Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Chemical Lead
UNS L51120 · ASTM B29
Chemical Lead (UNS L51120, ASTM B29) is lead with a small controlled copper addition of about 0.04–0.08% that improves resistance to sulfuric acid corrosion.
Reference datasheet — Chemical Lead is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Chemical Lead tempers and conditions
Chemical Lead is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As cast | Use for electrowinning anodes, counterweights, radiation blocks and cast valve/fitting bodies where the coarse as-cast grain and lower ductility are acceptable. | 5 | 13 | 25 | 4 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
pipe, tube and shapes | Choose for seamless chemical-drain pipe, cooling coils and cable sheathing where the extruded fine-grained structure gives the best creep and fatigue life. | 6 | 17 | 55 | 5 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Chemical Lead is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Drawn Wire | Cold-drawn wire and welding rod | Supply form |
Ingot | Ingot / Pig | Supply form |
Rolled SheetDefault | Hot/cold rolled sheet, self-annealed | Supply form |
What is Chemical Lead?
Chemical Lead (UNS L51120, ASTM B29) is lead with a small controlled copper addition of about 0.04–0.08% that improves resistance to sulfuric acid corrosion. It is supplied as rolled sheet, extruded pipe, drawn wire, castings and ingot for acid tank linings, process pipework and cable sheathing, with 17 MPa tensile, 6 MPa yield, 50% elongation, 4.5 HB, machinability 55 and formability 95. Service is limited to about 100 °C and the metal creeps under sustained load, so linings must be fully supported. Where creep and fatigue resistance matter more, Tellurium Lead (L51121) is the nearest alternative. Chemical Lead has a density of 11.34 g/cm³ (0.41 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 327°C (621 °F). Chemical Lead has a yield strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 14 GPa (2.03 Msi).
What is Chemical Lead used for?
- Sulfuric-acid tank linings
- Chemical process piping
- Cable sheathing
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 70/100, better than 100% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Readily welded — 75/100, better than 98% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 50%, better than 92% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 11.34 g/cm³ (0.41 lb/in³), worse than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low strength — 6 MPa (0.87 ksi), worse than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 14 GPa (2.03 Msi), worse than 93% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 7.8 % IACS, worse than 76% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Chemical Lead properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Chemical Lead has a density of 11.34 g/cm³ (0.41 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 327°C (621 °F).
Mechanical11
Chemical Lead has a yield strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 14 GPa (2.03 Msi).
Thermal6
Chemical Lead is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 34.5 W/m·K (19.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 70% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 29 µm/m·K (16.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Chemical Lead conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 76% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 100% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Chemical Lead takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 95% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
Chemical Lead's machinability is good (55/100, better than 74% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the solder & low-melting alloy family
Yield strength against density for every solder & low-melting alloy grade FabDigit runs. Chemical Lead is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Chemical Lead
Is Chemical Lead easy to machine?
Cuts with almost no force but smears badly — use very sharp high-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and paraffin/soluble-oil lubrication; capture chips and dust for lead hygiene control.
Can Chemical Lead be welded?
Joined by lead burning (oxy-hydrogen/oxy-acetylene or TIG) with matching chemical-lead filler and no flux; requires forced ventilation and fume extraction.
Can Chemical Lead be formed, bent or molded?
Extremely formable cold — bossing, hammering, spinning and deep bending are routine, and the metal self-anneals at room temperature so intermediate annealing is never needed.
Chemical Lead chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cudeliberate addition for H2SO4 corrosion and creep resistance | 0.04 – 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Ag | 0 – 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Bi | ≤ 0.03 | |
| As+Sb+Sntotal | ≤ 0 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0 | |
| PbASTM B29 chemical lead, UNS L51120 | ≥ 99.9 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Chemical Lead?
No anodizing or plating in normal practice; surfaces are left to form a protective sulfate/oxide patina, or are wiped/soldered and homogeneously bonded to steel for tank linings.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Chemical Lead in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- L51120
- ASTM
- B29
How much does Chemical Lead cost?
Chemical Lead is a standard-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Chemical Lead — frequently asked
What is Chemical Lead used for?
Chemical Lead is typically used for sulfuric-acid tank linings, chemical process piping and cable sheathing. In short: copper-bearing acid lead; best sulfuric-acid resistance; very high cold formability.
What is the yield strength of Chemical Lead?
Chemical Lead has a typical yield strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi) and a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 96% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Chemical Lead easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 74% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Cuts with almost no force but smears badly — use very sharp high-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and paraffin/soluble-oil lubrication; capture chips and dust for lead hygiene control.
Can Chemical Lead be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Joined by lead burning (oxy-hydrogen/oxy-acetylene or TIG) with matching chemical-lead filler and no flux; requires forced ventilation and fume extraction.
What surface finishes work on Chemical Lead?
No anodizing or plating in normal practice; surfaces are left to form a protective sulfate/oxide patina, or are wiped/soldered and homogeneously bonded to steel for tank linings.
Can Chemical Lead be formed, bent or molded?
Extremely formable cold — bossing, hammering, spinning and deep bending are routine, and the metal self-anneals at room temperature so intermediate annealing is never needed.
What is the maximum service temperature of Chemical Lead?
Chemical Lead is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Chemical Lead cost?
Chemical Lead is a standard-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B29 — Standard Specification for Refined Lead — ASTM International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Lead and Lead Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials (Corrosion of Lead and Lead Alloys) — ASM International (2005)
- GB/T 469 (2005)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — physical constants of lead — CRC Press (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.