Science, Tech, Math › Science Bismuth Metal Applications What are the uses of bismuth? Share Flipboard Email Print Bismuth is used in the trigger devices for some sprinkler systems. Science Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Terence Bell University of British Columbia Carleton University Terence Bell wrote about commodities investing for The Balance, and has over 10 years experience in the rare earth and minor metal industries. our editorial process Twitter Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn Terence Bell Updated March 27, 2018 Pure bismuth's brittleness makes it ineffective in metallurgical applications. However, small amounts are used as additives in copper, aluminum, iron, and steel to toughen and make alloys that are more machineable. Since the 1970s, bismuth has increasingly been used as a substitute for lead in everything from water pipes to fishing weights and solders to bullets. Lead-free plasma TVs and plasma displays also incorporate bismuth. The eutectic alloy known as Wood's Metal, which is used to manufacture triggering devices for fire sprinklers and holding devices for grinding optical lenses or turbine blades, makes use of bismuth due to its low melting point and unique thermal expansion properties Bismuth alloys, such as bismuth telluride, are also used for thermal electricity generation, as coolants for compact discs and semiconductors and in high-temperature superconductors. Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloys containing 44.5% lead and 55.5% bismuth are used as the coolant in some nuclear reactors. Despite the range of end-uses, metallurgical applications account for only about one-third of bismuth's total annual demand. Chemicals of bismuth are used in large quantities in the pharmaceutical (nitrate and carbonate), cosmetic (bismuth oxychloride) and pigment industries (bismuth subsalicylate). Other uses for bismuth include: In brass alloysIn thermocouplesIn alloys for drop hammer and embossing diesIn fuel tank safety plugs alloysIn catalysts for making acrylic fibres (various chemicals)In bismanol permanent magnets (Manganese Bismuth - MnBi)In low melt alloys (e.g. Wood's metal)In malleable iron and machineable aluminum or copperIn lead-acid batteries Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Bell, Terence. "Bismuth Metal Applications." ThoughtCo, Oct. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/bismuth-metal-applications-2340179. Bell, Terence. (2020, October 29). Bismuth Metal Applications. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/bismuth-metal-applications-2340179 Bell, Terence. "Bismuth Metal Applications." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/bismuth-metal-applications-2340179 (accessed January 24, 2021). copy citation