On the shelves specialized stores a wide range of different sinkers and shots are presented. Nevertheless, judging by the numerous reviews, most avid fishermen and hunters prefer to use products not of factory, but of their own manufacture. Since the fraction is consumable, and sinkers are often lost, the hunter and fisherman have a constant need for this raw material.
It is this category of consumers who is interested in where to get lead for casting? According to experts, there are several effective ways lead mining. Information on where to get lead for sinkers and shots can be found in this article.
Introduction to the material
Lead is and has excellent anti-corrosion properties, thanks to which this chemical element is used in the manufacture of protective coatings in shipbuilding.
Lead is immune to X-ray and radioactive radiation. For this reason, special protective sheets are made from this metal, the task of which is to protect a person from intense radiation.
After the accident at Chernobyl nuclear power plant reactive substances during transportation by helicopters were contained in containers surrounded by lead ingots.
The most common areas of application of this metal are fishing and hunting. Due to the fact that lead is inexpensive and easy to melt, it is easy to make a projectile for firearms or a sinker for fishing tackle from it.
Due to the softness of lead, such a weight is easily crimped and it will be easy to attach it to the fishing line without additional devices. If there are usually no difficulties with melting, then the question of where you can get lead is very relevant. The following are some popular lead mining methods.
From battery
For those who are interested in where to get lead, experienced anglers and hunters recommend paying attention to the battery. It won't be too hard to find him. Enough to go to the scrap metal collection point. In this case, you will have to spend a little. Those who want to save money can be advised to look for it in a landfill. Old batteries often gather dust in motorists' garages. If you know motorists you know, you're in luck. The owner will be only too happy to get rid of such rubbish. Judging by the numerous reviews, it is the batteries that are considered the most common source for the extraction of lead, which is presented in the form of special plates. Non-ferrous metal is easy to melt.
How to extract?
Having obtained a battery, beginners often ask the question of what to do next. Experts recommend doing a complete disassembly. Only in this case will it be possible to remove the lead plates. Since they are in acid, they must be dried before melting. Judging by the reviews, it will take at least six hours to disassemble. The plates dry within a day. Remelting will take one hour. In general, one battery will have to be transported for at least a day and a half. As a result, after remelting the plates, up to two kilograms of lead can be mined. Whether it is worth spending time on this, everyone decides for himself.
From fishing weights
If there are no familiar motorists, and not a single battery was found at the scrap metal point and the person does not know where to get lead, experienced craftsmen recommend purchasing this non-ferrous metal in the fishing products department. However, this method is less effective, since you will first have to buy lead sinkers, and only then melt them. 1 kg of lead costs about 200 - 250 rubles. Nevertheless, already with the necessary raw materials in a handicraft way, you can make good shot for ammunition.
From car wheels
Another option where to get lead is a car service. Since the car wheel is equipped with special balancing weights, if necessary, they can be dismantled and used for other than their intended purpose.
According to experts, one such weight weighs 50-60 g. Judging by the numerous reviews, 1 kg will cost no more than 50 rubles. For beginners and those who have no idea where to get lead, experts recommend using car weights.
But today, lead is not used in its pure form as a material for their manufacture. Often this is zinc with impurities of babbitt - fusible. The composition may include antimony and tin. In addition to weights for wheels, lead is also mined from plain bearings, less often from sealing gaskets.
From counter
This method is suitable for those who have friends who work in the water utility and the power grid. Employees of these services quite often have to deal with meters, put or break seals. They are made of lead and are no longer of value when dismantled, so regular deliveries of this non-ferrous metal can be arranged.
Where to get a lot of lead?
According to experts, you can use a communication cable with a lead sheath. Lead is used to make the coating, which, judging by the reviews, is very soft and can be easily removed with a regular knife. Depending on the cable brand, the thickness of its protective layer can vary from 1 to 2 mm. Due to the fact that bitumen is applied on top of the lead coating, and the product itself is wrapped with steel tape, those who want to get low-melting non-ferrous metal will have to tinker pretty much.
Experienced masters recommend that beginners perform this procedure at sub-zero temperatures. In this case, the bitumen is much easier to separate. Bituminous substances melt well. It is enough just to hold the cable over the fire for a while. The bitumen will flare up and it will be much easier to remove it. According to experts, it is lead sheaths that provide the largest amount of the required metal. Compared to lead extracted from a battery, cable is much cleaner.
In addition, during the melting of battery plates, a lot of debris remains, which is often more than the non-ferrous metal itself. For this reason, before starting to melt, the plates are carefully tapped. The main purpose of these actions is to get rid of the filler. Otherwise, there will be a lot of unnecessary slag in the container with molten lead.
Can be ordered from supplier
Those who have already tried all the methods and no longer know where to get lead can be recommended to order non-ferrous metal from the manufacturer. Judging by the numerous reviews, in this case, about 170 rubles will have to be paid for 1 kg of a fusible substance. Much cheaper, about three times, you can buy lead at a non-ferrous metal collection point.
Finally
No matter how the lead is mined, when working with it, it is necessary to adhere to safety precautions. Lead is a very toxic substance and should be smelted in a well ventilated or exhausted area. Many home craftsmen prefer to work with him outdoors. If this recommendation is neglected, then the released electrolyte vapors can cause irreparable harm to human health. In addition, in order not to get burned, you should be as careful as possible with molten lead.
The article discusses where to get lead for shots, making sinkers and other things. There are several options, everyone can choose something for themselves.
Lead and its alloys are widely used in the manufacture of typefaces, plain bearings, and many small parts. In addition, lead is the main component of batteries of various capacities.
In everyday life, lead is used to obtain fishing tackle, cargo for balancing wheels, etc.
Most of the machine parts and assemblies made using lead are produced using foundry technologies.
Technological process of lead casting
Lead alloys are multicomponent compounds that can contain up to 10% copper in their composition. Its presence significantly increases the melting point. The second most important component is antimony. The main advantage of lead alloys is that molds of almost any configuration can be used to work with them, at fairly low pressures. The melting point of lead is quite low - 325-350 degrees and this allows you to cast lead parts at home.
For lead casting, injection molding technology is used. As furnaces for the melt, equipment operating on various types of fuel is used - gas, fuel oil, coke and electrical energy. This equipment must meet the following requirements:
1. Minimum time spent on melting.
2. Minimum material loss.
3. Minimum flow fuel.
4. Safe and comfortable operation.
To obtain a melt of lead and its alloy, the temperature provided in the furnaces is sufficient to melt the lead.
Lead is processed in crucible furnaces. The main difference of this class of equipment is that the melt does not come into contact with the products of fuel combustion. Lead and its alloys are smelted in furnaces with metal or graphite crucibles that can run on multiple fuels.
Crucible furnaces are produced in two versions:
stationary;
rotary.
Furnaces with graphite crucibles for casting allow you to melt various metals - lead, tin, and aluminum. Moreover, the transition from one metal to another occurs at minimal cost. But crucibles made of graphite have a low resistance and therefore crucibles made of cast iron are more often used.
The procedure for obtaining lead parts is as follows. Lead ingots or scrap are immersed, where the transition of lead from solid to liquid occurs. After that, the liquid material is poured into prepared models.
The principle of castings in industry and households is the same, the key differences are only in scale.
Lead smelting molds
As noted earlier, lead is cast into molds to obtain parts. Casting molds are made from different materials - steel, cast iron, graphite, aluminum alloys. At home, sand, gypsum, silicone and other materials are used.
The shape of the lead casting can be made by hand, but mechanized equipment is most often used. Moreover, in many home workshops you can find hobby mechanical equipment.
Structurally, the mold for casting lead products consists of several parts:
1. The form itself, as a rule, includes two parts.
2. Fusible or non-fusible rods, guides and locks.
To make a plaster mold, you need to prepare two boxes made of wood. Then, gypsum, diluted to a creamy state of gypsum, is poured into a wooden box. After after some time the gypsum begins to harden, at this time it is possible to install the future product in it. At the same time, it must be half-immersed in plaster. This will form the first half of the form. A similar operation must be performed to obtain the second form. After the plaster has dried, the form will be ready. In order to be able to pour molten lead during the manufacture of the mold, it is necessary to form a casting hole.
Before pouring into the mold, its working surface must be lubricated with oil. This will make it easier to disassemble the mold later on. After the workpiece is ready, it is taken out of the mold and subjected to mechanical processing.
Details can be obtained using different kinds mold making materials. For example, casting into metal molds is the most common type used in production. Cast iron, steel and aluminum are used to make molds. AT industrial scale making molds from metal is not difficult. All documentation required for the manufacture of molds is developed in the design office and transferred to production, where it is manufactured.
One way to obtain lead castings is to cast lead into a silicone mold. Making an injection mold from silicone is perhaps the longest time. The fact is that almost all operations for creating a mold are carried out manually, applying silicone to the layout in layers and carefully leveling it with your hands. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the applied layer must dry out, which is 10 - 15 minutes. But in this case, the result justifies the expectations and the output will be a multi-turn form.
Lead Die Casting
Injection molding technology is used if the task is to produce small castings with thin walls.
This technology has certain advantages:
1. High accuracy castings.
2. High quality surfaces.
3. No need for further machining of cast products.
4. The ability to manufacture blanks with a complex configuration.
5. High performance injection molding complex.
6. Low number of substandard products.
7. Saving money and resources in the manufacture of large batches of castings.
Lead is among the top five non-ferrous metals used in everyday life and industry. It is second only to aluminum, copper and zinc.
The properties of lead determined the scope of its application. The main consumer of this metal is an enterprise for the production of batteries. This is because lead is highly resistant to alkalis. For installation in batteries, grids made of an alloy of lead and antimony are used.
Certain volumes of lead are used for the needs of electrical engineering, it is used for the production of the cable and wire industry. Fuel production is also not complete without lead. It is used to produce tetraethyl lead, which is used to improve fuel performance.
The use of nuclear energy has given rise to many technical problems, and one of them is radiation protection. Lead absorbs gamma rays and it is this property that has made it possible to use lead for protection against radiation.
The paint and varnish industry consumes a large amount of lead; red lead is produced from its oxide.
Lead casting at home
Casting lead at home is quite feasible. To obtain a melt of lead, it is enough to ensure its heating to a temperature of 327 degrees. To do this, you can use a gas stove, burner. Some craftsmen manage to use industrial hair dryers that can heat the air up to 500 degrees.
As a rule, casting at home is carried out in order to obtain fishing equipment - sinkers, spinners. In addition, figurines of soldiers are cast from lead, parts jewelry etc.
Lead - very popular non-ferrous metal, which is readily accepted in any form by buyers of scrap metal.
There is no single price per kilogram, since lead is almost never found in its pure form.
Usually this is an alloy in which the mass fraction of lead is much larger than impurities and depends on the purpose of the metal.
The price of lead per 1 kg directly depends on the demand in the world market, which is only growing every year.
Lead belongs to heavy non-ferrous metals, its isotopes are the result of the decay of uranium. In nature, this element is present in more than 80 mineral ores, some of which are the main raw materials for its production.
In this, lead is similar to zinc and any other non-ferrous metal.
These characteristics make it unique in chemical and physical qualities:
- plastic;
- chemical inertness with respect to most aggressive compounds;
- fusibility;
- the ability to block radiation;
- big specific gravity.
Non-ferrous metal alloys containing lead are widely used in various industries.
The ability of lead to absorb radioactive radiation has made it indispensable for radiation protection in:
- medicine (radiology);
- nuclear energy;
- transportation of radioactive substances;
- storage of radioactive waste.
Traditional lead acid batteries are very popular, so 60% of the lead produced in the world goes to their manufacture.
Non-corrosive, lead and its alloys serve protective sheath for electrical cables laid underground and in water. Production firearms impossible to imagine without the use of lead.
The high density of the metal has made lead a popular material. for making bullets sports and hunting weapons equipment, as well as for army small arms.
Anti-corrosion properties and ductility This metal is widely used in the chemical and construction industries.
Oil refineries and oil producers use lead pipe sheaths and lead sheets to protect steel apparatus. In the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings, lead is used in the construction of foundations and for sealing joints.
You can still list the industries where this unique element of the periodic table is used for a long time. Bye humanity has not found a complete replacement for lead, thanks to its chemical and physical properties. Therefore, buying up lead is very profitable business for , even if the price per kilogram becomes higher.
