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Lead remains ideal for many traditional applications including roofing. The 20th century has seen the development of many more uses, including sound insulation, corrosion protection for plant used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, and radiation shielding in X-ray laboratories and nuclear power stations.
Lead has been developed into a modern material in terms of both performance and economics. Alloying lead with antimony and tellurium improves mechanical strength and abrasion resistance, and alloying it with copper reduces creep.
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Lead has significant advantages in many applications, and it is totally recoverable. Lead still has few real competitors as a roofing material, as seen here at Bank City, Johannesburg.
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In the Sulphuric acid plant at Zincor, mist precipitators are used to eliminate moisture from the sulphur dioxide-containing gases produced from the roasting of zinc concentrate. Lead is used extensively to protect the mist precipitators from the acidic environment.
- A lead shield is used in the linear accelerator to protect critical organs during the treatment of cancer. The shape of the area to be treated is cut out of the lead shield to allow the x-rays to reach only the affected part of the patient.
| Products | Industries and Uses |
| Lead anodes - | For the electro winning of zinc, copper, nickel, manganese and cobalt |
| Lead Sheet - | Roofing, plumbing and tank linings |
| Lead Pipe - | Electrical cable joining |
| Lead Wire - | Lead seals and sealing wire |
| Machined Lead Products - | For specific client applications |
| Miscellaneous Lead products - | For specific client applications |