Bismuth Metal

Bismuth is a white, crystalline, brittle metal. It is the most diamagnetic of all metals, and the thermal conductivity is lower than any metal, except mercury. It has a high electrical resistance and when placed in a magnetic field, it has the greatest electrical resistance of any metal. Bismuth melts at low temperature (271.3°C) and one of its most unusual characteristics is that its volume expands when it solidifies. 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.