The strongest metal in the world. The hardest metal in the world (Titanium, Chrome and Tungsten)

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.

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

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

The most famous element, which is considered one of the strongest metals in the world, and in normal conditions is a weak radioactive metal. In nature it is found in 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.

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. Has high strength, excellent refractoriness, resistance to chemical influences. Due to its properties, it can be forged and drawn into a thin thread. Known as tungsten filament.

Among the representatives of this group, it is considered a high-density transition metal with a silvery-white color. Found in nature in pure form, however, it 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 is an expensive metal and has a high cost. Used in modern technology and electronics.

A shiny silvery-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. Found wide application in surgery, electron microscopy, chemical industry, rocketry, electronic equipment.

It belongs to the group of metals and is a light gray element with relative hardness and high toxicity. Thanks to your unique properties beryllium is used in most various fields production:

• 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.

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 as well as chemical technological equipment. When combined with iron, it forms an alloy called ferrochrome, which is used in the manufacture of metal-cutting tools.

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 machined. Today tantalum is successfully used:

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

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 in its composition muscle tissue living organisms. 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.

The ranking of the strongest 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 impact. chemical. 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, 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.

Glass made of metal

Specialists from the California Institute of Technology have obtained a material that is unique in its properties - this is the strongest alloy to date - “metal glass”. The uniqueness of the new alloy is that metal glass is made of metal, but has internal structure glass Today, scientists are figuring out what exactly gives the alloy such unusual properties and how they can be introduced into alloys made from less expensive materials.

The amorphous structure of glass, unlike the crystalline structure of metal, is not protected from the propagation of cracks, which explains the fragility of glass. Metal glasses also have the same disadvantage; they also break quite easily, forming shear bands that develop into cracks.

Alloy properties

Experts from the Californian Institute noticed that the appearance large number shear strips provide high resistance to the development of cracks, due to which the opposite effect is achieved: the material bends without collapsing. It is precisely this material, the energy of producing shear bands that is much less than the energy required to turn them into cracks, that they created. “By mixing five elements, we ensured that when cooled, the material “does not know” which structure to adopt and chooses an amorphous one,” explained study participant R. Ritchie.

Metal glass

The most durable alloy - metal glass - consists of noble palladium, silicon, phosphorus, germanium with a small addition of silver (formula: Pd79Ag3.5P6Si9.5Ge2).

The new alloy showed itself in tests as a combination of mutually exclusive properties - strength and endurance at a level not previously seen in any other material. As a result, the new metallic glass combines the hardness of glass with the crack resistance of metals. Moreover, the level of rigidity and strength is within reach.

Use of material

For structural metal, the research carried out has significantly pushed back the limits of load tolerance. But, according to scientists’ forecasts, the most durable alloy may not be widely used, due to the rarity and high cost of its main component, palladium. However, the developers reported the possible use of this material in medical implants (for example, for intramaxillary prostheses), and as parts in the automotive or aerospace industries.

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 got its name in honor of the characters of ancient Greek myths, the mighty Titans, according to another - from Titania, the queen of fairies 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. These are high indicators of 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 at the moment the most durable in the world, and therefore found application in military (design submarines, missiles), 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 aggressive environments. So, for testing purposes, a titanium plate was placed in sea ​​water, and in 10 years it hasn’t even rusted!

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 well-known durable metals in world practice, it is weakly 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 and 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 storage containers 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 has white. It is also obtained in its pure form ( Kuril Islands), and in 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 taste. Then it turned out that he had other attractive and original properties, for example, he did 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.

When it comes to the strongest metal in the world, many probably imagine a formidable warrior in armor and with a sword made of Damascus steel. However, steel is far from the strongest metal in the world, since it is produced by alloying iron with carbon and other additives. The hardest of pure metals is considered titanium!
There are two origins for the name of this metal. different versions. Some say that the silver-colored substance began to be called that in honor of the fairy queen Titania(from Germanic mythology). After all, in addition to being a very durable metal, it is also amazingly light. Others are inclined to believe that the metal got its name thanks to the Titans - the strong and powerful children of the Earth goddess Gaia. Be that as it may, both versions look quite beautiful and poetic, and have a right to exist.

Titanium was discovered by two scientists at once: the German M.G. Klaptor and the Englishman W. Gregor. Such a discovery, six years apart, was made at the end of the 18th century, after which the substance was immediately added to the periodic table. There it took the 22nd serial number.

True, due to its fragility, metal for a long time not used. Only in 1925, after going through a series of experiments, chemists managed to obtain pure titanium, which became a real breakthrough in the history of mankind. The metal turned out to be very technologically advanced with low density, high specific strength and corrosion resistance, as well as high strength at high temperatures.

In terms of mechanical strength, titanium is six times the strength of aluminum. That's why the list possible application titanium is limitless. It is used in medicine for osteoprosthetics, in the military industry (to create the hull of submarines, armor in aviation and nuclear technology). The metal has also proven itself in sports and jewelry, and in the production of mobile phones.

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By the way, in terms of distribution on earth, the strongest metal in the world occupies the tenth position. Its deposits are located in South Africa, China, Ukraine, Japan, and India.

Although, judging by the latest discoveries in the field of chemistry, over time titanium will have to give the title of super-metal to another representative. Not long ago, scientists invented a substance stronger than metal. This is “liquid metal”, or translated – “liquid”. The miracle substance has already proven itself to be stainless and impeccable for casting. And although humanity still has a lot of work to do to learn how to fully use the new metal, perhaps the future will belong to it.

Strength and density are one of the main characteristics of all currently known chemical elements. The strongest metal in the world has amazing properties and is successfully used in various sectors of human life.

The strongest metal in the world is titanium. Scientists did not come to this opinion immediately after the discovery of this element at the end of the 18th century. At first, titanium seemed quite fragile, but in 1925 this substance was isolated in its pure form, which became a real sensation.

This metal has very high strength, but at the same time relatively low density. It is 2 times stronger than iron. Many people wonder why steel has not received such an honorable title. But in fact it is not metal. It is just an alloy based on iron and carbon.

Titanium is practically never used in its pure form. Experts have learned to combine it with other elements in order to reduce the cost of the material and increase its most important characteristics.

Due to their extraordinary strength and lightness, titanium alloys are used in medicine, the military industry, mechanical engineering, and jewelry. For example, it is used to make surgical instruments, prosthetics and even heart valves. This metal is practically not subject to corrosion. This property much appreciated. Experts found that patients were not allergic to titanium prostheses, so in some areas of medicine only alloys based on this element are used. Scientists also noted the high compatibility of titanium with human tissue. This substance is widely used in the production of orthopedic prostheses.

Titanium is used in the construction of submarine hulls, as well as in the space industry. Some parts of racing cars are made from titanium alloys. In this case, it is very important that the car is not only durable, but also relatively light. Reducing weight has a positive effect on the ability to accelerate to high speeds.

Titanium alloys are used in the construction industry. Various decorative products are made from them: gutters, flashings, roofing ridges. Made from titanium jewelry. These products are classified as expensive jewelry, but many of them look simply gorgeous and do not lose appearance throughout many years. Studies were carried out, thanks to which it was possible to establish that the described metal is completely safe for human health.

Titanium is not a rare element. It is mined in Russia, India, Japan, South Africa, and Ukraine. In terms of prevalence, it ranks 10th among all metals. This has a very positive effect on its cost. Titanium alloys can be purchased at relatively low price, which is very important, since in some industries it is used in large quantities. And price plays not the least role when choosing a material.

The strongest metal in the world is titanium. Medical instruments, equipment, as well as some parts of cars, submarines, and airplanes are made from it. Alloys based on it are famous for their ability to resist corrosion and retain their properties for a long time.