Field's metal
Field's metal is an approximately eutectic alloy that melts at around 62 ° C. It is named after Simon Quellen Field .
composition
Field's metal consists of indium , bismuth and tin in the following proportions:
- 51% indium (In)
- 32.5% bismuth (Bi)
- 16.5% tin (Sn)
The mass ratio is therefore approximately 3: 2: 1. Taking into account the atomic masses, this results in a molar ratio of approximately 3.2: 1.1: 1.
use
Field's metal is suitable as a casting alloy , for example . Since it wets glass in its liquid state , it can also be used as a solder for glass.
In general, it can serve as a non-toxic substitute for the cadmium-containing Wood's metal , which melts at around 73-77 ° C. A disadvantage here is the price, which is quite high due to the indium content.
Web links
Field's Metal at scitoys.com (English)