babbitt metal

babbitt metal

See also: Babbitt metal

English

Etymology

From Babbitt, the surname of the American inventor Isaac Babbitt (1799–1862) who invented the alloy.[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbæbɪt ˌmɛtəl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbæbɪt ˌmɛtəl/, [-ɾəl]
• Hyphenation: bab‧bitt me‧tal

Noun

babbitt metal (countable and uncountable, plural babbitt metals)

1. A soft white alloy of variable composition (for example, nine parts of tin to one of copper, or fifty parts of tin to five of antimony and one of copper) used in bearings to diminish friction.

   Synonym: babbitt

   • 1911, “Testing Babbitt Metals”, in The International Steam Engineer, volume 19, page 400:

     An elaborate test of six samples of babbitt metals was recently made in England by a Professor of Engineering, assisted by a metallurgist, which was published by a prominent engineering journal occupying six columns with charts, tables and photographs.

   • 1919 May, “Something Interesting in Babbitt”, in The Brass World and Platers Guide, volume 15, page 164:

     At a recent meeting of purchasing agents in St. Louis there was an address delivered by Alfred A. Greene, of the National Lead Co., on babbitt metal.

   • 1995 October, American Woodworker, page 51:

     Always use this "virgin" babbitt metal for high-speed shafts — those that spin at more than 2,000 rpm, such as cutter-heads on jointers and planers. Old babbitt metal, which may have been adulterated with lead, can be melted and repoured for less critical, low-speed shafts like countershafts and bandsaw arbors.

Alternative forms

• Babbitt metal
• Babbitt's metal (rare)

Translations

soft white alloy of variable composition — See also translations at babbitt

Finnish: valkometalli German: Lagermetall Swedish: vitmetall (sv)

References

1. “babbitt metal, n.¹”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2011.

Further reading

• babbitt (alloy) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia