Originally made from tin, now they are made from cheaper low-melting alloys based on lead.

From its discovery in 1875 until the semiconductor era, gallium was used primarily as an agent to make low-melting alloys.

Gallium readily alloys with most metals, and has been used as a component in low-melting alloys.

Liquid mirror telescopes have rotating mirrors that consist of a liquid metal such as mercury or a low-melting alloy of gallium.

Low-melting alloys, such as Bi-Cd-Pb-Sn alloy which melts at 70 C, are also used in automotive and aviation industries.