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 of life, although 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 - airframe parts, 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, watches, kitchen utensils, electronics cases and even bells, and are also added to the composition of 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 - the production of dietary supplements, and in the creation of technological equipment for chemical and medical laboratories, chromium cannot be dispensed with.

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 physicochemical and mechanical properties of 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.

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.

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.

The world around us is still fraught with many mysteries, but even phenomena and substances known to scientists for a long time do not cease to amaze and delight. We admire bright colors, enjoy tastes and use the properties of all kinds of substances that make our life more comfortable, safer and more enjoyable. In search of the most reliable and strong materials, man has made many exciting discoveries, and in front of you is a selection of just 25 such unique compounds!

25. Diamonds

If not everyone, then almost everyone knows this for sure. Diamonds are not only one of the most revered gemstones, but also one of the hardest minerals on Earth. On the Mohs scale (a scale of hardness in which an assessment is given by the reaction of a mineral to scratching), diamond is listed on the 10th line. There are 10 positions in the scale, and the 10th is the last and hardest degree. Diamonds are so hard that they can only be scratched with other diamonds.

24. Trapping webs of the spider species Caaerostris darwini


Photo: pixabay

It's hard to believe, but the network of the spider Caerostris darwini (or Darwin's spider) is stronger than steel and harder than Kevlar. This web was recognized as the hardest biological material in the world, although now it has a potential competitor, but the data has not yet been confirmed. Spider fiber was tested for characteristics such as breaking strain, impact strength, tensile strength and Young's modulus (the property of a material to resist stretching, compression during elastic deformation), and in all these indicators, the web showed itself in an amazing way. In addition, the trapping web of the Darwin spider is incredibly light. For example, if we wrap our planet with Caaerostris darwini fiber, the weight of such a long thread will be only 500 grams. Such long networks do not exist, but the theoretical calculations are simply amazing!

23. Aerographite


Photo: BrokenSphere

This synthetic foam is one of the lightest fibrous materials in the world and is a network of carbon tubes only a few microns in diameter. Aerographite is 75 times lighter than polystyrene, but at the same time much stronger and more ductile. It can be compressed down to 30 times its original size without any harm to its extremely elastic structure. Thanks to this property, airgraphite foam can withstand loads up to 40,000 times its own weight.

22. Palladium metallic glass


Photo: pixabay

A team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology and Berkeley Lab (California Institute of Technology, Berkeley Lab) has developed a new type of metallic glass that combines a near-perfect combination of strength and ductility. The reason for the uniqueness of the new material lies in the fact that its chemical structure successfully masks the brittleness of existing glassy materials while maintaining a high endurance threshold, which ultimately significantly increases the fatigue strength of this synthetic structure.

21. Tungsten carbide


Photo: pixabay

Tungsten carbide is an incredibly hard material with high wear resistance. Under certain conditions, this compound is considered very brittle, but under heavy load it shows unique plastic properties, manifesting itself in the form of slip bands. Thanks to all these qualities, tungsten carbide is used in the manufacture of armor-piercing tips and various equipment, including all kinds of cutters, abrasive discs, drills, cutters, drill bits and other cutting tools.

20. Silicon carbide


Photo: Tiia Monto

Silicon carbide is one of the main materials used to make battle tanks. This compound is known for its low cost, outstanding refractoriness, and high hardness, and is therefore often used in the manufacture of equipment or gear that must deflect bullets, cut, or grind other hard materials. Silicon carbide makes excellent abrasives, semiconductors, and even inlays in jewelry that mimic diamonds.

19. Cubic boron nitride


Photo: wikimedia commons

Cubic boron nitride is a superhard material, similar in hardness to diamond, but also has a number of distinctive advantages - high temperature stability and chemical resistance. Cubic boron nitride does not dissolve in iron and nickel even under the influence of high temperatures, while diamond under the same conditions enters into chemical reactions rather quickly. In fact, this is beneficial for its use in industrial grinding tools.

18. Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), Dyneema fiber brand


Photo: Justsail

High modulus polyethylene has extremely high wear resistance, low coefficient of friction and high fracture toughness (low temperature reliability). Today it is considered the strongest fibrous substance in the world. The most amazing thing about this polyethylene is that it is lighter than water and can stop bullets at the same time! Cables and ropes made of Dyneema fibers do not sink in water, do not need lubrication and do not change their properties when wet, which is very important for shipbuilding.

17. Titanium alloys


Photo: Alchemist-hp (pse-mendelejew.de)

Titanium alloys are incredibly ductile and show amazing strength when stretched. In addition, they have high heat resistance and corrosion resistance, which makes them extremely useful in areas such as aircraft, rocketry, shipbuilding, chemical, food and transportation engineering.

16. Liquid metal alloy


Photo: pixabay

Developed in 2003 at the California Institute of Technology, this material is renowned for its strength and durability. The name of the compound is associated with something brittle and liquid, but at room temperature it is actually unusually hard, wear-resistant, not afraid of corrosion and transforms when heated, like thermoplastics. The main areas of application so far are the manufacture of watches, golf clubs and covers for mobile phones (Vertu, iPhone).

