Lead

Lead (CAS 7439-92-1), commonly identified by its symbol Pb, is a dense, refined metal supplied in bulk form for industrial processing and manufacturing. It functions as a base material for battery production and radiation shielding. This metal is essential for alloy manufacturing across heavy industry sectors. In automotive and industrial battery manufacturing, Pb is the primary active material in lead-acid cells, where it forms the grid structure.

It also forms the electrochemical plates required for energy storage. Electronics and cable manufacturers use it as a shielding material against X-ray and gamma radiation in medical, nuclear, and diagnostic equipment enclosures. In the metals industry, it is alloyed with tin, antimony, and other elements to produce solders. These alloys create bearing metals and type metals with controlled mechanical properties for specialized engineering tasks.

Mining operations use lead compounds derived from bulk metal as flotation reagents and processing intermediates in ore beneficiation. Bulk lead is supplied as ingots, pigs, sheets, and granules for various needs. Ingot form remains the standard for most industrial procurement. Refined grades include 99.97% and 99.99% purity designations, with corroding-grade and chemical-grade specifications available for specific downstream applications.

Supply typically conforms to ASTM B29 for refined pig lead or equivalent national standards. This ensures consistent quality and performance for manufacturers requiring high-purity raw materials for production.