", reactive with water and air
Hg 91.5, Tl 8.5 | −58 °C
(−72 °F) | yes | used in low-reading thermometers
Hg 100 | −38.8 °C
(−37.8 °F) | (yes)
Cs 77.0, K 23.0 | −37.5 °C
(−35.5 °F) |
K 76.7, Na 23.3 | −12.7 °C
(9.1 °F) | yes
K 78.0, Na 22.0 | −11 °C
(12 °F) | no | NaK
Ga 61, In 25, Sn 13, Zn 1 | 8.5 °C
(47.3 °F) | yes
Ga 62.5, In 21.5, Sn 16.0 | 10.7 °C
(51.3 °F) | yes | Galinstan alloy
Ga 69.8, In 17.6, Sn 12.5 | 10.8 °C
(51.4 °F) | no | Galinstan alloy
Ga 68.5, In 21.5, Sn 10 | 11 °C
(52 °F) | no | Galinstan alloy
Ga 75.5, In 24.5 | 15.7 °C
(60.3 °F) | yes
Cs 100 | 28.6 °C
(83.5 °F) | (yes)
Ga 100 | 29.8 °C
(85.6 °F) | (yes)
Rb 100 | 39.30 °C
(102.74 °F) | (yes)
Bi 40.3, Pb 22.2, In 17.2, Sn 10.7, Cd 8.1, Tl 1.1 | 41.5 °C
(106.7 °F) | yes
Bi 40.63, Pb 22.1, In 18.1, Sn 10.65, Cd 8.2 | 46.5 °C
(115.7 °F) |
Bi 44.7, Pb 22.6, In 19.1, Cd 5.3, Sn 8.3 | 47 °C
(117 °F) | yes | Cerrolow 117. Used as a solder in low-temperature physics.[4]
Bi 49, Pb 18, In 21, Sn 12 | 58 °C
(136 °F) |  | ChipQuik desoldering alloy.[5] Cerrolow 136. Slightly expands on cooling, later shows slight shrinkage in couple hours afterwards. Used as a solder in low-temperature physics.[4] Lens Alloy 136, used for mounting lenses and other optical components for grinding.[6] Used for mounting small delicate oddly-shaped components for machining.
Bi 32.5, In 51.0, Sn 16.5 | 60.5 °C
(140.9 °F) | yes | Field's metal
K 100 | 63.5 °C
(146.3 °F) | (yes)
Bi 50, Pb 26.7, Sn 13.3, Cd 10 | 70 °C
(158 °F) | yes | Cerrobend. Used in low-temperature physics as a solder.[4]
Bi 49.5, Pb 27.3, Sn 13.1, Cd 10.1 | 70.9 °C
(159.6 °F) | yes | Lipowitz's alloy
Bi 50.0, Pb 25.0, Sn 12.5, Cd 12.5 | 71 °C
(160 °F) | yes | Wood's metal
In 66.3, Bi 33.7 | 72 °C
(162 °F) | yes  | [7]
Bi 42.5, Pb 37.7, Sn 11.3, Cd 8.5 | 74 °C
(165 °F) | no | Cerrosafe
Bi 57, In 26, Sn 17  | 79 °C
(174 °F)  | yes  | [7]
Bi 54, In 29.7, Sn 16.3  | 81 °C
(178 °F)  | yes  | [7]
Bi 56, Sn 30, In 14 | 79–91 °C
(174–196 °F) | no | ChipQuik desoldering alloy, lead-free
Bi 50, Pb 30, Sn 20, Impurities | 92 °C
(198 °F) | no | Lichtenberg's alloy,[8] also called Onions' Fusible Alloy[9]
Bi 52.5, Pb 32.0, Sn 15.5 | 95 °C
(203 °F) | yes
Bi 52, Pb 32.0, Sn 16 | 96 °C
(205 °F) | yes | Bi52. Good fatigue resistance combined with low melting point. Reasonable shear strength and fatigue properties. Combination with lead-tin solder may dramatically lower melting point and lead to joint failure.[10]
Bi 50.0, Pb 31.2, Sn 18.8 | 97 °C
(207 °F) | no | Newton's metal
Na 100 | 97.8 °C
(208.0 °F) | (yes)
Bi 50.0, Pb 28.0, Sn 22.0 | 94–98 °C
(201–208 °F) | no | Rose's metal
Bi 55.5, Pb 44.5 | 125 °C
(257 °F) | yes
Bi 58, Sn 42 | 138 °C
(280 °F) | yes | Bi58. Reasonable shear strength and fatigue properties. Combination with lead-tin solder may dramatically lower melting point and lead to joint failure.[10] Low-temperature eutectic solder with high strength.[11] Particularly strong, very brittle.[12] Used extensively in through-hole technology assemblies in IBM mainframe computers where low soldering temperature was required. Can be used as a coating of copper particles to facilitate their bonding under pressure/heat and creating a conductive metallurgical joint.[13] Sensitive to shear rate. Good for electronics. Used in thermoelectric applications. Good thermal fatigue performance. Yield strength 7,119 psi (49.08 MPa), tensile strength 5,400 psi (37 MPa).[14]
Bi 57, Sn 43[15] | 139 °C
(282 °F) | yes
In 100 | 157 °C
(315 °F) | (yes) | In99. Used for die attachment of some chips. More suitable for soldering gold, dissolution rate of gold is 17 times slower than in tin-based solders and up to 20% of gold can be tolerated without significant embrittlement. Good performance at cryogenic temperatures.[16] Wets many surfaces incl. quartz, glass, and many ceramics. Deforms indefinitely under load. Does not become brittle even at low temperatures. Used as a solder in low-temperature physics, will bond to aluminium. Can be used for soldering to thin metal films or glass with an ultrasonic soldering iron.[4]
Li 100 | 180.5 °C
(356.9 °F) | (yes)
Sn 62.3, Pb 37.7 | 183 °C
(361 °F) | yes
Sn 63.0, Pb 37.0 | 183 °C
(361 °F) | no | Eutectic solder. Sn63, ASTM63A, ASTM63B. Common in electronics; exceptional tinning and wetting properties, also good for stainless steel. One of the most common solders. Low cost and good bonding properties. Used in both SMT and through-hole electronics. Rapidly dissolves gold and silver, not recommended for those.[11] Sn60Pb40 is slightly cheaper and is often used instead for cost reasons, as the melting point difference is insignificant in practice. On slow cooling gives slightly brighter joints than Sn60Pb40.[17]

