
Metals 1.11 Lead and Lead Alloys 407
3.1.11 Lead and Lead Alloys
Lead constitutes only about 12.5 wtppm (weight part per
million) of the earth’s crust, but concentrated lead ore
deposits make it easy to mine. Lead and its alloys are
used in a wide range of technical applications because
of their low melting point, ease of casting, high density,
softness and high formability at room temperature, ex-
cellent resistance to corrosion in acidic environments,
attractive electrochemical behavior in many chemical
environments, chemical stability in air, water and soil,
and the high atomic number and stable nuclear structure.
Despite their known toxicity, lead and its alloys can be
handled safely and it ranks fifth in tonnage consumed
(6 Mt/yr), after Fe, Cu, Al, and Zn. The type of data
available on different alloys depends to a great extent on
the areas of application [1.299].
The most important Pb ore mineral is galena,
(87 wt% Pb). The lead ore concentrate is roasted to form
Pb oxide. Smelting to reduce the oxide by CO produces
Pb. The lead bullion thus obtained contains Sb, As, Te,
Sn, Cu, Ni, Co, and Bi besides noble metals, and is
Table 3.1-273 Impurity levels of commercial lead grades [1.299]
Impurities, Low Bi, Refined Corroding Pure lead Chemical Copper Tellurium
additions low Ag, pure Pb
b,d
lead
e
(common lead
c,e
bearing lead
e
pure Pb
a,d
lead)
e
lead
e
L50006 L50021 L50042 L50049 L51120 L51121 L51123
(wt%) max. max.
Ag, max. 0.0010 0.0025 0.0015 0.005 0.020 0.020 0.020
Ag, min. − − − − 0.002 − −
Cu, max. 0.0010 0.0010 0.0015 0.0015 0.080 0.080 0.080
Cu, min. − − − − 0.040 0.040 0.040
Ag + Cu, max. − − 0.0025 − − − −
SbAs, Sn each 0.0005 0.0005 − − − − −
As + Sb + Sn, max. − − 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002
Zn, max. 0.0005 0.0005 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001
Fe, max. 0.0002 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002
Bi, max. 0.0015 0.025 0.050 0.050
c
0.005 0.025 0.025
Te 0.0001 0.0001 − − − − 0.035–0.060
Ni, max. 0.0002 0.0002 − − − −
Pb (by difference) min. 99.995 99.97 99.94 99.94 99.90 99.90 99.85
a
For chemical applications where low Ag and low Bi contents are required
b
For lead acid battery applications
c
For applications requiring corrosion protection and formability, as per ASTM B29-92
d
As per ASTM B29-92
e
As per ASTM 749-85 (re-approved 1991)
further refined to produce various grades of lead. Com-
mercial grade pure lead is produced by the removal of
impurities through selective gas phase oxidation, pre-
cipitation from molten lead phase as pure elements, and
through the formation of intermetallic compounds with
low solubility (removal of Fe, Ni, Co, As, Te, and Sb
as oxides; precipitation of Cu as elemental Cu, CuS,
and Cu arsenates and antimonides; precipitation of Fe
as Fe arsenates and antimonides; precipitation of Ag and
Au as intermetallic compounds of Zn with Au and Ag;
Bi precipitation through the formation of a compound
CaMg
2
Bi
2
). Electrolytic refining of commercial purity
lead is used to obtain lead with purity to levels down to
99.99 to 99.9995 wt%. Zone melting is used to produce
ultrapure grades of Pb.
3.1.11.1 Pure Grades of Lead
The commercial grades of pure lead (Table 3.1-273)
are used in chemical plants, sound attenuation, roof-
Part 3 1.11