Main sources of lead scrap metal
Lead in its purest form very rare not only in nature, but also in industrial products.
Usually these are alloys, where this metal is alloyed with additional substances to improve certain properties, depending on the application.
Traditional scrap
Here are the most popular species lead scrap, which are most often brought to collection points:
- The purest lead scrap cable. For the cable protection sheath, lead is usually used with a minimum amount of impurities.
- Batteries worn out after prolonged use. Lead plates and battery grids containing up to 10% impurities are the main source of lead scrap.
- Babbit liners. Lead babbit is used for bearings of diesel engines and rolling mills, hydraulic turbines. It contains 87% lead, the rest is various impurities. Lead-calcium babbit is used in railway and water transport bearings.
- Smelted in an artisanal way metal. Usually they serve as raw materials.
- Weights for wheel balancing c, lead seals and other small parts.
- Electrolysis baths, covered with lead sheets to protect against sulfuric acid electrolyte and lead chambers used in production using sulfuric acid.
- Lead production waste- shavings, pieces, rods, wire.
- Finds in battlefields(would need ).
Material requiring special acceptance conditions
With such material, you must be as careful as possible:
- Lead plates, used as protective screens against X-rays, pose a serious danger due to the increased radioactive background.
- military scrap, removed from the decommissioned equipment.
- Old acid batteries and .
- Scrap with nuclear installations.
- Remelted battery plates.
Admission conditions and restrictions
Lead belongs to the group of highly hazardous substances (Group 2). Like all heavy metals, lead toxic and is able to accumulate in the human body, causing irreversible changes up to death. However, when safety precautions are followed, lead does not pose a threat. Therefore, the acceptance of lead for processing is strictly regulated.
Lead dust generated by mechanical action and steam from metal remelting - deadly threat to humans. Therefore, precautions must be taken when disposing of a used battery with electrolyte.
Remelting lead battery plates at home essential will not bring profit but health and the environment can be irreparably harmed.
Lead scrap metal with a large weight is compact, takes little space for transport. This distinguishes it favorably from other non-ferrous metals.
Estimation of delivered raw materials
At the lead collection point, the price per kg depends on several parameters. Processing enterprises are interested in pure material and willingly take alloys, including lead, but at a lower price.
Here is the list basic parameters, which affect the price when buying a material:
- quality;
- purity;
- volume.
Quality
The most "tidbit" and desired lead for scrap buyers is braiding of power electrical cables.
But even here there are pitfalls that everyone who is going to take this material needs to be aware of.
metal cable sheath, purified from paper, tar, bituminous putty rated higher.
If you do not first get rid of cable debris, then the price of lead per 1 kg will be less. After all, the specialist at the reception point, when weighing, will subtract the percentage of foreign materials from the actual weight.
The batteries must be intact, no chips or cracks, necessarily with a handle. The price directly depends on the energy intensity of the battery. The higher it is, the more lead it contains.
Remelted lead at home can be in any shape, but most collection points prefer ingots or plates. For such scrap, they give a higher price.
Purity
This concept means mass fraction lead in the alloy. The higher the percentage, the higher the price per kg.
How is the evaluation of the alloy? It all depends on who accepts the scrap metal. Small collection points, private traders and resellers lead alloy evaluated by eye, knowing the approximate composition of this or that scrap.
Processing companies use special equipment, which determines the composition of the scrap in a few minutes. This, the cost of such technology is very high.
But for large players in the market who have, the presence of such equipment is necessary. After all, the volume of metal turnover they measure tens and hundreds of thousands of tons.
Volume
When you sell lead, price per kg of scrap depends on batch size.
As a rule, wholesale and retail prices for lead intake differ significantly.
The usual rule that wholesale prices are lower than retail prices is exactly the opposite in the recycling business.
The larger the volume of scrap, the more profitable it can be sold and lead is no exception.
Who can take lead scrap for recycling and disposal
The lowest prices at private dealers, plowing the expanses of the country on old cars with a rusty trailer. The services of such "businessmen" are willingly used by pensioners or summer residents who have small amounts of various metal trash.
Often, private traders determine the mass and composition of scrap “by eye”, without any instruments and scales.
