Rose's metal, Rose metal or Rose's alloy is a fusible alloy with a low melting point.
Rose's metal consists of 50% bismuth, 25–28% lead and 22–25% tin. Its melting point is between 94 and 98 °C (201 and 208 °F). The alloy does not appreciably contract or expand on solidification, this characteristic being a function of its bismuth percentage, but does slightly contract on cooling.[1]
Rose's metal has several common uses:
It was discovered by the German chemist Valentin Rose the Elder, the grandfather of Heinrich Rose.
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 | 30.0 °C (86 °F) | Pure metal | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100 | – |
Galinstan | −19 °C (−2 °F) | no | <1.5 | – | 9.5–10.5 | 21–22 | – | – | 68–69 | <1.5 |