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Special Coupe Frank · 04-13-2013, 10:10 AM

Regarding the use of lead as one of the components of babbitt alloy: was this done to cut costs ?

Also regarding lead's tendency to crystallization, "pot-metal" made before the Depression turned-out to be very unstable: would develop what collectors now refer to as "intergranular corrosion", where the alloy oxidizes at the molecular level, the result being swelling, cracking, and crumbling. This is commonly seen in things like carburetors, distributor bodies, and various talking machine parts, among other things.

I wonder if the early pot-metal alloys contained lead ?

04-13-2013, 10:10 AM	#21
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: Inserted Egines Regarding the use of lead as one of the components of babbitt alloy: was this done to cut costs ? Also regarding lead's tendency to crystallization, "pot-metal" made before the Depression turned-out to be very unstable: would develop what collectors now refer to as "intergranular corrosion", where the alloy oxidizes at the molecular level, the result being swelling, cracking, and crumbling. This is commonly seen in things like carburetors, distributor bodies, and various talking machine parts, among other things. I wonder if the early pot-metal alloys contained lead ?