Unknown possible casting alloy? Antimony or bismuth?

[MarkK]

These were found many years ago in the defunct Ausco plant in St. Joe, MI. Ausco did a lot of metal castings for US auto industry. I suspect these were used to mock up small amounts of alloys in a lab for testing or comparisons. Any thoughts?


314167

[Dusty Bannister]

Antimony would not be black. I have not seen antimony in the form you are showing. Have you crushed one of the pieces to examine the grain structure? Please use a ruler or similar to get a decent comparison for size if you can provide a photo of the crushed item so grain structure can be verified.

[Rickf1985]

I am thinking carbon or other alloying material for steel.

[MarkK]

Most of these are smaller than a dime in diameter. They weigh 20-50 g each.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Have you calculated the specific gravity?
https://www.reade.com/reade-resources/reference-educational/reade-reference-chart-particle-property-briefings/specific-gravity-table-for-metals-minerals-ceramics

[TD1886]

There have been many writing about working with antimony and having to crush it up to get it to melt in the alloy you are making and that there is where the hazard is. The antimony dust is very toxic. NRA said not to do it and but the alloy with antimony already in it.

[Dusty Bannister]

TD, I find the "plunging bell" or a wire basket superior to the crushed material. Less surface area to have to fight and being under the surface it seems to dissolve just fine at casting temps.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?432497-1-st-time-alloying-with-pure-antimony&highlight=hazards+antimony

[TD1886]

TD, I find the "plunging bell" or a wire basket superior to the crushed material. Less surface area to have to fight and being under the surface it seems to dissolve just fine at casting temps.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?432497-1-st-time-alloying-with-pure-antimony&highlight=hazards+antimony

Thumps up on that Dusty!