Titanium is the most durable metal. Which metal is considered the most durable. Industrial applications of titanium

From childhood, we know that the most durable metal is steel. Everything iron we associate with her.

Iron man, iron lady, steel character. When we say these phrases, we mean incredible strength, strength, hardness.

For a long time, steel was the main material in production and armament. But steel is not metal. More precisely, it is not entirely pure metal. This is with carbon, in which other metallic additives are present. By using additives, i.e. change its properties. After that, it is processed. Steel making is a whole science.

The strongest metal is obtained by introducing appropriate master alloys into steel. It can be chromium, which gives heat resistance, nickel, which makes steel hard and elastic, etc.

In some areas, steel began to replace aluminum. Time passed, the speed grew. Aluminum could not stand it either. I had to turn to the titan.

Yes, titanium is the most durable metal. To give steel high strength characteristics, titanium was added to it.

It was discovered in the 18th century. Due to its fragility, it was impossible to apply it. Over time, having received pure titanium, engineers and designers became interested in its high specific strength, low density, resistance to corrosion and high temperatures. Its physical strength is several times greater than that of iron.

Engineers began to add titanium to steel. The result is the most durable metal, which has found application in ultra-high temperatures. At that time no other alloy could withstand them.

If you imagine an airplane flying three times faster than you can imagine, how the cladding metal heats up. In such conditions, the sheet metal of the aircraft skin heats up to + 3000C.

Today titanium is used unlimitedly in all areas of production. This is medicine, aircraft construction, ship manufacturing.

It can be clearly said that in the near future the titan will have to move.

Scientists from the United States, in the laboratories of the University of Texas in Austin, discovered the thinnest and most durable material on Earth. They called it graphene.

Imagine a plate as thick as one atom. But such a plate is stronger than diamond and a hundred times better conductive to electric current than computer silicon chips.

Graphene is a material with damaging properties. He will soon leave the laboratories and rightfully take his place among the most durable materials in the universe.

It is even impossible to imagine that a few grams of graphene would be enough to cover a soccer field. This is metal. Pipes made of such material can be laid manually without the use of lifting and transport mechanisms.

Graphene, like diamond, is the purest carbon. Its flexibility is amazing. Such material bends easily, folds perfectly and rolls perfectly.

Manufacturers of touch screens, solar panels, cell phones, and, finally, super-fast computer chips have already begun to look at it.

If by strength it is customary to understand the ability of solids to resist destruction and maintain the shape of a product, then the following metals can be attributed to super-strong and durable metals.

Name titanium was appropriated by Martin Klaproth, a German researcher who discovered a new metal not for its chemical qualities, but in honor of the mythological heroes of the children of the earth - the titans.

Finding titanium in nature is in 10th place, most of all it is concentrated in minerals. Without this metal, the latest discoveries in the field of rocket, ship and aircraft construction would be impossible. Titanium is used in all areas of industry, in the manufacture of medical implants and body armor from the food industry and agriculture.

2nd place

Light gray tungsten , literally translated as wolf cream, is the most refractory metal, therefore it is indispensable in the manufacture of heat-resistant surfaces and products. The filament in a conventional light bulb is made of tungsten filament.

That metal is used in ballistic missiles, in the manufacture of projectiles and bullets, in gyroscopic ultra-high-speed rotors.

3rd place

Tantalum almost impossible to modify, because it begins to melt at a temperature of 3015 degrees Celsius, and boils at a boiling point of 5300 degrees. It is even impossible for an ordinary person to imagine such heat. The bluish-gray metal is the most indispensable in modern medicine; it is used to make wires and sheets that cover damaged bones.

Opened in 1817 molybdenum, gray-steel metal in its pure form is practically not found. The refractoriness of this metal, the melting point of which exceeds 2620 degrees, is striking. Molybdenum is most widely used in the military industry, where gun and armored steels are made.

5th place

Aviation and mechanical engineering, nuclear power and astronautics use niobium, very similar in properties to tantalum metal. Niobium is practically not affected by any substances, neither salts nor acids, it is difficult to melt, and it is difficult to oxidize, which is what made the unique metal so popular.

