Top 10 strongest metals in the world. The hardest metal - what is it? Distribution and stocks

There are many metals in the world that are identical in terms of hardness, but not all of them are widely used in industry. There may be several reasons for this: rarity and therefore high cost, or radioactivity, which prevents use for human needs. Among the hardest metals, there are 6 leaders that have conquered the world with their features.

The hardness of metals is usually measured using the Mohs scale. The hardness measurement method is based on assessing the scratch resistance of other metals. Thus, it was determined that uranium and tungsten have the highest hardness. However, there are metals that are more used in different areas of life, although their hardness is not the highest on the Mohs scale. Therefore, when discussing the topic of the hardest metals, it would be wrong not to mention the well-known titanium, chromium, osmium and iridium.

When asked what the hardest metal is, any person studying chemistry and physics at school will answer: “Titanium.” Of course, there are alloys and even pure nuggets that surpass it in strength. But among those used in everyday life and production, titanium has no equal.

Pure titanium was first obtained in 1925 and was then declared the hardest metal on Earth. It immediately began to be actively used in completely different areas of production - from rocket parts and air transport to dental implants. The popularity of the metal is due to several of its main properties: high mechanical strength, resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, and low density. On the Mohs scale of metal hardness, titanium has a degree of 4.5, which is not the highest level. However, its popularity and use in various industries makes it first in hardness among the commonly used ones.

Titanium is the hardest metal commonly used in manufacturing.

More details about the use of titanium in industry. This metal has a wide range of uses:

  • Aviation industry - aircraft airframe parts, gas turbines, skins, strength elements, chassis parts, rivets, etc.;
  • Space technology – casings, parts;
  • Shipbuilding - ship hulls, pump and pipeline parts, navigation instruments, turbine engines, steam boilers;
  • Mechanical engineering – turbine condensers, pipes, wear-resistant elements;
  • Oil and gas industry – drilling pipes, pumps, high pressure vessels;
  • Automotive industry - in the mechanisms of valves and exhaust systems, transmission shafts, bolts, springs;
  • Construction – external and internal cladding of buildings, roofing materials, lightweight fastening devices and even monuments;
  • Medicine – surgical instruments, prostheses, implants, housings for cardiac devices;
  • Sports – sports equipment, travel accessories, bicycle parts.
  • Goods consumer consumption – Jewelry, decorative items, gardening tools, wrist watch, kitchen utensils, electronics housings and even bells, and are also added to paints, whitewash, plastic and paper.

You can see that titanium is in demand in completely different areas of industry due to its physical and chemical properties. Although it is not the hardest metal in the world on the Mohs scale, products made from it are much stronger and lighter than steel, wear less and are more resistant to irritants.


Titanium is considered the hardest among actively consumed metals

The hardest metal in its natural form is considered to be a bluish-white color - chromium. It was discovered at the end of the 18th century and has been widely used in production since then. On the Mohs scale, the hardness of chromium is 5. And for good reason - it can cut glass, and when combined with iron, it can even cut metal. Chromium is also actively used in metallurgy - it is added to steel to improve its physical properties. The range of uses of chromium is very diverse. Firearms barrels, medical and chemical technological equipment, household items - kitchen utensils, metal parts of furniture and even submarine hulls are made from it.


The highest hardness in its pure form - chromium

Chromium is used in various fields, for example, for production of stainless steel, or for coating surfaces - chrome plating (equipment, cars, parts, dishes). This metal is often used in the manufacture of firearm barrels. This metal can also often be found in the production of dyes and pigments. Another area of ​​its use that may seem surprising is the production of dietary supplements, and in the creation technological equipment For chemical and medical laboratories, chromium cannot be used without chromium.

Osmium and iridium are representatives of the platinum group metals and have almost the same density. In their pure form they are incredibly rare in nature, and most often they are alloyed with each other. Iridium by its nature has high hardness, which is why it is difficult to work with metal, both mechanical and chemical.


Osmium and iridium have the highest density

Iridium began to be actively used in industry relatively recently. Previously, it was used with caution, since its physicochemical characteristics were not fully studied. Iridium is now even used in jewelry (as inlays or alloyed with platinum), surgical instruments, and parts for cardiac stimulators. In medicine, the metal is simply irreplaceable: its biological products can help fight cancer, and irradiation with a radioactive isotope can stop the growth of cancer cells.

Two-thirds of the iridium mined in the world goes into the chemical industry, and the rest is distributed among other industries - sputtering in the metallurgical industry, consumer goods (elements of fountain pens, jewelry), medicine in the production of electrodes, elements of pacemakers and surgical instruments, as well as for improvement of physico-chemical and mechanical properties metals


The hardness of iridium on the Moss scale is 5

Osmium is a silvery-white metal with a bluish tint. It was discovered a year later than iridium, and now it is often found in iron meteorites. In addition to its high hardness, osmium is distinguished by its high cost - 1 gram of pure metal is estimated at 10 thousand dollars. Another feature of it is its weight - 1 liter of molten osmium is equal to 10 liters of water. However, scientists have not yet found a use for this property.

Because of its rarity and high cost, osmium is used only where no other metal can be used. It has never been widely used, and there is no point in searching until supplies of the metal become regular. Osmium is now used to make instruments that require high precision. Products made from it hardly wear out and have significant strength.


Osmium hardness index reaches 5.5

One of the most famous elements, which is one of the hardest metals in the world, is uranium. It is a light gray metal with weak radioactivity. Uranium is considered one of the heaviest metals - its specific gravity is 19 times that of water. It also has relative ductility, malleability and flexibility, and paramagnetic properties. On the Moss scale, the hardness of the metal is 6, which is considered very high.

Previously, uranium was almost never used, but was found only as ore waste during the extraction of other metals - radium and vanadium. Today, uranium is mined in deposits, the main sources being the US Rocky Mountains, the Republic of Congo, Canada and the Union of South Africa.

Despite its radioactivity, uranium is actively consumed by humanity. Most in demand in nuclear energy- it is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. Uranium is also used in chemical industry and in geology - to determine age rocks.

Didn't miss out on incredible performance specific gravity and military engineering. Uranium is regularly used to create the cores of armor-piercing projectiles, which, due to their high strength, do an excellent job of the task.


Uranium is the hardest metal, but it is radioactive

Topping off our list of the hardest metals on Earth is the brilliant silver-gray tungsten. On the Mohs scale, tungsten has a hardness of 6, like uranium, but, unlike the latter, it is not radioactive. Its natural hardness, however, does not deprive it of its flexibility, which is why tungsten is ideal for forging various metal products, and its resistance to high temperatures allows it to be used in lighting devices and electronics. Tungsten consumption does not reach high speeds, and the main reason for this is its limited quantity in deposits.

Due to its high density, tungsten is widely used in the weapons industry for the production of heavyweights and artillery shells. In general, tungsten is actively used in military engineering - bullets, counterweights, ballistic missiles. The next most popular use of this metal is aviation. Engines and parts of electric vacuum devices are made from it. Tungsten cutting tools are used in construction. It is also an indispensable element in the production of varnishes and light-resistant paints, fire-resistant and waterproof fabrics.


Tungsten is considered the most refractory and durable

Having studied the properties and areas of consumption of each metal, it is difficult to say unambiguously which one is the most hard metal in the world, if we take into account not only the Mohs scale indicators. Each of the representatives has a number of advantages. For example, titanium, which does not have ultra-high hardness, has firmly taken first place among the most used metals. But uranium, the hardness of which reaches the highest level among metals, is not so popular due to its weak radioactivity. But tungsten, which does not emit radiation and has the highest strength and very good flexibility, cannot be actively used due to limited resources.

People began to use metal back in ancient times. The most accessible metal in nature and amenable to processing is copper. Copper products in the form of household utensils are found by archaeologists during excavations of ancient settlements. As technological progress grew, man learned to make alloys from various metals, which were useful to him in the manufacture of household items and weapons. This is how the strongest metal in the world appeared.

Titanium

This unusually beautiful silver-white metal was discovered almost simultaneously at the end of the 18th century by two scientists - the Englishman W. Gregory and the German M. Klaproth. According to one version, titanium received its name in honor of the characters of ancient Greek myths, the mighty Titans, according to another - from Titania, the fairy queen from German mythology - because of its lightness. However, no use was found for it then.


Then in 1925, physicists in Holland were able to isolate pure titanium and discovered its many benefits. This - high performance manufacturability, specific strength and resistance to corrosion, very high strength at high temperatures. It also has high anti-corrosion resistance. These fantastic performance immediately attracted engineers and designers.

In 1940, the scientist Krol obtained pure titanium using the magnesium-thermal method, and since then this method has been the main one. The strongest metal on earth is mined in many places in the world - Russia, Ukraine, China, South Africa and others.


Titanium is twice as strong as iron in mechanical terms, and six times stronger than aluminum. Titanium alloys are currently the strongest in the world, and therefore have found application in the military (submarine, missile construction), shipbuilding and aviation industries (on supersonic aircraft).

This metal is also incredibly malleable, so it can be made into any shape - sheets, pipes, wire, tape. Titanium is widely used for the manufacture of medical prostheses (and it is biologically ideally compatible with the tissues of the human body), jewelry, sports equipment, etc.


It is also used in chemical production due to its anti-corrosion properties; this metal does not corrode in an aggressive environment. So, for testing purposes, a titanium plate was placed in sea water, and after 10 years it did not even rust!

Due to its high electrical resistance and non-magnetizing properties, it is widely used in radio electronics, for example, in structural parts mobile phones. The use of titanium in the field of dentistry is very promising; its ability to fuse with human bone tissue is especially important, which gives strength and solidity in prosthetics. It is widely used in the manufacture of medical instruments.


Uranus

The natural oxidizing properties of uranium were used in antiquity (1st century BC) in the manufacture of yellow glaze in ceramic products. One of the most famous in world practice durable metals, it is slightly radioactive and is used in the production of nuclear fuel. The 20th century was even called the “age of Uranus.” This metal has paramagnetic properties.


Uranium is 2.5 times heavier than iron, forms many chemical compounds; its alloys with elements such as tin, lead, aluminum, mercury, and iron are used in production.

Tungsten

This is not only the strongest metal in the world, but also a very rare one, which is not even mined anywhere, but was obtained chemically back in 1781 in Sweden. The most temperature-resistant metal in the world. Due to its high refractoriness, it lends itself well to forging, and it can be pulled into a thin thread.


Its most famous application is tungsten filament in light bulbs. Widely used for the production of special instruments (incisors, cutters, surgical) and in jewelry production. Due to its property of not transmitting radioactive rays, it is used to produce containers for storing nuclear waste. Tungsten deposits in Russia are located in Altai, Chukotka, and the North Caucasus.

Rhenium

It got its name in Germany (Rhine River), where it was discovered in 1925; the metal itself is white. It is mined both in its pure form (Kuril Islands) and during the extraction of molybdenum and copper raw materials, but in very small quantities.


The strongest metal on earth is very hard and dense and melts well. Strength is high and does not depend on temperature changes, the disadvantage is high cost, toxic to humans. Used in electronics and aviation industries.

Osmium

The heaviest element, for example, a kilogram of osmium, looks like a ball that easily fits in your hand. It belongs to the platinum group of metals and is several times more expensive than gold. It got its name because of the bad smell during a chemical reaction carried out by the English scientist S. Tennant in 1803.


Externally it looks very beautiful: shiny silver crystals with a blue and cyan tint. It is usually used as an additive to other metals in industry (high-strength ceramic-metal cutters, medical knife blades). Its non-magnetic and durable properties are used in the manufacture of high-precision instruments.

Beryllium

It was obtained by chemist Paul Lebeau at the end of the 19th century. At first, this metal was nicknamed “sweet” because of its candy-like taste. Then it turned out that it has other attractive and original properties, for example, it does not want to enter into any chemical reactions with other elements with rare exceptions (halogen).


The strongest metal in the world is at the same time hard, brittle, light, and also highly toxic. Its exceptional strength (for example, a wire with a diameter of 1 mm can support the weight of a person) is used in laser and space technology, and nuclear energy.

New discoveries

We can go on and on about very strong metals, but technical progress is moving forward. Scientists from California recently announced to the world the emergence of a “liquid metal” (from the word “liquid”), which is stronger than titanium. In addition, it turned out to be super lightweight, flexible and highly durable. Therefore, scientists will have to create and develop ways to use the new metal, and in the future, perhaps, make many more discoveries.


Because they have the highest density. Among them, the heaviest are osmium and iridium. This indicator of the density of these metals is almost the same, except for a slight calculation error.

The discovery of iridium occurred in 1803. It was discovered by the English chemist Smithson Tennat while studying natural platinum brought from South America. Translated from ancient Greek, the name “iridium” means “rainbow”.

Scientific interest as a source electrical energy represents an isotope of heavy metal - iridium-192m2, since this metal is very long - 241 years. Iridium is widely used in industry and paleontology - it is used to produce pen feathers and determine the age of earth layers.

The discovery of osmium happened by accident in 1804. This hardest metal was discovered in chemical composition sediment of platinum dissolved in aqua regia. The name "osmium" comes from the ancient Greek word for "smell". This metal is almost absent in nature. It is most often found in the composition. Just like iridium, osmium is almost not subject to mechanical stress. One liter of osmium is much heavier than ten liters of water. But this property of this metal has not yet found application anywhere.

The hardest metal, osmium, is mined in Russian and American mines. However, South Africa is recognized as its richest deposit. Osmium is often found in iron meteorites.

Of particular interest is osmium-187, exported only by Kazakhstan. It is used to determine the age of meteorites. One gram of this isotope costs 10 thousand US dollars.

The industry mainly uses a hard alloy of osmium with tungsten (osram) for the production of incandescent lamps. Osmium is also a catalytic substance in production. Quite rarely, cutting parts for instruments in surgery are made from this metal.

Both heavy metals - osmium and iridium - are almost always contained in the same alloy. This is a definite pattern. And to separate them you need to put in a lot of effort, because they are not as soft as, for example, silver.

From childhood we know that the strongest metal is steel. We associate everything iron with it.

Iron man, iron lady, character of steel. When we pronounce 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 metal additives are present. By using additives, e.g. change its properties. After this, it is processed. Steelmaking is a whole science.

The strongest metal is obtained by introducing appropriate alloys into steel. This could be chromium, which imparts heat resistance, nickel, which makes the steel hard and elastic, etc.

In some areas, steel has begun to replace aluminum. Time passed, speeds increased. Aluminum couldn't stand it either. I had to turn to titanium.

Yes, yes, titanium is the strongest metal. To give steel high strength characteristics, titanium began to be added to it.

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

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

If you imagine an airplane flying three times faster than you can imagine how the covering metal heats up. Sheet metal The skin of the aircraft in such conditions heats up to +3000C.

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

It is clear that titanium will have to move in the near future.

Scientists from the USA, 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 whose thickness is equal to the thickness of one atom. But such a plate is stronger than diamond and conducts electric current a hundred times better than computer chips made of silicon.

Graphene is a material with damaging properties. It will soon leave the laboratory and rightfully take its 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 football 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. This material bends easily, folds perfectly and rolls perfectly.

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

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

Top 10 strongest metals in the world

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 can be easily processed. It is not without reason that archaeologists during excavations find various products and household utensils made of this metal. In the process of evolution, people gradually learned to combine various metals, obtaining increasingly durable alloys suitable for making tools, and later weapons. Nowadays, 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, 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, widely distributed everywhere and has paramagnetic properties, flexibility, malleability, 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 strongest metals in the world. It is a solid transitional element of a shiny silver-gray color. It has high strength, excellent refractoriness, and resistance to chemical influences. Due to its properties, it can be forged and drawn into a thin thread. Known as tungsten filament.

7.

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

6.

A shiny silver-white metal with a slightly bluish tint, it belongs to the platinum group and is considered one of the strongest metals in the world. Similar to iridium, it has a high atomic density, high strength and hardness. Since osmium is a platinum metal, it has properties similar to iridium: refractoriness, hardness, brittleness, resistance to mechanical stress, as well as to the influence of aggressive environments. It has found wide application in surgery, electron microscopy, the 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 production areas:

  • nuclear energy;
  • 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.

Next on the list of the ten strongest metals in the world is chromium - a hard, high-strength metal of a bluish-white color, resistant to alkalis and acids. It occurs 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. When combined with iron, it forms an alloy called ferrochrome, which is used in the manufacture of metal-cutting tools.

3.

Tantalum deserves bronze in the ranking, as it is one of the strongest 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 leaden tint.

The distinctive properties of tantalum are high strength, refractoriness, resistance to corrosion, and resistance to aggressive environments. The metal is a fairly ductile metal and can be easily machining. Today tantalum is successfully used:

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

2.

The second place in the ranking of the most durable metals in the world is occupied by ruthenium, a silvery metal belonging to the platinum group. Its peculiarity is the presence of living organisms in the muscle tissue. 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 and acts as a material for the manufacture of electrodes, contacts, and sharp tips.

1.

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

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

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