Middle-level entrepreneurs open collection points for lead and other non-ferrous scrap, where they independently set the price per kilogram, based on:
- average monthly volume of goods receipt;
- storage costs;
- the cost of transportation to the factory.
Accumulating recyclables to certain level, reception points transfer it to a large processing company at a higher price.
Most profitable to sell scrap for disposal and recycling large companies, the reception points of which are dispersed across the regions.
The price set per kg of metal is valid in all branches.
This is due to the fact that these companies work directly with factories and plants for the recycling of secondary raw materials, therefore they have all licenses that give them the legal right to collect metal waste.
Here are the main Benefits such companies:
- they accurately weighed material;
- draw up documents if the scrap is handed over by a legal entity;
- provide equipment for export;
- observe precautionary measures when working with hazardous substances.
High competition and a serious struggle for each client force metal buyers to provide services due to which their business flourishes. Well, how not to use such a service as call of specialists to your territory? They will not only dismantle the heaps of scrap metal and sort it on the spot, but also put in order the place where all rubbish is stored.
There are companies that only collect batteries. Indeed, for the disposal of this type of recyclable materials, quite strict rules and regulations. Therefore, to work with hazardous to humans and environment substances are accepted special security measures.
However, most companies work with various non-ferrous metals, because the wider the range, the greater the turnover. At the same time, companies are forced observe stricter security measures, because without it they will not get a license.
What is the best way to sell
In order to profitably sell lead for scrap, you need to know some features when handing over different kind lead products:
- Power cables in a lead sheath, they are usually covered with a paper braid impregnated with bitumen. The cable itself also has nothing to do with lead. Therefore, it is better to first pull it out of the shell, and remove paper and bitumen from the surface. Thus, the price of scrap will increase.
- Batteries are divided into different categories. The most expensive batteries are in a polypropylene or polyethylene case. Ebony batteries are less common and their price is slightly lower.
- inside battery electrolyte it is better not to drain, as this is fraught with severe burns. Transportation of batteries is equivalent to transportation of dangerous goods. It is advisable not to turn the battery over, but to carry it by the handles.
- Some items taking on battery disposal, the calculation of the cost is done not by weighing, but by multiplying the capacity of the block by the price of 1 a/hour.
- The home-melted battery belongs to the category soft refining. But it is better not to do this at home, since lead and electrolyte are toxic substances.
- Battery disposal strictly regulated at the government level. For such manipulations, there are special enterprises where all conditions are created for the safe extraction of lead.
- babbits- bearing shells, come with different lead content and are divided according to the structure of the alloy into lead and lead-calcium. The latter have a low cost, so it is important to know how to distinguish these rings.
- Lead batteries are marked B-16, BN, BSb and contain up to 87% lead. Lead-calcium are marked with the abbreviation BKA, BK2, BK2Sh. If you know these differences, then unscrupulous receivers will not be able to deceive you.
- Common sources of lead include weights for wheel balancing in cars. Usually a lot of them accumulate in tire shops. It is important to know that modern sinkers are made more often from other metals. Lead sinkers with a metal fastening are readily accepted by all non-ferrous metal inspectors, while the price is calculated taking into account the presence of another metal.
- Font typographical or hart- this is solid lead, in the alloy of which there are other valuable non-ferrous metals (see photo below). But it is becoming less and less, as the modern printing industry moves to more innovative technologies where no linotype is required.
Average prices for 1 kg of lead scrap in Russia
From the table you will find out how much lead costs (the price of scrap depends on the quantity and type of recyclables) when buying up in a small batch and tons in terms of cost per kilogram:
| Type of scrap | up to 399 kg | from 400–500 kg | from 1–2 t | from 10 t |
| Lead sheath cleaned | 55–106 rubles | 80–112 rubles | 90–120 rubles | 99–120 rubles |
| Battery in ebonite case | 18–45 rubles | 33–56 rubles | 35–56 rubles | 50–58 rubles |
| Battery in a polypropylene and polyethylene case | 24–61 rubles | 48–64 rubles | 54 -85 rub. | 62–69 rubles |
| Soft remelting (lead melted into ingots or plates) | 35–90 rubles | 60–107 rubles | 85–107 rubles | 100–114 rubles |
| Hard melting (weights for balancing wheels, lead seals) | 50–85 rubles | 50 -85 rub. | 50–85 rubles | 70–85 rubles |
| Lead babbits | 50–87 rubles | 50–87 rubles | 55–90 rubles | 99 -162 rubles. |
| Typographic font (garth) | 70–102 rubles | 75–102 rubles | 80–124 rubles | 102–124 rubles |
As you can see, the difference in prices is quite noticeable, especially when delivering a large volume of lead scrap.
