Field's metal, also known as Field's alloy, is a

fusible alloy A fusible alloy is a metal alloy capable of being easily fused, i.e. easily meltable, at relatively low temperatures. Fusible alloys are commonly, but not necessarily, eutectic alloys. Sometimes the term "fusible alloy" is used to describe alloy ...

that becomes liquid at approximately . It is named after its inventor, Simon Quellen Field. It is a eutectic alloy of

bismuth Bismuth is a chemical element; it has symbol Bi and atomic number 83. It is a post-transition metal and one of the pnictogens, with chemical properties resembling its lighter group 15 siblings arsenic and antimony. Elemental bismuth occurs nat ...

indium Indium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol In and atomic number 49. It is a silvery-white post-transition metal and one of the softest elements. Chemically, indium is similar to gallium and thallium, and its properties are la ...

, and tin, with the following mass fractions: 32.5% Bi, 51% In, 16.5% Sn. When prepared, Field's metal can be melted in hot water. Field's metal is costly because its major component

is expensive, priced at around double the price of silver. Because it includes neither

lead Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...

nor

cadmium Cadmium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, silvery-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12 element, group 12, zinc and mercury (element), mercury. Like z ...

, it is much less toxic than Wood's metal. It can be used for small-run

die casting Die casting is a casting (metalworking), metal casting process that is characterized by forcing molten metal under high pressure into a mold cavity. The mold cavity is created using two hardened tool steel die (manufacturing), dies which have been ...

and

rapid prototyping Rapid prototyping is a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer aided design ( CAD) data. Construction of the part or assembly is usually done using 3D printing ...

. This alloy has been investigated as a possible liquid metal coolant in advanced nuclear power system designs. Field's metal is also of interest to

nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing propertie ...

researchers. Although it is much less dangerous to use than other commonly melted metals, such as

aluminium Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...

, contact with Field's metal in the liquid state can cause third-degree burns. Indium has also been associated with Indium lung in workers frequently exposed to indium processing.

Similar alloys

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Field'S Metal Fusible alloys Bismuth alloys Tin alloys Coolants Indium alloys