Babbitt metal vs Duralumin
Duralumin displaced Babbitt metal, and 1 measured property shows why — density most clearly.
Babbitt metal vs Duralumin
Babbitt metal
A soft metal that lets a shaft embed grit rather than be scored by it — bearing alloy, designed to be the part that wears.
Duralumin
Aluminium alloyed with copper and left to harden by itself — the discovery that made metal aircraft possible.
| Property | Babbitt metal | Duralumin |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.3–10.1 g/cm³ higher | 2.75–2.85 g/cm³ |
| Melting point Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | 240–400 °C | Not known |
| Tensile strength Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | Not known | 400–500 MPa |