What is the hardest metal in the world?

The strength of a metal is its resistance to loads, the ability of the internal structure to withstand external influences. To identify the strongest metal, you can take the strength or yield strength in MPa as a basis. These values ​​​​indicate how much force must be applied to break molecular bonds in materials. The higher the tensile strength, the stronger the metal. The most impact-resistant materials are actively used in the mechanical engineering and defense industries, in aircraft and rocket manufacturing, in construction and in the construction of metal structures, special equipment for industrial complexes. Our TOP 20 contains the strongest metals in the world, taking into account their tensile strength indicators.

Iridium

In Russia it is put on the same level as precious stones. Iridium is part of the platinum group. This metal was discovered in 1803 by the Briton Tennant. Iridium got its name (“rainbow” in Greek) because of the colorful salts of different shades that precipitate when reacting with it. Features of the metal include:

• high hardness – iridium is one of the few metals that is difficult to process;
• melting of the material at + 2466, boiling at +4428 degrees;
• preservation of inertia – when heated.

Iridium is used for the aviation and space industries. The production of high-strength automotive parts is indispensable without this material.

Rhenium

The name of this strong metal has a “river” origin. Rhenium received its name in honor of the German Rhine River. The metal was officially discovered in 1928, but only two years later its production reached an industrial scale. Rhenium is extracted from molybdenum ores and has the following properties:

• refractoriness – metal can be melted only at +3200 degrees Celsius;
• high plasticity;
• boils only at +5600 degrees;
• withstands many cycles of cooling and subsequent heating without loss of strength;
• relatively high density – 21 grams per cubic meter. centimeter.

Rhenium is used in the construction of rockets, the preparation of high-strength alloys, and in electronics and electrical equipment.

Wolfram

The history of this durable metal began in the 50s of the 18th century. But it was not until 1780 that it was officially discovered by Eluard chemists from Spain. The brothers conducted a series of studies of the element and identified its most important properties. The largest deposits of metal in the form of oxidized compounds are located in Canada and the USA, in Kazakhstan. Due to its high strength, this material can only be processed using the powder method. Among the properties stand out:

• heat resistance – tungsten begins to melt at a temperature of +2450 degrees;
• paramagnetism;
• excellent sound conductivity – 4 meters per second.

Refractory metal is used in incandescent lamps, vacuum systems, and in the weapons industry. It is indispensable wherever extreme temperatures must be withstood.

Zirconium

Gray-white zirconium has increased resistance to acids, except hot sulfuric acid, and is not afraid of corrosion. The discoverer was Klaproth in 1789. But only 35 years after this, the metal was discovered in an amorphous medium. Zirconium boils at +4377 degrees, and melts at +1855.

This metal is found in the earth’s crust in the form of five isotopes – one radioactive and four stable. High chemical resistance allows zirconium to be used for the manufacture of high-quality tableware with excellent hygienic characteristics. It is used in the production of surgical instruments and prostheses.

Molybdenum

The discoverer of molybdenum was Karl Scheele in 1778. But it was received in metal form only three years later. Molybdenum was isolated in its pure form in 1817 by reducing the oxide with hydrogen. The largest deposits are located in the USA, Mexico, Norway and Canada.

Molybdenum is paramagnetic, has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and melts at 2 degrees Celsius. It occurs in nature in the form of seven isotopes. This metal is needed for alloying steels, when creating heat-resistant alloys, and is used in vacuum furnaces in the form of heating elements. Pure molybdenum is chosen for laser equipment.

Chromium

This bluish-tinged metal was obtained in 1797 in the form of carbide. The discoverer was the French chemist Vauquelin. One of the hardest elements can hardly be called rare – its content in the earth’s crust exceeds 0,03 grams per ton of the total mass. But chromium is not found in its pure form. Among the properties stand out:

• paramagnetism – manifests itself at temperatures above +37 degrees Celsius, antiferromagnetic properties – at temperatures below the specified value;
• no reaction with acids – the element is not exposed to them;
• melting point – 1857 degrees.

Chromium is added to alloy steels to increase their strength by two to three times. It is also used in dyeing, coating, production of refractory materials, and as a catalyst in hydrocarbon processing.

Titanium

This element was discovered in 1791 – simultaneously in Germany and France. But it was isolated in its pure form only thirteen years later in Sweden. In 1940, after receiving a patent for the reduction of titanium from tetrachloride, production of the metal began on an industrial scale. The countries of Russia and Canada are rich in deposits of this metal.

Titanium is a ductile but strong metal. The degree of its strength depends on the processing. The material melts at +1700 degrees Celsius. Titanium is used for the production of armored vests and the lining of submarines, in the manufacture of pipelines and reactors, medical prostheses and implants. It is also added to alloy steels for strengthening.

Uran

This is an element that reacts weakly with other substances. It was only possible to isolate it in its pure form in 1840. The radioactive metal is one of the strongest on the planet. Its properties include:

• paramagnetism;
• melting point +1100 degrees;
• high specific gravity – 18,7 grams per cubic meter. cm.

Uranium has a glossy surface with a white-silver tint. It is actively used in nuclear energy (in the production of fuel) and for medical synthesis. Uranium is also used in the preparation of weapons in the defense industry.

Nickel

This is an excellent catalyst that has high strength even at elevated temperatures. Nickel is a ductile and malleable ferromagnet. It is resistant to corrosion, oxidation in air, hard and tough, and polishes well. Metal melts at +1452 degrees Celsius.

Nickel is a silvery-white element that was discovered in 1751 by the Swedish mineralogist Kronstedt. The scientist isolated green oxide from the ore, which was eventually reduced to nickel. Nowadays the metal is widely used in industry; superalloys with high performance properties are made on its basis. Nickel is used in coinage, in the production of batteries, and medicine. Nickel plating protects the surfaces of other metals from corrosion.

Niobium

The refractory and rust-resistant material belongs to the group of metals. It has a gray-silver color and melts at +2467 degrees Celsius. Other properties of niobium include:

• density – 8,57 grams per cubic centimeter;
• boiling point – 4742 degrees.

The only isotope of niobium found in nature. This element was discovered in Britain at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was named columbite. It was not until 1952 that niobium officially received its current designation. Deposits of the material are located in Japan, on the Kola Peninsula and in the USA. Niobium is used for the manufacture of aircraft parts, alloying non-ferrous metals, and in electronics and computer technology.

Tantalum

The metal combines silver and white colors and has a dense oxide film. Tantalum in its pure form was obtained in 1844 by the German Rose. But it was discovered forty years earlier. The tantalum content in the earth’s crust is up to 0,000002 grams per ton of the total mass. This explains its high price – more than $250 per gram. Tantalum melts at temperatures above +3000 degrees Celsius, is ductile like gold, but very strong, has a high density and is not afraid of rust. It is used in laboratory glassware, surgical instruments, and in the creation of heat-resistant alloys. Tantalum is also used in nuclear energy systems, the automotive industry, and electronics.

Hardware

This is one of the most common metals (over 90% in the earth’s core), which in itself is not very strong. But in combination with carbon and other components, iron forms very strong compounds – for example, steel. The properties of the metal include:

• ability to be magnetized;
• melting point +1538 degrees Celsius, boiling point – more than +2850 degrees;
• polymorphism (four crystal modifications).

Among the areas of application of iron, the most common are mechanical engineering, the construction of fasteners, and the production of building materials and metal structures.

Cobalt

A hard, shiny, malleable metal visually reminiscent of iron. Cobalt melts at +1768 degrees Celsius. This metal was discovered in 1735, but it was finally positioned as an independent element only 46 years later. The French chemist Macker identified a metallurgical method for producing cobalt. By the way, its name comes from the word “kobold”, which means gnome or brownie. When some cobalt minerals are fired, toxic arsenic oxides are released.

The share of cobalt in the earth’s crust is 4-10% of the total mass. This metal is used in the nuclear industry, crop production, and in the production of magnets and high-strength alloys.

Copper

Copper is a common, durable material, a good conductor of electricity and heat, and a component of metal alloys used in the jewelry industry. It melts at +1083 degrees Celsius, and boils at +2562 degrees. Malleable, ductile pure copper has a pinkish-orange color. It is recyclable without loss of quality.

Copper is in the top three in terms of global consumption and production. It is used in the chemical industry, in the production of automobiles and electrical appliances, digital and household appliances, in strain gauges and coining.