How to find out where the price will be more
To get the maximum benefit, you need to price monitoring in nearby locations where lead acceptance is possible.
After all, it is one thing to simply hand over lead for patriotic reasons, and quite another to make money on it.
Prices at reception points are significantly different, which is even more noticeable if you are depositing a large batch.
Therefore, it is very important not only to donate lead, but to do it as profitably as possible. This approach not only contradicts Russian laws, but is also the most correct.
Internet
Information about scrap metal collectors is easy to find on the Internet by asking the search engine a query on a territorial basis. After that, it remains to choose nearest collection point, where not only lead will be taken, but the price per kg will be the maximum.
Even the smallest companies strive to get into various directories and catalogs posted on the Internet, because this dramatically increases the chance that the seller will find them.
Today, the vast majority of the population uses the Internet, and for many, typing a query on Google is much easier than dialing a phone number and making a call somewhere.
Telephone
If there is no information on the cost of scrap on the site, then calling companies will help you choose the most profitable option.
Company managers will tell you the cost of lead per 1 kg of scrap.
They also offer various services such as delivery and loading of material.
After that, you will have to choose the most convenient company.
"Word of mouth"
With the help of "word of mouth" you can also find a profitable scrap collector, asking friends. Surely someone handed over scrap lead somewhere nearby, and the price of acceptance per kilogram suited him perfectly.
In addition, you will not only find out how much they take lead, but also what impression certain enterprises left with your friends.
Scrap metal recycling - saving the planet's natural resources
By selling lead scrap, you not only benefit, but also participate in the business of conservation natural resources Earth.
The extraction of rare earth ores and its smelting into lead, accompanied by the release of poisonous toxic fumes into the atmosphere - all this harms not only ecological system but also to human health.
In Russia, only 25% of all lead produced is recycling product. This is a small figure compared to other countries. But even this small part plays a big role in protecting the environment.
From this video you will learn how to extract lead at home:
In contact with
Lead, denoted by the symbol Pb (plumbum), refers to those metals that have been known to mankind for a long time. Lead finds in the form of beads date back to 6000 BC. In ancient Rome, lead water pipes and dishes were made until the toxicity of lead compounds was proven.
Now it is a strategic metal, it is used in the defense industry. Explosives, current sources are made from it. Lead is inexpensive to produce, and the metal is mined from naturally occurring minerals. First, a rough alloy is obtained, then a clean one.
It is not difficult to melt lead at home, the melting point of lead and its alloys is not higher than + 330–450 ° С, solders are not higher than + 230 ° С. The metal is not subject to corrosion damage, is ductile, malleable, and is used in many industrial areas. Household items, fishing gear, do-it-yourself solders are made from it, filling the molds with liquid lead.
Dirty-silver or silver-bluish metal has a large specific gravity - 11.34 g / cm 3. Tensile strength is not more than 18 MPa. for compression within 50 MPa. Due to its high plasticity, it lends itself to many types of mechanical processing, it is subjected to cold rolling to the state of a foil, stamped, cut, subjected to work hardening. During drawing, lead breaks, the wire is made from it by punching blanks in dies.
When cooled to -266 ° C, lead becomes a superconductor, despite the low electrical conductivity at room temperature (resistivity 0.22 Ohm * mm 2 / m). In air, lead quickly tarnishes on the cut, passivates, becomes covered with an oxide film, which is characterized by low chemical activity. The metal itself is also resistant to corrosion damage, therefore acid-resistant vessels and containers are made from lead and alloys. Pb is the last element in Mendeleev's periodic table with stable isotopes. The metal is capable of holding radioactive radiation.
The cubic, face-centered structural lattice provides the toughness of the metal, it is difficult to break it, but it is well cut, it is easy to scratch and crush it. When heated, the structure becomes fluid, the initial viscosity decreases.