6th place

The heaviest metal on earth iridium possesses the most persistent anti-corrosion properties; even aqua regia cannot melt it. The addition of iridium to other alloys increases their ability to resist corrosion.

7th place

Beryllium is one of the rare metals that are mined in the earth. Its unique qualities, such as high thermal conductivity and fire resistance, have made this metal indispensable in the manufacture of nuclear reactors. Beryllium alloys rightfully occupy a leading position in the aerospace and aviation industries.

8th place

Light blue chrome , which is also one of the most durable metals, due to its unique properties when added to alloys, steels make them harder and more resistant to corrosion. The chrome-plated parts have a beautiful appearance that does not change over time.

9th place

The Saxons treat their legends with care, the name of the hero of one of them, Kobold, was immortalized in the name of the metal - cobalt ... Quite often, when mining ore, prospectors mistook the gray-pink metal for silver.

Refractory metal, as an additive, increases the heat resistance, hardness and wear resistance of steel. Due to its unique qualities, cobalt is indispensable in metal cutting machines.

Hafnium - light gray metal, unique in its qualities, is mined from zirconium ore. Hard, refractory hafnium has a unique feature, the fact is that its temperature-capacity dependence is abnormal and does not fall under any laws of physics.

Hafnium is used in atomic energy and in optics, for strengthening various alloys and making glass for X-ray; it is difficult to imagine military production without it.

01/18/2016 at 17:21 · Johnny · 110 650

Top 10 strongest metals in the world

The use of metals in everyday life began at the dawn of human development, and the first metal was copper, since it is available in nature and is easily processed. It is not for nothing that archaeologists during excavations find various products and household utensils from this metal. In the process of evolution, people gradually learned to combine various metals, obtaining more and more durable alloys, suitable for the manufacture of tools, and later weapons. In our time, experiments continue, thanks to which it is possible to identify the strongest metals in the world.

10.

high specific strength;
resistance to high temperatures;
low density;
corrosion resistance;
mechanical and chemical resistance.

Titanium is used in the military industry, aviation medicine, shipbuilding, and other areas of production.

9.

The most famous element, which is considered one of the strongest metals in the world, and under normal conditions is a weak radioactive metal. In nature, it is found both in a free state and in acidic sedimentary rocks. It is quite heavy, widespread and ubiquitous, and has paramagnetic properties, flexibility, ductility, and relative ductility. Uranium is used in many areas of production.

8.

Known as the most refractory metal in existence, it is one of the toughest metals in the world. It is a solid transitional element in a shiny silver-gray color. Possesses high strength, excellent refractoriness, resistance to chemical attack. Due to its properties, it lends itself to forging, and stretches into a thin thread. Known as tungsten filament.

7.

Among the representatives of this group, it is considered a high-density transition metal of a silvery-white color. It occurs in nature in its pure form, but it is found in molybdenum and copper raw materials. It is characterized by high hardness and density, and has excellent refractoriness. Has increased strength, which is not lost at multiple temperature changes. Rhenium is an expensive metal and has a high cost. Used in modern technology and electronics.

6.

A shiny silver-white metal with a slightly bluish sheen, it belongs to the platinum group and is considered one of the most durable metals in the world. Like iridium, it has a high atomic density, high strength and hardness. Since osmium belongs to platinum metals, it has properties similar to iridium: refractoriness, hardness, brittleness, resistance to mechanical stress, as well as to the influence of aggressive media. It is widely used in surgery, electron microscopy, chemical industry, rocketry, and electronic equipment.

5.

It belongs to the group of metals, and is a light gray element with relative hardness and high toxicity. Due to its unique properties, beryllium is used in a wide variety of industries:

nuclear power;
aerospace engineering;
metallurgy;
laser technology;
nuclear energy.

Due to its high hardness, beryllium is used in the production of alloying alloys and refractory materials.

4.

