When it comes to hard and durable metal, then in his imagination a person immediately draws a warrior with a sword and in armor. Well, or with a saber, and always from Damascus steel. But steel, although strong, is not a pure metal; it is obtained by alloying iron with carbon and some other metal additives. And if necessary, the steel is subjected to processing to change its properties.

Lightweight, durable silver-white metal

Each of the additives, be it chromium, nickel or vanadium, is responsible for a certain quality. But titanium is added for strength - the hardest alloys are obtained.

According to one version, the metal got its name from the Titans, powerful and fearless children of the Earth goddess Gaia. But according to another version, the silvery substance is named after the fairy queen Titania.

Titanium was discovered by German and English chemists Gregor and Klaproth independently of each other with a difference of six years. It happened at the end of the 18th century. The substance immediately took its place in periodic system Mendeleev. Three decades later, the first sample of metallic titanium was obtained. And for a long time, the metal was not used because of its fragility. Exactly before 1925 - it was then, after a series of experiments, pure titanium was obtained by the iodide method. The discovery was a real breakthrough. Titanium turned out to be technologically advanced, designers and engineers immediately drew attention to it. And now metal is obtained from ore, mainly by the magnesium-thermal method, which was proposed in 1940.

If you touch physical properties titanium, we can note its high specific strength, strength at high temperatures, low density and corrosion resistance. The mechanical strength of titanium is twice that of iron and six times that of aluminum. At high temperatures, where light alloys no longer work (based on magnesium and aluminum), titanium alloys come to the rescue. For example, an airplane at an altitude of 20 kilometers develops a speed three times higher than the speed of sound. And the temperature of its case is about 300 degrees Celsius. Only titanium alloy can withstand such loads.

In terms of prevalence in nature, the metal ranks tenth. Titanium is mined in South Africa, Russia, China, Ukraine, Japan and India. And this is not a complete list of countries.

Titanium is the strongest and lightest metal in the world

The list of possibilities for the use of metal is respectable. These are the military industry, osteoprostheses in medicine, jewelry and sports products, boards mobile phones and much more. Designers of rocket, aircraft, and shipbuilding are constantly elevating titanium. Even the chemical industry did not leave metal unattended. Titanium is excellent for casting, because the contours during casting are accurate and have a smooth surface. The arrangement of atoms in titanium is amorphous. And it guarantees high tensile strength, toughness, excellent magnetic properties.

Hardest metals with the highest density

Osmium and iridium are also among the hardest metals. These are substances from the platinum group, they have the highest, almost identical, density.

Iridium was discovered in 1803. The metal was discovered by a chemist from England, Smithson Tennat, during the study of natural platinum from South America. By the way, from the ancient Greek "iridium" is translated as "rainbow".

The hardest metal is quite difficult to obtain, since it is almost non-existent in nature. And often the metal is found in meteorites that have fallen to the ground. According to scientists, the content of iridium on our planet should be much higher. But due to the properties of the metal - siderophilicity - it is located at the very depths of the earth's interior.

Iridium is quite difficult to process both thermally and chemically. The metal does not react with acids, even combinations of acids at temperatures below 100 degrees. At the same time, the substance is subject to oxidation processes in aqua regia (this is a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids).

Interest as a source electrical energy, represents the iridium isotope 193 m 2. Since the half-life of the metal is 241 years. Iridium has found wide application in paleontology and industry. It is used in the manufacture of nibs for pens and the determination of the age of different layers of the earth.

But osmium was discovered a year later than iridium. This hard metal was found in the chemical composition of the precipitate of platinum, which was dissolved in aqua regia. And the name "osmium" came from the ancient Greek word for "smell". The metal is not subject to mechanical stress. At the same time, one liter of osmium is several times heavier than ten liters of water. However, this property is still unused.

Osmium is mined in American and Russian mines. Its deposit is also rich in South Africa. Quite often, the metal is found in iron meteorites. For specialists, osmium-187 is of interest, which is exported only from Kazakhstan. It is used to determine the age of meteorites. It is worth noting that just one gram of the isotope costs 10 thousand dollars.