Melting provides for a phase transition under thermal influence. Low-melting lead alloys are poured at +400–450°C, the process temperature is reached at home on an open flame of a burner, a burner on an electric or gas stove. In the reference literature indicate the melting temperature of lead equal to +327, 4°C. For alloys, the indicators are different, they depend on the physical characteristics of the components that make up the alloys. Solders with tin and cadmium have a melting point 40–60 degrees lower, depending on the concentration of the additive.
At +700°C the lead melt evaporates, forming a toxic aerosol. The metal boils at +1750°С. The oxide layer undergoes phase changes from a solid to a liquid state only when heated to +850°C.
Application area
Despite its toxicity, lead is valued for its corrosion resistance and ability to block γ-radiation. It remains indispensable in many industries.
Up to 75% of the resulting lead is used in electrical engineering for battery plates and transformer superconducting systems, power cables. Babbitt is a Pb-alloyed steel with anti-friction properties. Alloys containing tin and cadmium are used for solders.
Plumbum is a part of anticorrosive coatings, dyes. Bullets and shot, printed type, figurines, weights are cast from it. Sheets of metal shield X-ray installations, nuclear reactors, bunkers at landfills. The plates are sewn into aprons, vests, and other protective clothing. Lead plates reduce vibration, seismic tremors. They are used in construction to seal masonry, foundations, bridge supports. Nitrate is used to produce explosives with a large detonation.
How to melt lead
In factories, as melting tanks, they use:
- special crucibles made of refractory ceramics or refractory metals, they are placed in electric furnaces that provide the necessary thermal conditions;
- heating baths, they are equipped with built-in heaters, maintain the required temperature of the metal around the entire perimeter.
You can melt lead yourself at home, in the yard, garage or workshop in a tin, it will replace the crucible. On one side of the tin, a chute is made for pouring metal into a mold. The edges of the form are folded over so that they are securely fixed in the clamp. Instead of tacks, it is more reliable to hold the hot container with pliers, the smelter will not burn your hands while filling the form.
You can use old household utensils to melt lead scrap: pots, pans, stainless or enameled teapots, or other heat-resistant utensils. The slag layer is removed with a special spoon with a long handle. Do this immediately before pouring the metal into the prepared molds.
Smelting process
As a heat source for melting scrap, use:
- a fire, a stand for a smelter is installed above it;
- blowtorch, it is fixed in a stationary position;
- a gas burner, with which the metal is heated both from below and from above, alternately;
- cooker (gas or electric).
Important!
The container is installed so that the flames do not go beyond the bottom area.
Lead smelting begins with preparatory phase: you need to prepare a melting container, grind scrap. It is cleaned of impurities, possible moisture, pollution. Then cut into small pieces with a knife or scissors for metal. Breaking lead pieces is difficult, they bend perfectly. The smaller the scrap, the faster it will melt. It is recommended to lay it in the melting tank gradually. When the pieces are loaded into the melt, the risk of overheating the melt to the volatility temperature is reduced. Do not heat the pieces to a reddish hue, this is a signal that they form toxic volatile compounds.
If a container with thick walls is used for the melt, it is preheated. Tin dry enough. The smelter is filled no more than half, preferably 1/3. A thick layer will not evenly warm up.
The smelter must stand firmly on the burner, not stagger. After melting the scrap, a slag cap forms on the surface. It is removed before pouring the melt into the mold. It is preheated so that there is no sharp temperature contrast. The melt is poured unevenly into the cold mold. Potholes, folds, and other defects form on the surface of the casting.
Safety
When smelting lead in an isolated room, it is important to take care of:
- about ventilation, it is necessary to forcibly blow air with a fan so that the concentration of hot aerosol is minimal, lead compounds adversely affect the brain, liver, kidneys;
- about respiratory protection (a respirator is needed), vision (working glasses should be worn), long-sleeved clothing made from natural materials, synthetics melt in case of accidental contact, and the burn area increases;
- fire safety, keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Liquid lead has a high fluidity. On contact with a damp surface, it sprays heavily. Melt splashes are possible during heating of lead scrap. Easily combustible objects must be removed or isolated in the working area.