Grain Refinement and Structural Stabilization of Lead and Lead Alloys with the Aid of Sulfur, Selenium, and Tellurium.

Grain refinement of lead during solidification of the melt by additions of sulfur or selenium requires the presence of other alloying elements. If selenium is used, such elements are effective even in relatively small amounts. It may be supposed that primarily solidifying PbS or PbSe act as nuclei for crystallization. The simultaneous presence of tellurium impairs the grain refinement by selenium, but not by sulfur. 49 refs.