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Pewter Alloys

Based on the pewter item that must be produced, the proportions of tin, antimony and copper vary. Due to the fact that there are thousand of pewter figurines, pewter plates and pewter tankards, there are also many pewter alloys used.

In other words, there are pewter alloys for artists, large firms and even hobbyist. In this way, whether you are using wooden moulds or looking for the right pewter alloys for the desired items, there are plenty of solutions to choose from.

However, in order to make a wise decision, is important to know what is pewter made from, how it is produced and in how different proportions of antimony and copper might influence the strength and hardness of the pewter alloy.

A well-known and used pewter alloy is the Britannia metal which is lead-free and has replaced pewter in the 18th century. Britannia metal is still being produced and used to create pewter items with specific antique pewter marks. Based on the chemical specification, Britannia metal also called “White Metal” contains 91.75% Tin, 6.9% Antimony, 1% Copper and the rest of 0.25% is Bismuth.

In addition, another lead-free pewter alloy is Silver Pewter which is suitable for jewelry. This pewter alloy contains 97% Tin with 2.5% Bismuth, 0.25% Copper and 0.25% Silver.

Each new element added to the pewter alloy has a different effect. In this way, attention and care are necessary when establishing the amounts of tin, antimony, bismuth, copper and other elements used. The pewter alloy resulted must easily handled and resistant depending on the use of pewter item produced.

Having this in mind, below are the effects of each element used:

• Tin was used since the Bronze Age and is one of the most precious metals in the world. In most cases, tin is combined with other elements and the dioxide reacts as a cassiterite or tinstone. Tin has a low melting point at 450 oC and forms a great alloy along with other elements. The main effects of tin are to increase the hardness of the alloy create and the working temperature.
• Antimony exists since the ancient Egypt and Rome and it can be found in South Africa, China, Peru and in the US. Antimony it is used due to its capacity to reproduce detail while it hardens tin and enhances the pewter brightness.
• Copper was among the first known metals discovered and today the world’s copper comes from the mountain ranges from Alaska to South America. Copper it is used to increase the hardness of the pewter alloy, to raise the working temperature and to make the alloy workable.
• Lead is used especially for the production of plates and hollowware, but lately free-lead pewter alloys are preferable.
• Bismuth & Copper are used depending on the pewter item to be produced. These elements make the pewter alloy easily controllable and maintain the great aesthetic over the years.
• Silver can be added in a low proportion up to 0.5% and the pewter alloy resulted is used to create good looking and lasting jewelry items.
• Casting pewter refers to the lower melting point required in the manufacturing process and sometimes custom pewter can be produced based on the customer’s requirements.

By using these elements correctly and adding the appropriate amount required, various pewter alloys are produced. The key is to know exactly what amount of metal to add and how to use the pewter alloy resulted.

In this way, the necessary alloy is used to create various pewter items and the same techniques were basically used in the past as well.
Therefore, we may say that whenever you want to start the home decoration you should first find the best antique pewter articles and collectables that will match your home furniture and home design and then start the home decorating.