Lead

Lead is a fascinating material; its bulk density alone of 11.3 g/cm³ is impressive. Lead is therefore more than eleven times heavier than water. By comparison, the bulk density of concrete is around 2.4 g/cm³, so lead is also almost five times as heavy as concrete. Essentially, lead's best-known property is also derived from its bulk density. It has a strong shielding effect against gamma and X-ray radiation and is used in radiation protection. In addition, the main use of lead is the classic car battery (not the modern lithium battery in electric vehicles).

As a heavy metal, lead is toxic to organisms. However, it hardly ever enters the human body through contact with the skin. In most cases, we do not come into direct contact with elemental lead either, as it quickly forms an oxide layer or a layer of lead carbonate on the surface, which protects it from further oxidation. Dangerous for humans, however, are lead dusts and dissolved lead, which can be absorbed into the body and accumulate there, as it can only be broken down and excreted very slowly. This is why the installation of lead pipes for drinking water and lead additives in fuels are now banned in the EU.

Lead tape is very soft and easy to form by hand. It can be cut with strong scissors or tin snips. Lead is often used as a stabilizing weight (e.g. in fishing, in the construction of model boats or in the keel of sailing yachts).

Lead tape is a very soft metal which, due to its high density and flexibility, is often used to shield radiation, to weigh down objects or to balance the weight of sports equipment, e.g. tennis rackets. Thanks to its softness, you can cut lead tape easily with scissors or a cutter and adapt it to different shapes. Thanks to its softness, lead tape adheres quite well to itself and many smooth and clean surfaces. To take advantage of this effect, press it firmly onto the smooth surface. It can also be bonded more firmly with adhesives for metal. Lead is often soldered when used for structural sealing.

Lead is a heavy metal. We recommend wearing gloves when working with lead and washing your hands thoroughly after each contact. You should also avoid inhaling lead dust, which could be produced during cutting or grinding. You should also store lead out of the reach of children.

Lead is harmful to the environment and must not be disposed of in normal household waste. Please dispose of lead waste at a special collection point for heavy metals to avoid polluting the soil and water.