The next in the top ten strongest metals in the world is chromium - a hard, high-strength metal with a bluish-white color, resistant to alkalis and acids. It is found in nature in its pure form and is widely used in various branches of science, technology and production. Chromium Is used to create various alloys that are used in the manufacture of medical and chemical processing equipment. In combination with iron, it forms an alloy of ferrochrome, which is used in the manufacture of metal-cutting tools.

3.

Tantalum deserves bronze in the rating, as it is one of the most durable metals in the world. It is a silvery metal with high hardness and atomic density. Due to the formation of an oxide film on its surface, it has a lead tint.

Distinctive properties of tantalum are high strength, refractoriness, corrosion resistance, and aggressive media. The metal is a fairly ductile metal and is easy to machine. Today, tantalum is successfully used:

in the chemical industry;
in the construction of nuclear reactors;
in metallurgical production;
when creating heat-resistant alloys.

2.

The second place in the ranking of the strongest metals in the world is occupied by ruthenium - a silver metal belonging to the platinum group. Its peculiarity is the presence of living organisms in the muscle tissue. The valuable properties of ruthenium are high strength, hardness, refractoriness, chemical resistance, and the ability to form complex compounds. Ruthenium is considered a catalyst for many chemical reactions, acts as a material for the manufacture of electrodes, contacts, sharp points.

1.

The rating of the most durable metals in the world is headed by iridium - a silvery-white, hard and refractory metal that belongs to the platinum group. In nature, a high-strength element is extremely rare, and is often combined with osmium. Due to its natural hardness, it is difficult to machine and highly resistant to chemicals. Iridium reacts with great difficulty to exposure to halogens and sodium peroxide.

This metal plays an important role in everyday life. It is added to titanium, chromium and tungsten to improve resistance to acidic environments, is used in the manufacture of stationery, and is used in jewelry to create jewelry. The cost of iridium remains high due to its limited presence in nature.

What else to see:

The world around us is fraught with many more mysteries, but even phenomena and substances known to scientists for a long time never cease to amaze and delight. We admire bright colors, enjoy tastes and use the properties of all kinds of substances that make our life more comfortable, safer and more enjoyable. In search of the most reliable and strong materials, man has made many exciting discoveries, and here is a selection of just 25 such unique compounds!

25. Diamonds

If not everyone, then almost everyone knows for sure. Diamonds are not only some of the most revered gemstones, but also one of the hardest minerals on Earth. On the Mohs scale (a scale of hardness in which a rating is given by the reaction of a mineral to scratching), diamond is listed on the 10th line. There are 10 positions in total on the scale, and the 10th is the last and hardest degree. Diamonds are so hard that only other diamonds can scratch them.

24. Catching webs of a spider of the species Caerostris darwini

Photo: pixabay

Believe it or not, the web of the Caerostris darwini spider (or Darwin's spider) is stronger than steel and harder than Kevlar. This web was recognized as the hardest biological material in the world, although now it has a potential competitor, but the data has not yet been confirmed. The spider fiber was tested for such characteristics as breaking deformation, impact strength, tensile strength and Young's modulus (the property of a material to resist stretching, compression under elastic deformation), and in all these indicators, the spider web showed itself in an amazing way. In addition, Darwin's spider web is incredibly light. For example, if we wrap our planet with Caerostris darwini fiber, the weight of such a long thread will be only 500 grams. There are no such long networks, but theoretical calculations are simply amazing!

23. Airbrush

Photo: BrokenSphere

This synthetic foam is one of the lightest fibrous materials in the world and is a network of carbon tubes only a few microns in diameter. Airbrush is 75 times lighter than polystyrene, but at the same time much stronger and more flexible. It can be compressed to a size 30 times smaller than its original form, without any harm to its extremely elastic structure. Thanks to this property, airbrushed foam can withstand a load of 40,000 times its own weight.

22. Palladium metallic glass

Photo: pixabay

A team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology and Berkeley Lab has developed a new type of metallic glass that combines an almost perfect combination of strength and ductility. The reason for the uniqueness of the new material lies in the fact that its chemical structure successfully conceals the fragility of existing glassy materials and at the same time maintains a high endurance threshold, which ultimately significantly increases the fatigue strength of this synthetic structure.

