Babbitting

William P. Bardet and Donald J. Wengler, Pioneer Motor Bearing Company

Introduction

BABBITTING is a process by which relatively soft metals are bonded chemically or mechanically to a stronger shell or
stiffener, which supports the weight and torsion of a rotating, oscillating, or sliding shaft. The babbitt, being softer than
the shaft and having excellent antifrictional qualities, prevents galling and/or scoring of the shaft over long periods of use.
Compositions and selected properties of babbitts are summarized in Tables 1 and 2 and Fig. 1.
Table 1 Compositions and physical properties of tin-base babbitts

ASTM B Specific Composition, % Compressive yield point(a)(b) Ultimate compressive Hardness, HB(d) Melting Complete Proper
23 gravity strength(a)(c) point liquefaction pouring
alloy temperature
No.
At 19 °C (66 At 100 °C (212 At 19 °C (66 At 100 °C (212 At 20 At 100
°F) °F) °F) °F) °C °C
(68 °F) (212 °F)

Cu Sn Sb Pb MPa ksi MPa ksi MPa ksi MPa ksi °C °F °C °F °C °F

1 7.34 4.56 90.9 4.52 None 30.3 4.4 18.5 2.7 88.6 12.9 41.7 6.1 17.0 8.0 223 433 371 700 440 825

2 7.39 3.1 39.2 7.6 0.03 42.1 6.1 20.7 3.0 103 14.9 60.0 8.7 24.5 12.0 241 466 354 669 425 795

3 7.46 8.3 83.4 8.3 0.03 46.9 6.8 21.4 3.1 121 17.6 68.3 9.9 27.0 14.5 240 464 423 792 490 915

(a) The compression test specimens were cylinders 38 mm (1.5 in.) long, 13 mm (0.5 in.) in diameter, machined from chill castings 50 mm (2 in.) long, 19 mm (0.75 in.) in
diameter.

(b) Values were taken from stress-strain curves at a deformation of 0.125% reduction of gage length.

(c) Values were taken as the unit load necessary to produce a deformation of 25% of the length of the specimen.

(d) Tests were made on the bottom face of parallel-machined specimens that had been cast at room temperature in a steel mold, 50 mm (2 in.) in diameter by 16 mm (0.625 in.)
deep. Values listed are the averages of three impressions on each alloy, using a 10 mm (0.4 in.) ball and applying a 500 kg load for 30 s.
Table 2 Compositions and physical properties of lead-base babbitts

ASTM B Specific Composition, % Compressive yield point(a)(b) Ultimate compressive Hardness, HB(d) Melting Complete Proper
23 gravity strength(a)(c) point liquefaction pouring
alloy temperature
No.
At 19 °C (66 At 100 °C (212 At 19 °C (66 At 100 °C (212 At 20 At 100
°F) °F) °F) °F) °C °C
(68 (212
°F) °F)
Cu Sn Sb Pb As MPa ksi MPa ksi MPa ksi MPa ksi °C °F °C °F °C °F
(max)

7(e) 9.73 0.50 10 15 75 0.60 24.5 3.6 11.0 1.6 108 15.7 42.4 6.2 22.5 10.5 240 464 268 514 338 640

8 10.04 0.50 5 15 80 0.20 23.4 3.4 12.1 1.8 108 15.7 42.4 6.2 20.0 9.5 237 459 272 522 340 645

15(f) 10.05 0.5 1 15 82 1.40 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21.0 13.0 249 469 281 538 350 662

Source: Sleeve Bearing Materials, Metals Handbook, 8th ed., Vol 1, ASM, 1961, ASTM B 23-83, and Ref 1

(a) The compression test specimens were cylinders 38 mm (1.5 in.) long, 13 mm (0.5 in.) in diameter, machined from chill castings 50 mm (2 in.) long, 19 mm (0.75 in.) in diameter.

(b) Values were taken from stress-strain curves at a deformation of 0.125% reduction of gage length.

(c) Values were taken as the unit load necessary to produce a deformation of 25% of the length of the specimen.

