Pipes, lead usage

In contrast, lead use in cable sheathing and lolled/extruded products (now mainly sheet and pipe) has declined dramatically, both proportionally and in absolute terms. While in I960, the amount of lead used in both these end-uses exceeded that in batteries in Japan and some European countries, since then substitution by other materials has undermined consumption, particularly in cable sheathing. Lead usage in lead sheet and strip has been more stable in recent years. On average, lead use in pigments and chemical compounds is now a more important consumption outlet than either of these, although there are marked differences between countries, see Table 13.2. 

Lead is used in batteries, inorganic chemicals, pipes, solders, electric wires, etc., but batteries accounted for 72% of the total usage of lead in 1997. Therefore it can be said that batteries play an important role in the recycling of lead. Lead-acid batteries are classified into motor vehicle batteries (for automobiles and motorcycles), industrial batteries (stationary batteries, traction batteries, etc.), small-size sealed batteries (for UPS and consumer products). Table 2.1 shows their shipments. 

Stabilizer use patterns are different in different parts of the world. Europe used lead stabilizers for rigids, such as pipe and window profile until the early part of this century. Many European processors are converting to modified calcium/zinc-based systems as well as tin. Stabilizer usage varies by product but is in the range of 0.5-5.0 phr. 

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