Lead, a soft, low melting point metal that has excellent corrosion resistance and ductility, is normally alloyed with other metals to improve its mechanical properties.

The principal metals alloyed with lead are antimony, arsenic, calcium, copper, tin, tellurium, and silver. The mechanical or structural properties of lead and lead alloys are relatively poor compared to other metals. Lead offers useful properties such as good corrosion resistance, malleability, energy absorption and electrical conductivity.