Osmium

It became famous in 1803 thanks to the British chemist Tennant. Osmium was isolated in the form of a precipitate after dissolving platinum in a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids. Osmium is a bluish-gray metal with high specific gravity and strength. It retains its shine even when exposed to extreme temperatures. The metal is mined in Siberia and the Urals, in the USA and Colombia. Refractory osmium is found in platinum minerals and solutions with iridium. In the earth’s crust – 0,007 grams of metal per ton.

Osmium melts at +3033 degrees. It is the densest element on the planet (22,6 g/cm3). It is almost never used in its pure form – exclusively with alloying additives. The platinum group metal is widely used in the nuclear industry.

Magnesium

It is a light metal with low density and light weight. It is subjected to various processing methods – from forging and rolling to welding and stamping. Magnesium was discovered in 1809 in Great Britain. Chemist Humphry Davy obtained the metal by electrolysis of a mixture of mercury oxide and magnesia. The boiling point of magnesium is 1090 degrees, and it melts at +650 degrees Celsius. The metal is perfectly pressed, rolled, and can be cut with high purity.

Magnesium is used as a fire-resistant material in the creation of missiles in military affairs, medicine, photography, and in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries. Its reserves are concentrated in Norway, the USA and China.

Beryllium

The relatively common metal was discovered by the French chemist Vauquelin in 1798. Its content in the earth’s crust reaches four grams per ton of total mass. Key deposits are concentrated near volcanoes – in the USA, China and Kazakhstan. Beryllium has:

• high elasticity;
• maximum sound conductivity – 12,5 meters per second;
• high toxicity.

The metal is carcinogenic. But it is successfully used in acoustics, nuclear energy, in the manufacture of laboratory crucibles, in aerospace engineering, in the creation of vacuum tubes and refractory materials.

Aluminum

It is one of the key elements for industry and the most used non-ferrous metal in the world. The earth’s crust consists of 8% aluminum. It melts at +660 degrees. Low density (only 2,6 grams per cubic cm), resistance to corrosion due to the formation of dense oxide films allow aluminum to be used in the aerospace industry, in the design of ships, cars, and boats.

This metal belongs to the light group and conducts heat and electric current well. Aluminum was first produced in 1825 by the Dane Oersted. Later, another chemist, Wöhler, used potassium to reduce another pure metal.

Cadmium

Cadmium is a malleable and malleable metal with a white-silver color. It melts at +321 degrees and boils at 765 degrees Celsius. In 1817, the German Strohmeyer discovered cadmium while studying the properties of zinc oxides. The metal was named after the Greek designation for ore. Cadmium is stronger than tin, but can be cut with a knife. It loses elasticity at +80 degrees Celsius.

Cadmium is used in the creation of solar panels, applying anti-corrosion coatings to other metals, and in the production of batteries.

Lead

A relatively ductile metal in white color with a silvery tint. It is the least hard of all the materials listed. Tin melts at +232 degrees Celsius, does not oxidize, does not rust at room temperature. It is especially often used in alloys – solders, where the content of the metal itself does not exceed 60%. Together with copper, tin forms bronze, one of the most valuable materials.

The areas where tin is used include electronics, the production of food containers, the production of tinplate, bearings, and pipelines.

At the moment, there are 94 types of metal in the world, but not all can be distinguished by their density. Hard metals are these types.

Iridium

Discovery of iridium. The discoverer of this metal was the English chemist S. Tennant in 1803. Along with osmium, they were present as impurities in natural platinum, which was delivered from South America.

Appearance of iridium. Thanks to the atypical and varied color of its salts, it received its name, since it was translated from ancient Greek as “Rainbow”.

Application Iridium is harder than other metals, so it is used in various industries. Most of the mined platinum is used in the chemical industry. In medicine, this is an excellent source of gamma radiation, which is very useful in oncology; also, the introduction of iridium electrodes into the brain helps in the treatment of patients with epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and is promising for the creation of eye prostheses and hearing aids.

Tantalum

Tantalum, discovery.