(d) Tests were made on the bottom face of parallel-machined specimens that had been cast at room temperature in a steel mold, 50 mm (2 in.) in diameter by 16 mm (0.625 in.) deep. Values listed are the
averages of three impressions on each alloy, using a 10 mm (0.4 in.) ball and applying a 500 kg load for 30 s.

(e) 0.10% max Fe.

(f) Range of arsenic content 0.80 to 1.40% with 1.0% preferred.

Fig. 1 Effect of testing temperature on mechanical properties of ASTM B 23 tin-base babbitt. (a) Grade 2 (75%
Sb, 3.5% Cu). (b) Grade 3 (8% Sb, 8% Cu). RA, reduction in area

Babbitting is named for Isaac Babbitt, who patented the process in the United States in 1863. Babbitt metals, which are
more widely known as white metals, are comprised principally of tin alloys (hardened with copper and antimony) or lead
alloys (hardened with tin and antimony and, in some cases, arsenic). In the babbitting process, the relatively soft bearing
material (babbitt) is bonded to a stronger supporting base metal, typically mild steel, cast iron, or bronze. The base metal
may be in the form of mild steel strip unwound from a coil, a half-round mild steel pressing or bushing, or a bronze or
iron casting. The bonded bimetal material is shaped and machined to make plain, fluid film lubricated bearings for a wide
variety of automotive, industrial, and marine applications.

Babbitt is used in small bearings for high-volume applications, such as electric motors and internal combustion engines,
and for large rotating and reciprocating machinery with low to modest volume requirements, such as high-speed turbines
and low-speed marine diesel engines. In addition, babbitt has been used for jewelry, shot, filler metals, and various other
applications. Lead-base alloys enjoy a cost advantage, while tin alloys offer modest technical advantages, particularly in
high-speed centrifugal equipment. It should be noted that government regulations now discourage the use of lead-base
alloys for health and hazardous waste disposal reasons.

Babbitting of bearing shells can be accomplished by three methods:

• Static babbitting (hand casting)

• Centrifugal casting
• Metal spray babbitting

Centrifugal casting and static (gravity) casting are the two babbitting methods used in the manufacture and repair of large,
low-volume journal (radial) and thrust bearings. Centrifugal casting of journal bearings offers both technical and
economic advantages if special spinning equipment is available. Flat shapes (thrust bearings) are usually statically cast.

Repairing of industrial and marine babbitted bearings is routinely accomplished by melting off the old metal and
rebabbitting the shells with new metal, following the same basic casting methods described below for producing new
products. Emergency repair methods using proprietary tinning compounds, babbitt spray, or welding techniques can be
employed. Suppliers of such repair equipment should be consulted for operating instructions.

Thin-wall babbitted half bearings, rolled bushings, and flat thrust washers are mass produced from bimetal strip stock.
The strip stock is produced by continuously feeding coils of low-carbon steel in ribbon form first through appropriate
cleaning and tinning baths and then through a stream of molten babbitt, which is gravity cast on the moving strip. The
strip is immediately water-chilled from below. After excess babbitt is removed, the stock is recoiled and is ready for press
blanking, forming, and finish machining operations. Details of mass production methods for making babbitted bearings
are proprietary to the manufacturers involved, and beyond the scope of this article.

Regardless of the method used to produce the babbitt, bond quality is an important factor, particularly when heat transfer
through the babbitt into the shell is expected to contribute to extending the life of the bearing. In all cases, a metallurgical
(chemical) bond must be achieved to ensure good heat transfer and satisfactory babbitt fatigue life. Mechanical retention,
through the use of design details such as dovetail grooves and tapped holes, does not meet this requirement, but is
sometimes still used in large metallurgically bonded bearings as a form of backup insurance against bond failure. This
approach (see the section "Mechanical Bonding" in this article) is more likely to be found in cast iron shells, which are
more difficult to prepare for babbitting.

Acknowledgement

The sections "Cleaning by Degreasing or Pickling" , "Fluxing" , and "Single-Pot Tinning" were adapted from D.J.
Maykuth, Hot Dip Tin Coating of Steel and Cast Iron, Surface Cleaning, Finishing, and Coating, Volume 5, 9th Edition,
Metals Handbook, American Society for Metals, 1982, p 351-355

Reference