21. Tungsten carbide

Photo: pixabay

Tungsten carbide is an incredibly hard material with high wear resistance. Under certain conditions, this compound is considered very fragile, but under heavy load it exhibits unique plastic properties, which appear in the form of slip bands. Thanks to all these qualities, tungsten carbide is used in the manufacture of armor-piercing tips and various equipment, including all kinds of cutters, abrasive discs, drills, cutters, drill bits and other cutting tools.

20. Silicon carbide

Photo: Tiia Monto

Silicon carbide is one of the main materials used in the production of battle tanks. This compound is known for its low cost, outstanding infusibility and high hardness, and therefore it is often used in the manufacture of equipment or equipment that must repel bullets, cut or grind other durable materials. Silicon carbide makes excellent abrasives, semiconductors and even inserts in jewelry that imitate diamonds.

19. Cubic boron nitride

Photo: wikimedia commons

Cubic boron nitride is a superhard material, similar in hardness to diamond, but also having a number of distinctive advantages - high temperature stability and chemical resistance. Cubic boron nitride does not dissolve in iron and nickel even under the influence of high temperatures, while diamond under the same conditions enters into chemical reactions rather quickly. In fact, it is beneficial for its use in industrial grinding tools.

18. Ultra-high-molecular-weight high-density polyethylene (UHMWPE), fiber brand "Dyneema"

Photo: Justsail

High modulus polyethylene has extremely high wear resistance, low friction and high fracture toughness (low temperature reliability). Today it is considered the most durable fiber in the world. The most amazing thing about this polyethylene is that it is lighter than water and can stop bullets at the same time! Ropes and ropes made of Dyneema fibers do not sink in water, do not need lubrication and do not change their properties when wet, which is very important for shipbuilding.

17. Titanium alloys

Photo: Alchemist-hp (pse-mendelejew.de)

Titanium alloys are incredibly ductile and exhibit amazing tensile strength. In addition, they have high heat and corrosion resistance, which makes them extremely useful in areas such as aircraft, rocket, shipbuilding, chemical, food and transport engineering.

16. Liquidmetal alloy

Photo: pixabay

Developed in 2003 by the California Institute of Technology, this material is renowned for its strength and durability. The name of the compound is associated with something fragile and liquid, but at room temperature it is actually unusually hard, wear-resistant, not afraid of corrosion, and when heated, transforms like thermoplastics. The main areas of application so far are watches, golf clubs and mobile phone covers (Vertu, iPhone).

15. Nanocellulose

Photo: pixabay

Nanocellulose is isolated from wood fiber and is a new kind of wood material that is even stronger than steel! In addition, nanocellulose is also cheaper. The innovation has great potential and in the future may seriously compete with glass and carbon fiber. The developers believe that this material will soon be in high demand in the production of military armor, super-flexible screens, filters, flexible batteries, absorbent aerogels and biofuels.

14. Teeth of sea saucer snails

Photo: pixabay

Earlier, we have already told you about Darwin's spider web, which was once recognized as the most durable biological material on the planet. However, recent research has shown that the sea saucer is the most durable biological substance known to science. Yes, these teeth are stronger than Caerostris darwini's web. And this is not surprising, because tiny sea creatures feed on algae growing on the surface of rugged rocks, and these animals have to work hard to separate food from rock. Scientists believe that in the future we will be able to use the example of the fibrous structure of the teeth of sea saucers in the engineering industry and begin to build cars, boats and even rugged aircraft, inspired by the example of simple snails.

13. Maraging steel

Photo: pixabay

Maraging steel is a high strength and high alloy alloy with superior ductility and toughness. The material is widespread in rocketry and is used to make all kinds of tools.

12. Osmium

Photo: Periodictableru / www.periodictable.ru

Osmium is an incredibly dense element and, due to its hardness and high melting point, is difficult to machine. This is why osmium is used where durability and strength are most valued. Osmium alloys are found in electrical contacts, rocketry, military projectiles, surgical implants, and many more.