Yield strength 3,950 psi (27.2 MPa), tensile strength 4,442 psi (30.63 MPa).[18]

Sn 91.0, Zn 9.0 | 198 °C
(388 °F) | yes | KappAloy9 Designed specifically for Aluminum-to-Aluminum and Aluminum-to-Copper soldering. It has good corrosion resistance and tensile strength. Lies between soft solder and silver brazing alloys, thereby avoiding damage to critical electronics and substrate deformation and segregation. Best solder for Aluminum wire to Copper busses or Copper wire to Aluminum busses or contacts.[19] UNS#: L91090
Sn 92.0, Zn 8.0 | 199 °C
(390 °F) | no | Tin foil
Sn 100 | 231.9 °C
(449.4 °F) | (yes) | Sn99. Good strength, non-dulling. Use in food processing equipment, wire tinning, and alloying.[20] Susceptible to tin pest.
Bi 100 | 271.5 °C
(520.7 °F) | (yes) | Used as a non-superconducting solder in low-temperature physics. Does not wet metals well, forms a mechanically weak joint.[4]
Tl 100 | 304 °C
(579 °F) | (yes)
Cd 100 | 321.1 °C
(610.0 °F) | (yes)
Pb 100 | 327.5 °C
(621.5 °F) | (yes)
Zn 100 | 419.5 °C
(787.1 °F) | (yes) | For soldering aluminium. Good wettability of aluminium, relatively good corrosion resistance.[21]

Then organized by practical group and alphabetic symbols of components: Most of the pairwise phase diagrams of 2 component metal systems have data available for analysis, like at https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/diagrams.php Taking the pairwise alloys of the 7 poor metals other than Hg and Ga, and ordering the pairs (total 21) by alphabetic of these elements Bi, Cd, In, Pb, Sn, Tl, Zn are as follows:

* Bi-Cd https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Bi-Cd.php simple eutectic (Bi at 271 C, Cd at 321, eutectic at 146)
* Bi-In https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Bi-In.php has ordered phases, eutectic at +72 - in table above
* Bi-Pb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Bi-Pb.php eutectic at +125 - in table above
* Bi-Sn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Bi-Sn.php eutectic at +139 - in table above
* Bi-Tl https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Bi-Tl.php an intermetallic alloy and the lower melting eutectic at +188
* Bi-Zn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Bi-Zn.php eutectic at +255
* Cd-In https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cd-In.php eutectic at +128
* Cd-Pb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cd-Pb.php eutectic at +248
* Cd-Sn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cd-Sn.php eutectic at +176
* Cd-Tl https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cd-Tl.php eutectic at +204
* Cd-Zn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cd-Zn.php eutectic at +266
* In-Pb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/In-Pb.php is NOT eutectic because Pb solid solution in In only raises melting point
* In-Sn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/In-Sn.php eutectic at +120
* In-Tl https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/In-Tl.php also NOT eutectic because Tl solid solution in In raises melting point
* In-Zn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/In-Zn.php eutectic at +143
* Pb-Sn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Pb-Sn.php eutectic at +183 - in table above
* Pb-Tl https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Pb-Tl.php also NOT eutectic because the solid solution is higher melting than components
* Pb-Zn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Pb-Zn.php eutectic at +318
* Sn-Tl https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Sn-Tl.php eutectic at +168
* Sn-Zn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Sn-Zn.php eutectic at +198 - in table above
* Tl-Zn https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Tl-Zn.php eutectic at +292

