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Fusible alloy

Easily fused metal alloy

  • 5 min read
  • 3 chapters

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Through Metal, Alloy and Enthalpy of fusion

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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

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:

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.

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