11. Kevlar

Photo: wikimedia commons

Kevlar is a high-strength fiber that can be found in car tires, brake pads, cables, prosthetic and orthopedic products, body armor, protective clothing fabrics, shipbuilding and unmanned aerial vehicle parts. The material has become almost synonymous with strength and is a type of plastic with incredibly high strength and elasticity. The tensile strength of Kevlar is 8 times higher than that of steel wire, and it begins to melt at a temperature of 450 ℃.

10. Ultra-high-molecular-weight high-density polyethylene, fiber brand Spectra

Photo: Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons

UHMWPE is essentially a very durable plastic. Spectra, UHMWPE grade, is, in turn, a lightweight fiber of the highest wear resistance, 10 times superior in this indicator to steel. Like Kevlar, spectrum is used in the manufacture of body armor and protective helmets. Along with UHMWPE, the dynimo spectrum brand is popular in the shipbuilding and transport industries.

9. Graphene

Photo: pixabay

Graphene is an allotropic modification of carbon, and its crystal lattice, just one atom thick, is so strong that it is 200 times harder than steel. Graphene looks like cling film, but tearing it is almost impossible task. To pierce a graphene sheet through, you have to stick a pencil into it, on which you will have to balance a load with the weight of an entire school bus. Good luck!

8. Carbon nanotube paper

Photo: pixabay

Thanks to nanotechnology, scientists have made paper 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Sheets made of carbon nanotubes are 10 times lighter than steel, but most surprising of all, they are as much as 500 times stronger in strength! Macroscopic nanotube plates are the most promising for the manufacture of supercapacitor electrodes.

7. Metal microlattice

Photo: pixabay

Here is the world's lightest metal! The metal micro-lattice is a synthetic porous material that is 100 times lighter than foam. But don't be fooled by its looks, these micro-lattices are incredibly strong at the same time, which makes them have great potential for use in all kinds of engineering fields. They can be used to make excellent shock absorbers and thermal insulators, and the metal's amazing ability to contract and return to its original state allows it to be used for energy storage. Metal microgrids are also actively used in the production of various parts for aircraft of the American company Boeing.

6. Carbon nanotubes

Photo: User Mstroeck / en.wikipedia

Above, we have already talked about ultra-strong macroscopic plates made of carbon nanotubes. But what kind of material is this? In fact, these are graphene planes rolled into a tube (9th point). The result is an incredibly lightweight, resilient and durable material for a wide range of applications.

5. Airbrush

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as graphene airgel, this material is extremely lightweight and durable at the same time. In the new type of gel, the liquid phase is completely replaced by the gaseous one, and it is distinguished by sensational hardness, heat resistance, low density and low thermal conductivity. Incredibly, graphene airgel is 7 times lighter than air! The unique compound is able to regain its original shape even after 90% compression and can absorb an amount of oil that is 900 times the weight of airbrush used for absorption. Perhaps in the future, this class of materials will help in the fight against such environmental disasters as oil spills.

4. Untitled material, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Photo: pixabay

As you read these lines, a team of scientists at MIT is working to improve the properties of graphene. The researchers said they have already succeeded in transforming the two-dimensional structure of this material into three-dimensional. The new graphene substance has not yet received its name, but it is already known that its density is 20 times less than that of steel, and its strength is 10 times higher than that of steel.

3. Carbin

Photo: Smokefoot

Even though these are just linear chains of carbon atoms, carbyne has 2 times the tensile strength of graphene, and it is 3 times harder than diamond!

2. Boron nitride wurtzite modification

Photo: pixabay

This newly discovered natural substance is formed during volcanic eruptions and is 18% harder than diamonds. However, it surpasses diamonds in a number of other parameters. Wurtzite boron nitride is one of only 2 natural substances found on Earth that is harder than diamond. The problem is that there are very few such nitrides in nature, and therefore they are not easy to study or apply in practice.

1. Lonsdaleite

Photo: pixabay

Also known as hexagonal diamond, lonsdaleite is composed of carbon atoms, but in this case, the atoms are arranged slightly differently. Like wurtzite boron nitride, lonsdaleite is a natural substance that is superior in hardness to diamond. Moreover, this amazing mineral is harder than diamond by as much as 58%! Like boron nitride of the wurtzite modification, this compound is extremely rare. Sometimes lonsdaleite is formed when meteorites, which include graphite, collide with the Earth.

Many fans of interesting facts are interested in the question, which metal is the hardest? And it will not be easy to answer this question offhand. Of course, any chemistry teacher can easily say the right thing without even thinking. But among ordinary citizens who last studied chemistry at school, not many will be able to give an answer correctly and quickly. This is due to the fact that since childhood everyone is accustomed to making various toys out of wire and remembered well that copper and aluminum are soft and lend themselves well to bending, but on the contrary, it is not so easy to give the desired shape. A person most often deals with the three named metals, so he does not even consider the rest of the candidates. But steel is certainly not the hardest metal in the world. In fairness, it should be noted that this is not a metal at all in the chemical sense, but a compound of iron with carbon.

What is titanium?

The hardest metal is titanium. For the first time, pure titanium was obtained in 1925. This discovery made a splash in scientific circles. Industrialists immediately drew attention to the new material and appreciated the benefits of its use. According to the official version, the hardest metal on Earth got its name in honor of the indestructible Titans, who, according to ancient Greek mythology, were the founders of the world.

According to scientists, the total world reserves of titanium today amount to about 730 million tons. At the current rate of extraction of fossil raw materials will be enough for another 150 years. Titanium ranks 10th in natural reserves among all known metals. The world's largest titanium producer is the Russian company VSMPO-Avisma, which satisfies up to 35% of the world's needs. The enterprise is engaged in a full cycle of processing from ore mining to the manufacture of various products. It occupies about 90% of the Russian titanium production market. About 70% of finished products are exported.

Titanium is a light silver metal with a melting point of 1670 degrees Celsius. Shows high chemical activity only when heated, under normal conditions does not react with most chemical elements and compounds. It is not found in nature in its pure form. Distributed in the form of rutile (titanium dioxide) and ilmenite (a complex substance consisting of titanium dioxide and ferrous oxide) ores. Pure titanium is extracted by sintering the ore with chlorine, and then displacing the more active metal (most often magnesium) from the resulting tetrachloride.

Industrial applications of titanium

The hardest metal has a fairly wide range of uses in many industries. Amorphous atoms provide titanium with the highest level of tensile and torsional strength, good impact resistance, and high magnetic properties. The metal is used to make hulls for air vehicles and missiles. It copes well with the enormous loads that machines experience on themselves, being at great heights. Titanium is also used in the manufacture of hulls for submarines, as it is able to withstand high pressure at great depths.

In the medical industry, metal is used in the manufacture of prostheses and dental implants, as well as surgical instruments. As an alloying additive, the element is added to some steel grades, which gives them increased strength and resistance to corrosion. Titanium is well suited for casting as it produces perfectly smooth surfaces. It is also used for making jewelry and decorative items. Titanium compounds are also actively used. Dioxide is used to make paints, whitewash, add to the composition of paper and plastic.

Complex organic titanium salts are used as a hardening catalyst in paint and varnish production. Titanium carbide is used to make various tools and attachments for processing and drilling other metals. In precision engineering, titanium aluminide is used to produce wear-resistant elements that have a high margin of safety.

The hardest metal alloy was obtained by American scientists in 2011. It includes palladium, silicon, phosphorus, germanium and silver. The new material was named "metallic glass". He combined the hardness of glass and the plasticity of metal. The latter prevents cracks from spreading like they do with standard glass. Naturally, the material was not launched into wide production, since its components, especially palladium, are rare metals and are very expensive.

At the moment, the efforts of scientists are aimed at finding alternative components that would preserve the obtained properties, but significantly reduce the cost of production. However, some parts for the aerospace industry are already being produced from the resulting alloy. If alternative elements can be incorporated into the structure and the material becomes widespread, then it is quite possible that it will become one of the most demanded alloys of the future.

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