Durable and Customizable Alloys of Lead for Industrial Performance

Nuclead manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of lead alloys engineered for industrial use. An alloy of lead is created by combining pure lead with one or more metalssuch as antimony, tin, calcium, or silverto modify characteristics like hardness, melting point, corrosion resistance, and strength. These enhanced properties make lead alloys essential in applications like casting, ammunition, radiation shielding, bearings, and structural counterweights.

With decades of metallurgical experience, Nuclead offers both standard and custom lead alloy formulations tailored to meet industry-specific standards. From high-volume manufacturing to prototype development, all lead alloys are processed in-house to ensure consistency, purity, and reliability.

Types of Lead Alloys Offered

Nuclead provides a variety of lead-based alloys suitable for technical and industrial applications. Each alloy is available in the form of ingots, bars, cast shapes, billets, or custom machined components.

Lead-Antimony Alloy

Lead-antimony alloys are widely used in applications requiring increased hardness and structural strength. By adding antimony to lead, the resulting alloy becomes more rigid and wear-resistant.

• Common antimony concentrations: 2% to 6%

• Used in battery grids, bullets, bearings, and counterweights

• Excellent machinability and castability

• Withstands environmental stress and repeated impact

Lead-Tin Alloy

Adding tin to lead creates an alloy with improved ductility, corrosion resistance, and a lower melting point. This alloy is commonly used for soldering and specialty casting.

• Ideal for electronic solder and sealants

• Also used in radiation shielding with enhanced flexibility

• Lead-tin blends range from 60/40 to 90/10 compositions

• Smooth flow and bonding during melt

Lead-Calcium Alloy

Lead-calcium alloys are known for their strength and resistance to corrosion, making them ideal for grid applications in batteries and energy storage systems.

• Common in maintenance-free battery manufacturing

• Offers dimensional stability over long-term use

• Performs well under thermal cycling

• Low hydrogen evolution in electrolytic environments

Lead-Silver Alloy

This alloy is used in high-performance electrochemical and metallurgical applications. Silver improves strength and conductivity.

• Used in electroplating, high-purity refining, and aerospace

• Often combined with calcium or tin for enhanced properties

• Resists cracking and fatigue under electrical stress

• Suitable for lead-acid battery terminal posts and busbars

Custom Lead Alloys

Nuclead also formulates and casts custom lead alloys to meet exacting specifications required in niche applications.

• Tailored for hardness, melting point, density, or chemical resistance

• Developed in consultation with engineers and metallurgists

• Cast into custom ingots, bars, or finished parts

• Ideal for research, prototyping, or product development

Applications of Lead Alloys

Lead alloys are essential in environments where strength, durability, weight, or shielding is critical. Their use spans across many industries, from military and marine to healthcare and construction.

Ammunition Manufacturing

Lead-antimony and lead-tin alloys are standard materials in commercial and military-grade ammunition.

• Bullets and shot formed from lead-antimony for hardness

• Lead-tin combinations for precision casting of specialty rounds

• Alloys ensure weight consistency and ballistic performance

• Corrosion-resistant finishes extend shelf life and usability

Battery Production

Both lead-antimony and lead-calcium alloys are essential in the grid systems of automotive and industrial batteries.

• Increased rigidity for repeated charge cycles

• Minimized gassing and electrolyte interaction

• Enhanced conductivity and long-term stability

• Common in VRLA, AGM, and sealed batteries

Radiation Shielding

Lead alloys are used in medical, nuclear, and industrial shielding where flexibility and strength are required.

• Lead-tin or lead-antimony used in x-ray and gamma radiation barriers

• Cast into bricks, sheets, or molded forms

• Higher strength allows for structural use as well as shielding

• Less prone to deformation under heat or vibration

Casting and Mold Making

Foundries and casting companies use lead alloys for consistent pours, detail capture, and low shrinkage rates.

• Lead-tin provides excellent flow for small part casting

• Lead-antimony offers hardness for reusable molds

• Used in weights, seals, cable sheathing, and ornamental castings

• Allows tight control over dimensional tolerances

Structural and Mechanical Balancing

Lead alloys provide dense counterweight solutions with improved impact resistance.

• Elevator weights, industrial dampers, and marine ballast

• Alloys maintain form under vibration and pressure

• Encapsulation available for safety or hygiene-sensitive applications

Material Characteristics and Benefits

Each alloy of lead brings unique attributes to the end product, depending on the metals used in the blend. Nuclead engineers ensure all materials are formulated to exact standards and tested before shipping.

Key Performance Traits

• Hardness: Increased resistance to deformation, ideal for structural or impact applications

• Malleability: Retains some formability even in alloyed states

• Corrosion Resistance: Performs well in wet, acidic, or marine environments

• Radiation Attenuation: Alloys maintain shielding properties

• Machinability: Easily drilled, cut, or shaped with standard tooling

Alloy Selection Based on Use

Custom Fabrication and Finishing Options

Nuclead offers full in-house fabrication services for lead alloy products. Whether you need alloy ingots, billets, or complex machined components, the process is streamlined to deliver fast results with minimal waste.

Forms Available

• Ingots and bars

• Round stock and billets

• Custom cast shapes

• CNC-machined parts

Secondary Processes

• Drilling, threading, and slotting

• Encapsulation in vinyl, steel, or epoxy

• Stamping, engraving, and part labeling

• Bonding to other metals or surfaces

Packaging, Delivery, and Support

Lead alloys are packaged securely to ensure safety, traceability, and ease of use. Nuclead serves both large-scale industrial buyers and smaller custom orders with equal reliability.

Packaging Options

• Palletized ingots and bars

• Crated custom shapes

• Moisture-protected wraps

• Labeled by alloy type and composition

Shipping and Logistics

• Domestic and international delivery

• Expedited freight available

• Drop-shipping to job sites or production facilities

• Tracking and coordination with receiving teams

Quality Assurance and Safety

All alloy production at Nuclead follows strict internal and regulatory quality controls to ensure performance and compliance.

• ISO-certified processes

• OSHA- and EPA-compliant handling

• MSDS and COA documentation available

• Lead-free and RoHS-compliant options on request

Why Choose Nuclead for Lead Alloy Supply?

Nuclead is a trusted partner for precision lead alloys, serving manufacturers, contractors, defense agencies, laboratories, and OEMs. With full production capabilities, deep inventory, and engineering support, Nuclead offers an unmatched level of service and flexibility.

Benefits of Working with Nuclead

• Custom alloy development and consulting

• High-volume or small-batch availability

• Proven performance across industries

• Decades of metallurgical and fabrication expertise

• Nationwide shipping and responsive customer care

Request a Quote for Lead Alloys Today

If you need a reliable supplier of high-performance lead alloys, Nuclead provides the expertise, inventory, and customization to meet your projects requirements. From standard grades to complex blends and cast shapes, contact Nuclead today to request a quote and speak with a lead alloy specialist.