Page History: Babbitt - Identification Guide

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Page Revision: 2008/03/29 16:17

Many different grades of Babbitt were sold and marketed over the years by many different companies. Because so many different types of Babbitt "bars" are still available today, this guide will attempt to help identify and determine the uses for some of these brands. As information on the composition of different brands becomes available to us, we will add them to this list.

Just for reference, true and original Babbitt as invented by Isaac Babbitt in 1839 was composed of 50 part Tin (Sn), 5 parts Antimony (Sb), and 1 part Copper (Cu). This resulted in a product composed of 89.28% Sn, 8.93% Sb and 1.79% Cu. Over time as research on bearings continued, many different alloys were developed for different applications, all under the generic name of "Babbitt".

Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal¶

Magnolia Antifriction Metal

Sold by the Magnolia Metal Corporation, Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal is still available for purchase today. Introduced in 1886, Magnolia Metal (as it was commonly referred to) was advertised as the best bearing material known to man and far superior than any other Babbitt. While there is no doubt that Magnolia Metal had it's applications and did generally perform well, it also has some limitations. Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal is a primarily lead based material, consisting of approximately 80% Lead (Pb), 15% Antimony (Sb) and 5% Tin (Sn).

According to the Magnolia Metal Corporation, Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal "meets all requirements for general use. Offers good resistance to compression and has the lowest co- efficient of friction of any known bearing metal... 1/3 that of genuine babbitt. Is graphite treated and largely self-lubricated. Typical Applications... Line shafting...electric motors 10 to 250 hp.... winches... pumps... propeller shafts... cement mills ... general machinery."

Pouring temperature for Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal is 750-825 degrees F.

Adamant Super-Genuine Babbitt¶

Adamant Super-Genuine Babbitt

Sold by the Magnolia Metal Corporation, Adamant Super-Genuine Babbitt is still available for purchase today. Exact composition is not know but this is a tin based babbitt and suspected to be a similar formula as original Babbitt.

According to the Magnolia Metal Corporation, Adamant Super Genuine Babbitt is "a genuine babbitt metal alloyed especially for malleability, strength and toughness. Will not crack or chip even when subjected to extremely severe shock loads. Easy to pour, conforms well to the shell. Typical Applications... Internal combustion engines... trap rock crushers... sifter machinery."

Pouring temperature for Adamant Super-Genuine Metal is 775-825 degrees F.

Stonewall Babbitt¶

Stonewall Babbitt

Made by the United American Metals Corporation, Stonewall Babbitt has been around for many years and is still being sold today through industrial supply houses such as McMaster-Carr. This is a Lead Based Babbitt and among the cheapest babbitt that you can buy. Composition is 80.25 percent Lead (Pb), 14.75 percent Antimony (Sb) and 5 percent Tin (Sn). While this material would work fine for light duty and low speed applications, for just a little more money, you can get a much better quality material. Probably best to shy away from for most machinery applications.

Pouring Temperature is 650 degrees F.