Lead is no longer the darling of the metal world it once was. Use of this metal dates back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Rome. In fact, recently arguments have arisen because scientists prefer to work with older lead. They find classic lead bars for sale and utilize it in their research, much to the chagrin of archaeologists and historians.
Why Old Lead?
Lead is available for use in shielding sensitive experiments. Physicists require it for carrying out very specific research. However, old lead, particularly that having lain at the bottom of the ocean for centuries, is favored over rolled, extruded, drawn or forged bars.
The reason for this preference is simple. Old lead possesses certain qualities. It is:
* Pure
* Dense
* Less radioactive
This latter characteristic is the most important. The newly smelted lead contains Pb-210, a radioactive isotope. While smelting does remove uranium and other radioactive elements, it does not completely remove Pb-210. Since low-level radioactive decay continues for up to 24 years, it interferes with the most sensitive physic experiments. Old lead, however, after sitting on the bottom of the ocean for several centuries, contains significantly less Pb-210.
Scientific Applications for Old Roman Lead Bars
Ancient Roman lead bars for sale often available from shipwrecks are in current use around the world for various experimental purposes. Two earlier applications include:
1. The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS): Experiments conducted in Minnesota with the purpose of detecting the particles comprising invisible dark matter.
2. Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) project: This research in neutrinoless double beta decay is taking place in Italy.
Such experiments demand extreme shielding. While this is possible using modern lead, researchers prefer to use old lead bars. For sale, for loan or in any form, this causes historians to shudder. They object to the melting down and wanton destruction of lead with its historical significance and information on the history of an ancient civilization.
