Ingot marked 585 pb3se?

[Drew P]

Any idea what that is? 60 lbs

[JimB..]

Molecule with 3 lead and 1 selenium, so about 11% selenium. Not sure what to do with it or what the characteristics of it are. No idea what it'll do if you melt it, and no idea how hard it is. So, I don't know much.

[Drew P]

Interesting.
So that's different than an alloy correct? Bonded molecule vs mixture of the two?

According to the famous LASC article a small amount of selenium is used in battery plates and has good age hardening qualities for casting.

[JimB..]

I don't recall enough chemistry to answer definitively. An alloy is different from a mixture, but I don't know if the lead alloys we usually work with are really alloys or mixtures. I think an alloy is a compound where all elements are metals. It's been way too long and I don't have time to google right now.

[dondiego]

All metals are elements but not all elements are metals. The selenium is good for dandruff control.

[Drew P]

Dandruff control?

[Kestrel4k]

Neither 3Pb-Se nor Pb-3Se work out to be valid alloys, compounds, or intermetallics (i.e. ordered alloys), so my guess would be Pb alloyed with 3%Se.

In the same way that the typical Ti6Al4V alloy is primarily Titanium, with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium additions.

Also, am thinking a more accurate weight for that ingot could be 58.5 lbs?

[NyFirefighter357]

http://www.webqc.org/molecular-weight-of-Pb3Se.html

[Kestrel4k]

http://www.webqc.org/molecular-weight-of-Pb3Se.html

Except that isn't even a valid alloy - that website is simply a 'dumb' calculator: garbage in - garbage out.

Like a comparable link for Pb3He - a nonsensical lead-helium alloy.
http://www.webqc.org/molecular-weight-of-Pb3He.html

[JimB..]

Neither 3Pb-Se nor Pb-3Se work out to be valid alloys, compounds, or intermetallics (i.e. ordered alloys), so my guess would be Pb alloyed with 3%Se.

Great point, and I suspect that you're right.

[Drew P]

Hmm well since I'm between suppliers I picked these up and the price was good. Haven't run any tests other than banging on them with my leatherman which produced a ringing sound and deep soft dents, for whatever that's worth

[Oklahoma Rebel]

selenium is a grain reducer just like arsenic or copper. works well for heat treating or water dropping. probably could use 4% sb and 2%sn to help with strength and castability, I would guess that mix to be like a 12bbhn and 22-24 heat treated.

[dondiego]

Dandruff control?

I should have used purple font for that. Selenium sulfide is the effective ingredient in Selsun Blue, a good dandruff shampoo.

[Drew P]