Well, they use osmium in industry. And not in its pure form, but in the form of a hard alloy with tungsten. Produced from the substance of incandescent lamps. Osmium is a catalyst in the manufacture of ammonia. Rarely, cutting parts are made of metal for the needs of surgery.

The hardest pure metal

The hardest of the purest metals on the planet is chromium. It is highly machinable. The bluish-white metal was discovered in 1766 in the vicinity of Yekaterinburg. The mineral then received the name "Siberian red lead". Its modern name is crocoite. A few years after the discovery, namely, in 1797, the French chemist Vauquelin isolated a new metal from the metal, already refractory. Experts today believe that the resulting substance is chromium carbide.

The name of this element is derived from the Greek "color", because the metal itself is famous for the variety of colors of its compounds. Chromium is quite easy to find in nature, it is common. You can find metal in South Africa, which ranks first in terms of production, as well as in Kazakhstan, Zimbabwe, Russia and Madagascar. There are deposits in Turkey, Armenia, India, Brazil and the Philippines. Specialists especially appreciate some chromium compounds - these are chromium iron ore and crocoite.

The hardest metal in the world is tungsten

Tungsten is a chemical element, the hardest, if we consider it along with other metals. Its melting point is unusually high, only carbon is higher, but it is not a metallic element.

But the natural hardness of tungsten at the same time does not deprive it of flexibility and pliability, which allows forging any necessary details from it. It is its flexibility and heat resistance that makes tungsten an ideal material for smelting small parts of lighting fixtures and TV parts, for example.

Tungsten is also used in more serious areas, for example, weapons manufacturing - for the manufacture of counterweights and artillery shells. This tungsten owes its high density, which makes it the main substance of heavy alloys. The density of tungsten is close in value to gold - only a few tenths make up the difference.

On the site, you can read which metals are the softest, how they are used, and what they are made of.
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Because they have the highest density. Among them, the heaviest are osmium and iridium. This The density index of these metals is almost the same, except for a slight calculation error.

Iridium was discovered in 1803. It was discovered by the English chemist Smithson Tennat while studying natural platinum brought from South America. Translated from the ancient Greek, the name "iridium" means "rainbow".

The heavy metal isotope iridium-192m2 is of scientific interest as a source of electrical energy, since this metal is very large - 241 years. Iridium has found wide application in industry and paleontology - it is used for the production of nibs for pens, determining the age of the layers of the earth.

The discovery of osmium happened by chance in 1804. This hardest metal was found in the chemical composition of the sediment of platinum dissolved in aqua regia. The name "osmium" comes from the ancient Greek word for "smell". This metal is almost non-existent in nature. Most often it is found in the composition. 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 the richest of its deposits. Osmium is often found in iron meteorites.

Of particular interest is osmium-187, which is exported only by Kazakhstan. It is used to determine the age of meteorites. One gram of this isotope costs 10,000 US dollars.

Mainly used in industry hard alloy osmium with tungsten (osram) for the production of incandescent lamps. Osmium is also a catalytic agent in the production. Rarely enough, 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 certain pattern. And to separate them, you need to make a lot of effort, because they are not as soft as, for example, silver.

18.01.2016 at 17:21 · Johnny · 110 650

Top 10 most durable metals in the world

The use of metals in everyday life began at the dawn of human development, and copper was the first metal, since it is available in nature and can be easily processed. No wonder 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 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 most durable metals in the world.

10.

• 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.

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, widely distributed throughout the world and has paramagnetic properties, flexibility, malleability, and relative plasticity. Uranium is used in many areas of production.

8.

Known as the most refractory metal of all existing, and belongs to the most durable metals in the world. It is a solid transitional element of a brilliant silver-gray color. Possesses the high durability, excellent infusibility, resistance to chemical influences. Due to its properties, it can be forged and drawn into a thin thread. Known as a tungsten filament.

7.

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

6.

A shiny silvery white metal with a slightly bluish tint, belongs to the platinum group and is considered one of the most durable metals in the world. Similar to 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 environments. Has found wide application in surgery, electron microscopy, chemical industry, rocket technology, electronic equipment.

5.

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 ten most durable metals in the world is chromium - hard, high durable metal bluish white, 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 Used to create various alloys that are used in the manufacture of medical and chemical technological equipment. In combination with iron, it forms a ferrochromium alloy, which is used in the manufacture of metal-cutting tools.

3.

Tantalum deserves bronze in the ranking, 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, resistance to corrosion and aggressive media. The metal is a fairly ductile metal and can be easily machined. Today tantalum is successfully used:

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

2.

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

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 the effects of halogens and sodium peroxide.

This metal plays 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, used in jewelry to create jewelry. The cost of iridium remains high due to its limited presence in nature.

What else to see:

When talking about the strongest metals in the world, I immediately recall a medieval knight with a sword at the ready and in armor made of the legendary Damascus steel. It is her who, not unreasonably, is considered the most solid, durable, not amenable to either mechanical or chemical influences. But steel is not a pure metal, it consists of several components that have been processed to change the final properties of the finished product. Therefore, it cannot be called a substance with the highest hardness. What metal is the most durable on the planet?

10 Titan

Titanium is in the 10th position of our ranking of the most durable metals in the world. It is a high strength, low density, silvery solid. Titanium is resistant to high temperatures, it does not give in to corrosion, is resistant to chemicals and is not afraid of mechanical damage. It is possible to melt titanium only at a temperature above 3200 degrees, and it boils, having warmed up to a temperature of 3300 degrees. The scope of this metal is wide and varied - from the military industry to medicine.

Titanium was discovered in the 18th century by English and German chemists, and named after the Titans - giant mythical creatures with unprecedented strength and other supernatural abilities.

For a long time, titanium was not used for industrial purposes, since they could not bypass the natural fragility of this metal. It was possible to get it in its pure form only in the winter of 1925.

9

9th place in the Top 10 is uranium. Its distinguishing feature is weak radioactivity. Uranium is found in nature both in pure form and as a component of sedimentary rocks. Among the main properties of this metal, it is necessary to highlight good flexibility and ductility, ductility, which allows it to be used in various industries.

Heat-treated uranium alloys are characterized by high resistance to corrosion; products from them do not change shape with temperature changes. That is why this metal was used until the mid-30s of the last century for the manufacture of tool steel, but later this technology was abandoned.

8

On the 8th place in our rating is tungsten. This metal has amazing, unparalleled refractory properties. It boils at an incredibly high temperature - 5900 degrees. And this hard silver-gray metal with a characteristic luster is not afraid of even the most aggressive chemical substances, easily takes shape during the forging process and is able to stretch, without tearing, into the thinnest thread. Tungsten filament - every person has heard and seen about it. So this thread is made of tungsten.

FROM German language the word "tungsten" is translated as "wolf foam"
The metal was discovered by the Swedish chemist Carl Scheele in 1781.

7 Rhenium

This silver-white transition metal belongs to the category of expensive ones, it is indispensable in the manufacturing process of modern electronics and technology. Rhenium was awarded the title of one of the most durable metals in the world due to its hardness and density, which do not decrease even under the influence of temperature changes. Rhenium is refractory, it is produced from molybdenum and copper ore. This process is quite complicated and labor-intensive, which explains the high cost of the finished metal. To get 1 kg of rhenium, you need 2 thousand tons of ore, the finished production of this metal is no more than 40 tons per year.

Rhenium was invented by the famous German chemists Ida and Walter Noddak, and they named it after the picturesque Rhine River.

6 Osmium

The 6th position of our rating is assigned to osmium - the strongest metal in the world, belonging to the platinum group and characterized by incredible density. By analogy with most platinum metals, osmium is refractory and hard, but at the same time it is brittle; not afraid of mechanical damage and exposure to aggressive substances.

A distinctive feature of osmium is a silvery-white color with a barely noticeable bluish tint and a rather unpleasant smell (something reminiscent of a combination of garlic and bleach). In its pure form, in nature, this metal is not found, very rarely it can be found in conjunction with iridium, and even then only in some regions of Siberia, Canada, the USA and South Africa. Osmium is scarce, therefore it is extremely expensive and is used only where colossal investments in its extraction are justified. This metal is used in electronics, in the space and chemical industries, in surgery. It is the main component in the production of a rare drug - cortisone.

Osmium is the most expensive metal in the world. The price for 1 gram can reach 200 thousand dollars.

5

Beryllium has a light gray color, is characterized by hardness, fire resistance, good thermal conductivity and toxicity. The metal is mined from rocks, commonly used modern science. It is indispensable in the aerospace industry and aviation, nuclear power and metallurgy.

4

Chromium is the most common of the hardest metals in the world, products from

which is sure to be found in every home. It is durable, resistant to aggressive environments, has a pale blue color and a characteristic luster. Chromium is widely distributed in nature in the form of chromium iron ore, it is used in almost all industries, it is added to the composition of other metals to give them additional hardness, corrosion resistance and improve appearance. Chrome-plated details of interior items, plumbing fixtures and household appliances become a great decoration for every home.

The melting point of chromium is 1907 degrees, it boils at a temperature of 2671 degrees. In its pure form, chromium is very malleable and viscous, but in combination with oxygen it becomes brittle and super hard.

3

Tantalum is the 3rd place in our rating, it deserves a "bronze medal" as one of the most durable metals on the planet. Tantalum is silvery in color with a characteristic lead luster, characterized by increased hardness and amazing density. Along with refractoriness, strength, resistance to rust and aggressive chemical attack, this metal is characterized by ductility. It is well machined, which is highly valued in the chemical industry and in metallurgy. The metal is indispensable during the construction of nuclear reactors, it is the main element of heat-resistant alloys.

2 Ruthenium

Ruthenium is silvery in color and is characterized by a unique feature - the presence of fragments of the muscle tissue of living beings in the composition. According to scientists, it was such an unusual composition that influenced the properties of the metal and made it super-strong.
Ruthenium is not only strong and hard - it is also chemically stable, can enter into complex compounds and plays the role of a catalyst for chemical reactions. The properties of this metal described above make it indispensable in the manufacture of various wiring and contacts, laboratory glassware. Metal is also in demand in jewelry. As for the production of ruthenium itself, it is almost entirely concentrated in the Republic of South Africa.

There are many metals in the world that are the same 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 in human needs. Among the hardest metals, there are 6 leaders who have conquered the world with their features.

The hardness of metals is usually measured on the Mohs scale. The hardness measurement method is based on the evaluation of scratch resistance by 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 life, even though their hardness is not the highest on the Mohs scale. Therefore, revealing the topic of the hardest metals, it would be wrong not to mention the well-known titanium, chromium, osmium and iridium.

When asked what is the hardest metal, 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 at the same time was declared the hardest metal on Earth. It immediately began to be actively used in completely different areas of production - from parts of rockets and air transport to dental implants. The merit of such popularity of the metal was several of its main properties: high mechanical strength, resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, and low density. On the Mohs hardness scale, titanium has a grade of 4.5, which is not the highest. However, its popularity and involvement in various industries makes it the first in terms of hardness among 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- parts of the airframe part of aircraft, gas turbines, skins, power elements, landing gear parts, rivets, etc.;
• Space technology - skins, details;
• Shipbuilding - ship plating, parts of pumps and pipelines, navigational instruments, turbine engines, steam boilers;
• Mechanical engineering - turbine condensers, pipes, wear-resistant elements;
• Oil and gas industry – drilling pipes, pumps, pressure vessels;
• Automotive - in the mechanisms of valves and exhaust systems, transmission shafts, bolts, springs;
• Construction - exterior and interior cladding of buildings, roofing materials, light fixtures and even monuments;
• Medicine - surgical instruments, prostheses, implants, cases for cardiac devices;
• Sports - sports equipment, travel accessories, bicycle parts.
• Consumer goods - jewelry, decorative items, garden tools, wrist watch, kitchen utensils, electronics cases and even bells, and are also added to paints, whitewash, plastic and paper.

It can be seen 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, its products are much stronger and lighter than steel, wear out less and are more resistant to irritants.

Titanium is considered the hardest among the actively consumed metals.

The hardest in its natural form is a bluish-white metal - 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 spectrum of use of chromium is very diverse. It is used to make firearm barrels, medical and chemical processing equipment, household items - kitchen utensils, metal parts of furniture, and even submarine hulls.

The highest hardness in its pure form - chromium

Chromium is used in various fields, for example, for the production of stainless steel, or for coating surfaces - chromium plating (appliances, cars, parts, utensils). Often this metal is used in the manufacture of firearms barrels. Also often this metal can be found in the production of dyes and pigments. Another area of ​​its use may seem surprising - this is the production of dietary supplements, and in the creation of technological equipment for chemical and medical laboratories You can't do 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 - in an alloy with each other. Iridium, by its very nature, has a high hardness, which makes it difficult to metalwork, both mechanical and chemical.

Osmium and iridium have the highest density

Iridium has been actively used in industry relatively recently. Previously, it was used with caution, since its physico-chemical characteristics were not fully understood. Now iridium is used even in the manufacture of jewelry (as inlays or in an alloy with platinum), surgical instruments and parts for cardiac pacemakers. In medicine, the metal is simply irreplaceable: its biological products can help overcome oncology, and irradiation with a radioactive isotope can stop the growth of cancer cells.

Two-thirds of the iridium mined in the world goes to 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 after iridium by a year, and now it is often found in iron meteorites. In addition to high hardness, osmium is distinguished by its high cost - 1 gram of pure metal is estimated at 10 thousand dollars. Another of its features is its weight - 1 liter of molten osmium is equal to 10 liters of water. True, scientists have not yet found a use for this property.

Because of its rarity and high cost, osmium is only used where no other metal can be used. It has not been widely used, and there is no point in searching until the supply of metal becomes regular. Now osmium is used to make tools that require high precision. Products from it almost do not wear out and have considerable strength.

The hardness index of osmium 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 plasticity, malleability and flexibility, paramagnetic properties. On the Moss scale, the hardness of the metal is 6, which is considered a very high indicator.

Previously, uranium was almost never used, and was found only as ore waste in the extraction of other metals - radium and vanadium. To date, uranium is mined in deposits, the main sources are the Rocky Mountains of the United States, the Republic of the Congo, Canada and the Union of South Africa.

Despite the radioactivity, uranium is actively consumed by mankind. It is most in demand in nuclear energy - it is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. Uranium is also used in the chemical industry and in geology to determine the age of rocks.

Did not miss the incredible figures of 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.

Uranium is the hardest metal, but it is radioactive

Topping our list of the hardest metals on Earth is a brilliant silver gray tungsten. On the Mohs scale, tungsten has a hardness of 6, like uranium, but unlike the latter, it is not radioactive. Natural hardness, however, does not deprive it of flexibility, because tungsten is ideal for forging various metal products, and its resistance to high temperatures allows it to be used in lighting fixtures and electronics. Consumption of tungsten does not reach high turnover, and the main reason for this is its limited amount in deposits.

Due to its high density, tungsten is widely used in weapons manufacturing 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, parts of electrovacuum devices are made from it. In construction, cutting tools made of tungsten are used. 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 spheres of consumption of each metal, it is difficult to say unequivocally what is the hardest metal in the world, if we take into account not only the indicators of the Mohs scale. 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, whose hardness reaches the highest mark among metals, is not so popular due to weak radioactivity. And tungsten, which does not emit radiation and has the highest strength and very good ductility, cannot be actively used due to limited resources.