Definition

Noun: 1. A type of alloy: A bearing metal is a specific alloy, frequently with a base of lead or tin, that is used to create bearings. Bearings are components that reduce friction between moving parts in machinery.

Usage

• Primary Use: This term is used specifically in mechanical and industrial contexts to refer to the metallic material from which plain bearings (also called bushings or sleeve bearings) are made.
• Example: "The engineer specified a high-tin bearing metal for the crankshaft journals due to its excellent conformability and embeddability."

Advanced Usage

• Technical Specification: In engineering specifications, the exact composition (e.g., Babbitt metal, a common type of bearing metal) is often detailed.
  • Example: "The repair manual calls for a SAE 12 grade bearing metal to be poured and machined for the connecting rods."

Variants and Related Words

• Babbitt metal: A common, specific type of bearing metal, typically made of tin, copper, and antimony.
• White metal: A general term for light-colored alloys often used as bearing metals.
• Bush(ing): The component made from bearing metal.
• Plain bearing: The type of bearing that uses bearing metal as its lining.

Synonyms

• Bearing alloy
• Bushing metal

Notes

• The term "bearing metal" is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific to its component parts: a used for . It is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or as a phrasal verb.

Noun

1. an alloy (often of lead or tin base) used for bearings