Considering the binary systems between alkali metals: Li only has appreciable solubility in pair

* Li-Na https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Li-Na.php eutectic at +92

The other three alkali metals:

* K-Li https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/K-Li.php
* Li-Rb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Li-Rb.php
* Cs-Li https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cs-Li.php

practically do not dissolve Li even when liquid and therefore their melting points are not lowered by presence of Li Na is in liquid phase miscible with all three heavier alkali metals, but on freezing forms intermetallic compounds and eutectics:

* K-Na https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/K-Na.php eutectic at -12,6 - in table above
* Na-Rb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Na-Rb.php eutectic at -4,5
* Cs-Na https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cs-Na.php eutectic at -31,8

The 3 binary systems between the three heavier alkali metals are all miscible in solid at melting point, but all form poor solid solutions that have melting point minima. This is distinct from eutectic: at eutectic point, two solid phases coexist, and close to eutectic point, the liquidus temperature rises rapidly as just one separates, whereas at poor solid solution melting point minimum, there is a single solid phase, and away from the minimum the liquidus temperature rises only slowly.

* K-Rb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/K-Rb.php solid solution minimum mp +34
* Cs-K https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cs-K.php solid solution minimum mp -38 - in table above
* Cs-Rb https://himikatus.ru/art/phase-diagr1/Cs-Rb.php solid solution minimum mp +10

## See also

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* Liquid metal
* List of elements by melting point

## References

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1. ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Fusible Metal". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 369.
2. ^ "F.A.Q." Archived from the original on 2004-08-07.
3. ^ Oshe, R.W. (ed.), "Handbook of Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Alkali Metals", Oxford. UK, Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd, 1985, p. 987
4. ^ a b c d e White, Guy Kendall; Meeson, Philip J. (2002). Experimental techniques in low-temperature physics. Clarendon. pp. 207–. ISBN 978-0-19-851428-2.
5. ^ Johnson Manufacturing Co, MSDS for Chip Quik Alloy w/Lead. Retrieved on February 6, 2015.
6. ^ "Lens Blocking alloy 136 58oC". Archived from the original on 2016-10-17.
7. ^ a b c "A Guide to Low Temperature Solder Alloys | Indium Corporation® | Indium Corporation Blogs | Indium | Solder Alloys". indium.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
8. ^ François Cardarelli (2008-03-19). Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 210–. ISBN 978-1-84628-669-8.
9. ^ Jensen, William B. (2010-10-01). "The Origin of the Name "Onion's Fusible Alloy"". Journal of Chemical Education. 87 (10): 1050–1051\. Bibcode:2010JChEd..87.1050J. doi:10.1021/ed100764f. ISSN 0021-9584.
10. ^ a b John H. Lau (1991). Solder joint reliability: theory and applications. Springer. p. 178\. ISBN 0-442-00260-2.[permanent dead link]
11. ^ a b Ray P. Prasad (1997). Surface mount technology: principles and practice. Springer. p. 385\. ISBN 0-412-12921-3.
12. ^ Charles A. Harper (2003). Electronic materials and processes. McGraw-Hill Professional. pp. 5–8\. ISBN 0-07-140214-4.
13. ^ Karl J. Puttlitz, Kathleen A. Stalter (2004). Handbook of lead-free solder technology for microelectronic assemblies. CRC Press. ISBN 0-8247-4870-0.
14. ^ Qualitek. Technical Data Sheet Sn42/Bi58 Solid Wire Rev.A 03/14 (PDF). Retrieved 3 May 2018.
15. ^ "Oregon State University". Oregon State University. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
16. ^ T.Q. Collier (May–Jun 2008). "Choosing the best bumb for the buck". Advanced Packaging. 17 (4): 24. ISSN 1065-0555.
17. ^ msl747.PDF. (PDF). Retrieved 2010-07-06.
18. ^ Qualitek. Technical Data Sheet Sn42/Bi58 Solid Wire Rev.A 03/14 (PDF). Retrieved 3 May 2018.
19. ^ "Tin-Zinc Solders for Aluminium to Aluminium and Copper". Kapp Alloy & Wire, Inc. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
20. ^ Madara Ogot, Gul Okudan-Kremer (2004). Engineering design: a practical guide. Trafford Publishing. p. 445\. ISBN 1-4120-3850-2.
21. ^ Howard H. Manko (8 February 2001). Solders and soldering: materials, design, production, and analysis for reliable bonding. McGraw-Hill Professional. pp. 396–. ISBN 978-0-07-134417-3. Retrieved 17 April 2011.

## Further reading

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* ASTM B774—Standard Specification for Low Melting Point Alloys. ASTM International. 1900. doi:10.1520/B0774.
* Weast, R.C., "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics", 55th ed, CRC Press, Cleveland, 1974, p. F-22

## External links

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* Fusible (Low Temp) Alloys
* Fusible Alloys. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12.
* Jenson, W.B. "Ask the Historian - Onion's fusible alloy" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine