The hardest metal - what is it like? What is the name of the strongest metal in the world? metal characteristics.

Metals are substances that have specific, characteristic properties for them. At the same time, high ductility and ductility, as well as electrical conductivity and a number of other parameters are taken into account. Which one is the most durable metal, you can find out from the data below.

About metals in nature

In Russian, the word "metal" came from German. Since the 16th century, it has been found in books, although quite rarely. Later, in the era of Peter I, they began to use it more often, moreover, then the word had a generalizing meaning "ore, mineral, metal." And only during the period of activity of M.V. Lomonosov, these concepts were delimited.

In nature, metals are rare in their pure form. Basically, they are part of various ores, and also form all kinds of compounds, such as sulfides, oxides, carbonates and others. In order to obtain pure metals, and this is very important for their further use, it is necessary to isolate them and then purify them. If necessary, metals are alloyed - special impurities are added in order to change their properties. At present, there is a division into ferrous metal ores, which include iron, and non-ferrous ores. The precious or precious metals include gold, platinum and silver.

Metals are even in the human body. Calcium, sodium, magnesium, copper, iron - this is a list of these substances that are found in the largest amount.

Depending on the further application, metals are divided into groups:

1. Construction materials. Both the metals themselves and their significantly improved alloys are used. In this case, strength, impermeability to liquids and gases, uniformity are valued.
2. Materials for tools, most often refers to the working part. Tool steels and hard alloys are suitable for this.
3. Electrical materials. Such metals are used as good conductors of electricity. The most common of these are copper and aluminum. And also used as materials with high resistance - nichrome and others.

The strongest of metals

The strength of metals is their ability to resist fracture under the action of internal stresses that can occur when external forces act on these materials. It is also a property of the structure to maintain its characteristics for a certain time.

Many alloys are quite strong and resistant not only to physical, but also to chemical influences; they do not belong to pure metals. There are metals that can be called the most durable. Titanium, which melts at temperatures above 1,941 K (1660 ± 20 °C), uranium, which belongs to radioactive metals, refractory tungsten, which boils at a temperature of at least 5,828 K (5555 °C). As well as others that have unique properties and are necessary in the process of manufacturing parts, tools and items using the most modern technologies. The five most durable of them include metals whose properties are already known, they are widely used in various sectors of the national economy and are used in scientific experiments and developments.

It is found in molybdenum ores and copper raw materials. It has high hardness and density. Very tough. Its strength cannot be reduced even under the influence of critical temperature changes. Widely used in many electronic devices and technical facilities.

A rare earth metal with a silvery-gray tint and shiny, crystalline formations on fractures. Interestingly, beryllium crystals taste somewhat sweet, because of this it was originally called "glucinium", which means "sweet". Thanks to this metal, a new technology has appeared, which is used in the synthesis of artificial stones - emeralds, aquamarines, for the needs of the jewelry industry. Beryllium was discovered while studying the properties of beryl, a semi-precious stone. In 1828, the German scientist F. Wöller obtained metallic beryllium. It does not interact with X-rays, therefore, it is actively used to create special devices. In addition, beryllium alloys are used in the manufacture of neutron reflectors and moderators for installation in a nuclear reactor. Its refractory and anticorrosive properties, high thermal conductivity make it an indispensable element for creating alloys used in aircraft and aerospace industries.

This metal was discovered on the territory of the middle Urals. M.V. wrote about him. Lomonosov in his work "The First Foundations of Metallurgy" in 1763. It is very common, its most famous and extensive deposits are located in South Africa, Kazakhstan and Russia (Urals). The content of this metal in ores varies greatly. Its color is light blue, with a tint. In its pure form, it is very hard and quite well processed. It serves as an important component for the creation of alloy steels, especially stainless steels, and is used in electroplating and the aerospace industry. Its alloy with iron, ferrochromium is necessary for the production of metal-cutting tools.

This metal is valuable, since its properties are only slightly lower than those of noble metals. It has strong resistance to various acids, is not subject to corrosion. Tantalum is used in various structures and compounds, for the manufacture of products of complex shape and as a basis for the production of acetic and phosphoric acids. The metal is used in medicine, as it can be combined with human tissues. The rocket industry needs a heat-resistant alloy of tantalum and tungsten, because it can withstand temperatures of 2,500 ° C. Tantalum capacitors are installed on radar devices, used in electronic systems as transmitters.

Iridium is considered one of the most durable metals in the world. Silver colored metal, very hard. It belongs to the platinum group metals. It is difficult to process and, moreover, refractory. Iridium practically does not interact with caustic substances. It is used in many industries. Including in jewelry, medical and chemical industries. Significantly improves the resistance of tungsten, chromium and titanium compounds to acidic environments. Pure iridium is not a toxic material, but its individual compounds can be.

Despite the fact that many metals have decent characteristics, it is quite difficult to pinpoint exactly which is the most durable metal in the world. To do this, study all their parameters, in accordance with various analytical systems. But at present, all scientists claim that iridium confidently occupies the first place in terms of strength.

When it comes to the most durable metal in the world, for sure, many people 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 obtained by alloying iron with carbon and other additives. The hardest of the pure metals is considered titanium!
There are two different versions about the origin of the name of this metal. Some say that the silver-colored substance began to be called that in honor of the fairy queen Titania(from Germanic mythology). Indeed, 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 - strong and powerful children of the Earth goddess Gaia. Be that as it may, both versions look quite beautiful and poetic, and have the right to exist.

Titanium was discovered by two scientists at once: the German M.G. Klaptor and the Englishman W. Gregor. Such a discovery, with a difference of six years, 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, because of its fragility, the metal was not used for a long time. Only in 1925, having gone 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 technological with low density, high specific strength and corrosion resistance, as well as high strength at high temperatures.

In terms of mechanical strength, titanium and six times the strength of aluminum. That is why the list of possible applications of titanium is endless. It is used in medicine for osteoprosthetics, in the military industry (to create a submarine hull, armor in aviation and nuclear technology). Also, the metal has established itself in sports and jewelry, 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, 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 so long ago, scientists invented a substance stronger than metal. This is "liquid metal", or in translation - "liquid". The miracle substance has managed to establish itself as stainless and flawless for casting. And although humanity still needs to work hard to learn how to fully use the new metal, perhaps the future will belong to it.

Our world is full of amazing facts that are of interest to many people. The properties of various metals are no exception. Among these elements, of which there are 94 in the world, there are the most plastic and malleable, there are also those with high electrical conductivity or with a large resistance coefficient. This article will focus on the hardest metals, as well as their unique properties.

Iridium ranks first in the list of metals with the highest hardness. It was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century by the English chemist Smithson Tennant. Iridium has the following physical properties:

• has a silvery white color;
• its melting point is 2466 o C;
• boiling point - 4428 ° C;
• resistance - 5.3 10−8 Ohm m.

Since iridium is the hardest metal on the planet, it is difficult to process. But it is still used in various industrial fields. For example, small balls are made from it, which are used in nibs for pens. Iridium is used to make components for space rockets, some parts for cars, and more.

Very little iridium is found in nature. The finds of this metal are a kind of evidence that meteorites fell in the place where it was found. These cosmic bodies contain a significant amount of metal. Scientists believe that our planet is also rich in iridium, but its deposits are closer to the Earth's core.

The second position on our list goes to ruthenium. The discovery of this inert silvery metal belongs to the Russian chemist Karl Klaus, which was made in 1844. This element belongs to the platinum group. It is a rare metal. Scientists managed to establish that there are approximately 5 thousand tons of ruthenium on the planet. Approximately 18 tons of metal can be mined per year.

Due to its limited quantity and high cost, ruthenium is rarely used in industry. It is used in the following cases:

• a small amount is added to titanium to improve corrosion properties;
• its alloy with platinum is used to make electrical contacts that are highly durable;
• Ruthenium is often used as a catalyst for chemical reactions.

Discovered in 1802, a metal called tantalum comes third on our list. It was discovered by the Swedish chemist A. G. Ekeberg. For a long time it was believed that tantalum is identical to niobium. But the German chemist Heinrich Rose managed to prove that these are two different elements. The scientist Werner Bolton from Germany was able to isolate tantalum in its pure form in 1922. This is a very rare metal. Most deposits of tantalum ore have been discovered in Western Australia.

Due to its unique properties, tantalum is a highly sought-after metal. It is used in various fields:

• in medicine, tantalum is used to make wire and other elements that can hold tissues together and even act as a bone substitute;
• alloys with this metal are resistant to aggressive environments, due to which they are used in the manufacture of aerospace equipment and electronics;
• tantalum is also used to create energy in nuclear reactors;
• The element is widely used in the chemical industry.

Chromium is one of the hardest metals. It was discovered in Russia in 1763 in the Northern Urals deposit. It has a bluish-white color, although there are times when it is considered black metal. Chrome is not a rare metal. The following countries are rich in its deposits:

• Kazakhstan;
• Russia;
• Madagascar;
• Zimbabwe.

There are also chromium deposits in other states. This metal is widely used in various branches of metallurgy, science, engineering and others.

The fifth position in the list of the hardest metals went to beryllium. Its discovery belongs to the chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin from France, which was made in 1798. This metal has a silvery white color. Despite its hardness, beryllium is a brittle material, which makes it very difficult to process. It is used to create high-quality loudspeakers. It is used to create jet fuel, refractory materials. The metal is widely used in the creation of aerospace technology and laser systems. It is also used in the nuclear power industry and in the manufacture of X-ray technology.

The list of the hardest metals also includes osmium. It is an element of the platinum group and is similar in properties to iridium. This refractory metal is resistant to aggressive environments, has a high density, and is difficult to process. It was discovered by the scientist Smithson Tennant from England in 1803. This metal is widely used in medicine. Elements of pacemakers are made from it, it is also used to create a pulmonary valve. It is also widely used in the chemical industry and for military purposes.

The transitional silver metal rhenium comes in at number seven on our list. The assumption about the existence of this element was made by D. I. Mendeleev in 1871, and chemists from Germany managed to discover it in 1925. Within 5 years after that, it was possible to establish the extraction of this rare, durable and refractory metal. At that time, it was possible to obtain 120 kg of rhenium per year. Now the amount of annual metal production has increased to 40 tons. It is used in the production of catalysts. It is also used to make electrical contacts capable of self-cleaning.

Silver gray tungsten is not only one of the hardest metals, it also leads in refractoriness. It can only be melted at a temperature of 3422 o C. Due to this property, it is used to create incandescent elements. Alloys made from this element have high strength and are often used for military purposes. Tungsten is also used to make surgical instruments. It is also used to make containers in which radioactive materials are stored.

One of the hardest metals is uranium. It was discovered in 1840 by the chemist Peligot. A great contribution to the study of the properties of this metal was made by D. I. Mendeleev. The radioactive properties of uranium were discovered by the scientist A. A. Becquerel in 1896. Then a chemist from France called the detected metal radiation Becquerel rays. Uranium is often found in nature. The countries with the largest deposits of uranium ore are Australia, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The final place in the top ten hardest metals goes to titanium. For the first time, this element in its pure form was obtained by the chemist J. J. Berzelius from Sweden in 1825. Titanium is a light, silvery-white metal that is highly durable and resistant to corrosion and mechanical stress. Titanium alloys are used in many branches of mechanical engineering, medicine and the chemical industry.

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 areas of human life.

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

This metal has very high strength, but relatively low density. It is 2 times stronger than iron. Many people wonder why steel has not received such an honorary title. But in reality it is not metal. It's just an alloy based on iron and carbon.

Titanium is practically not used in its pure form. Specialists 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, surgical instruments, prostheses and even heart valves are made from it. This metal is practically not subject to corrosion. This property is highly valued. 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 tissues. This substance is widely used in the manufacture 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. Weight reduction 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, ebbs, roofing skates. Jewelry is made from titanium. These products are classified as expensive jewelry, but many of them look just great and do not lose their appearance for 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, Ukraine. In terms of prevalence, it ranks 10th among all metals. This has a very positive effect on its value. Titanium alloys can be purchased at a relatively low price, which is very important, since in some industries it is used in large quantities. And the price plays not the last 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 aircraft are made from it. Alloys based on it are famous for their ability to resist corrosion and retain their properties for a long time.

Since childhood, we know that the most durable metal is steel. Everything iron is associated with it.

Iron man, iron lady, steel character. By saying these phrases, we mean incredible strength, strength, hardness.

For a long time, steel was the main material in production and weapons. But steel is not metal. To be more precise, it is not a completely pure metal. This is with carbon, in which other metal additives are also present. By applying additives, i.e. change its properties. After that, it is processed. Steelmaking is a whole science.

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

In some positions, steel began to displace aluminum. Time passed, the speed increased. Aluminum didn't hold up either. I had to turn to the titan.

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

It was opened in the XVIII century. Due to its fragility, it was impossible to use 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 exceeds the strength of iron by several times.

Engineers began adding titanium to steel. The result was the most durable metal, which has found application in an environment of ultrahigh temperatures. At that time, no other alloy could withstand them.

If you imagine an airplane that flies three times faster than you can imagine, how the sheathing metal heats up. The sheet metal of the aircraft skin in such conditions is heated up to +3000C.

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

With all the obviousness, we can say that in the near future, the titan will have to move.

Scientists from the USA, in the laboratories of the University of Texas at 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 electricity a hundred times better than silicon computer chips.

Graphene is a material with amazing properties. It will soon leave the laboratories 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. Here is the 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. His flexibility is amazing. Such material is easily bent, folds perfectly and rolls up perfectly.

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