Bismuth is a crystalline, brittle, metal that expands as it freezes. It’s the most naturally diamagnetic metal, which means it resists being magnetized, and it also has unusually high electrical resistance. Additionally, its thermal conductivity is lower than any metal except mercury, and it is capable of alloying with other metals like lead, tin, copper, and indium.
Applications for Bismuth
Bismuth is offered in a variety of forms and sizes and used as a low melting alloy in a range of applications, such as:
• Fire detection/extinguishing
• As a replacement for lead in shot and bullets (bismuth-tin alloy)
• Soldering
• Boilers
• Water Heaters
• Bonding
• Surface coatings for corrosion resistance
• Fixturing
• Tube bending
• Grinding of lenses