Initially, tantalum was obtained by the Swedish chemist A. Ekenberg using long reactions of two minerals that were discovered in Sweden and Finland in 1802, but it was isolated in its pure form by the German scientist W. Bolton in 1903. Appearance. In a standard microclimate, it has the appearance of a shiny grayish substance, but in air the chemical element acquires a slight bluish tint and leaden edema, which are the distinctive features of the metal.

Tantalum, properties and applications. Some of the most valuable properties of the metal should be highlighted:

• Great corrosion resistance;
• Invulnerability to aggressive environments;
• Corrodes in sulfuric acid and alkaline solutions;
• The melting point of the substance is approximately 3000C;
• Good biological compatibility with living organisms.

Almost half of tantalum goes into the metallurgical industry, about 25% is used to create electronics and electrical appliances, 1/5 is used in the chemical industry, and a smaller share is used in medicine (bone and reconstructive surgery). In the military field, it is excellent for targets and shells of cumulative projectiles. It has also found its application in instrument making and nuclear energy.

Chromium

Opening Chrome. This element was initially discovered by the German geologist and mineralogist I. Lehmann in 1797, but the new metal was also isolated in 1797 in France by the chemist L. Vauquelin.

Appearance, chrome. Chrome has a bluish-white color. The element is sometimes classified as a ferrous metal, since it tends to paint compounds in a variety of colors, hence the name “paint.”

Application Chromium is the hardest metal; it is often used to smelt chromium alloys and steels, some of it is used to create durable coatings, and the powder is used to make materials for welding equipment, laser materials and refractories.

Beryllium

History of the discovery of metals. Beryllium was discovered in 1798 by L. Vauquelin in the form of beryl earth. The metallic mineral was obtained by scientists F. Wöhler in 1828 in Germany and A. Bussy in France.

Appearance In appearance it is a soft mineral of a silvery-white hue.

Application The mineral is used in the production of gamma detectors and X-ray tubes, rocket gyroscopes and artificial satellites, in the creation of alloys, and to slow down neurons in nuclear reactors.

Osmium

Osmium, discovery. Osmium was also discovered at the same time as iridium.

Appearance The metal has a brilliant silver-white color with a bluish tint, but in different forms it has its own characteristics:

• The ingots are characterized by a dark blue silver color;
• Laboratory-obtained crystals have a silvery-blue tint;
• The powder is dark purple in color.

Application Osmium is widely used in industry, the chemical industry, medicine and jewelry.

Rhenium

Rhenium, discovery. German scientists W. Noddack, O. Berg and I. Tacke discovered rhenium in 1925.

Appearance The refractory metal resembles steel and has a dark or dark gray pigment.

Application Alloys of hard metals (rhenium with molybdenum, tungsten and other metals) have found application in the creation of elements for rocketry and supersonic aircraft, and nickel-rhenium alloys in the production of combustion chambers, turbine blades and jet engine exhaust nozzles.

Wolfram

Who discovered tungsten? In 1781, a chemist from Sweden, K. Scheele, obtained tungsten trioxide. The mineral itself was first discovered by the Spanish de Elguiar brothers in 1783. Appearance. Going into slag, metals are classified as transitional and have a silver-gray color.

Application Tungsten produces super-hard steels and alloys, which are used for mechanical processing of metals, in drilling wells, and in the manufacture of parts. Tungsten electrodes are intended for argon-arc welding. In nuclear physics and medicine, the use of tungstate single crystals has been found for incandescent filaments and parts of electric vacuum devices, gun shells, gyroscope rotors, etc.

Uran

Who discovered uranium? Uranium was discovered in 1789 by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth during his studies of the mineral “tar blende” and was nicknamed by him in honor of the planet Uranus. The metal state of uranium was obtained in 1841 by the French chemist Eugene Melchior Peligot.

Appearance From the outside, the chemical element appears as a silvery-white metal with an iron sheen.

Application It is mainly used to produce electrical energy, but uranium is also used for medical purposes and in the production of nuclear bombs.

Titanium

When titanium is discovered? The history of the discovery of titanium began in 1791, when it was discovered by the English scientist W. Gregor, and in 1799 the metal received its name thanks to M. Klaproth.

Appearance In appearance, the mineral is similar to steel and belongs to the transition elements. Application. Titanium and its alloys have found application in metallurgy, military industry, electrical and radio engineering, the chemical industry, shipbuilding and other spheres of life.