15. Nanocellulose


Photo: pixabay

Nanocellulose is isolated from wood fibers and is a new type of wood material that is even stronger than steel! In addition, nanocellulose is also cheaper. The innovation has great potential and could seriously compete with glass and carbon fiber in the future. The developers believe that this material will soon be in great demand in the production of army armor, super-flexible screens, filters, flexible batteries, absorbent aerogels and biofuels.

14. Teeth of snails of the "sea saucer" type


Photo: pixabay

Earlier, we already told you about the trapping web of Darwin's spider, which was once recognized as the most durable biological material on the planet. However, a recent study showed that the limpet is the most durable biological substance known to science. Yes, these teeth are stronger than the web of Caaerostris darwini. And this is not surprising, because tiny sea creatures feed on algae growing on the surface of harsh rocks, and these animals have to work hard to separate food from the rock. Scientists believe that in the future we will be able to use the example of the fibrous structure of the teeth of limpets in the engineering industry and begin to build cars, boats and even aircraft of increased strength, inspired by the example of simple snails.

13. Maraging steel


Photo: pixabay

Maraging steel is a high strength and high alloy alloy with excellent ductility and toughness. The material is widely used in rocket science and is used to make all kinds of tools.

12. Osmium


Photo: Periodictableru / www.periodictable.ru

Osmium is an incredibly dense element, and due to its hardness and high melting point, it is difficult to machine. That is why osmium is used where durability and strength are most valued. Osmium alloys are found in electrical contacts, rocketry, military projectiles, surgical implants, and many other applications.

11. Kevlar


Photo: wikimedia commons

Kevlar is a high tenacity fiber found in car tires, brake pads, cables, prosthetics, body armor, protective clothing fabrics, shipbuilding, and drone parts. The material has become almost synonymous with strength and is a type of plastic with incredibly high strength and elasticity. The tensile strength of Kevlar is 8 times higher than that of steel wire, and it begins to melt at a temperature of 450℃.

10. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of high density, brand of fibers "Spectra" (Spectra)


Photo: Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons

UHMWPE is essentially a very durable plastic. Spectra, the UHMWPE brand, is, in turn, a light fiber of the highest wear resistance, 10 times superior to steel in this indicator. Like Kevlar, spectrum is used in the manufacture of body armor and protective helmets. Along with UHMWPE, dainimo spectrum is popular in the shipbuilding and transport industries.

9. Graphene


Photo: pixabay

Graphene is an allotropic modification of carbon, and its crystal lattice, just one atom thick, is so strong that it is 200 times harder than steel. Graphene looks like cling film, but breaking it is an almost impossible task. To punch through a graphene sheet, you have to stick a pencil into it, on which you will have to balance a load with the weight of an entire school bus. Good luck!

8. Carbon nanotube paper


Photo: pixabay

Thanks to nanotechnology, scientists have managed to make paper that is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Sheets of carbon nanotubes are 10 times lighter than steel, but the most amazing thing is that they are as much as 500 times stronger! Macroscopic nanotube plates are the most promising for the manufacture of supercapacitor electrodes.

7. Metal microgrid


Photo: pixabay

Here is the lightest metal in the world! The metal microgrid is a synthetic porous material that is 100 times lighter than foam. But don't let its appearance fool you, these microgrids are also incredibly strong, making them great potential for use in all sorts of engineering applications. They can be used to make excellent shock absorbers and thermal insulators, and the amazing ability of this metal to shrink and return to its original state allows it to be used to store energy. Metal microgrids are also actively used in the production of various parts for the aircraft of the American company Boeing.

6. Carbon nanotubes


Photo: User Mstroeck / en.wikipedia

Above, we have already talked about ultra-strong macroscopic carbon nanotube plates. But what kind of material is this? In fact, these are graphene planes rolled into a tube (9th point). The result is an incredibly light, resilient and durable material for a wide range of applications.

5. Airbrush


Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as graphene airgel, this material is extremely light and strong at the same time. The new type of gel has completely replaced the liquid phase with a gaseous one, and it is characterized by sensational hardness, heat resistance, low density and low thermal conductivity. Incredibly, graphene airgel is 7 times lighter than air! The unique compound is able to regain its original shape even after 90% compression and can absorb up to 900 times the weight of oil used to absorb airbrush. Perhaps in the future this class of materials will help in the fight against environmental disasters such as oil spills.

4. Material without a name, the development of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)


Photo: pixabay

As you read this, a team of scientists at MIT is working to improve the properties of graphene. The researchers said that they have already managed to convert the two-dimensional structure of this material into three-dimensional. The new graphene substance has not yet received its name, but it is already known that its density is 20 times less than that of steel, and its strength is 10 times higher than that of steel.

3. Carbin


Photo: Smokefoot

Even though it's just linear chains of carbon atoms, carbyne has 2x the tensile strength of graphene and is 3x harder than diamond!

2. Boron nitride wurtzite modification


Photo: pixabay

This newly discovered natural substance is formed during volcanic eruptions and is 18% harder than diamonds. However, it surpasses diamonds in a number of other parameters. Wurtzite boron nitride is one of only 2 natural substances found on Earth that is harder than diamond. The problem is that there are very few such nitrides in nature, and therefore they are not easy to study or apply in practice.

1. Lonsdaleite


Photo: pixabay

Also known as hexagonal diamond, lonsdaleite is made up of carbon atoms, but in this modification, the atoms are arranged slightly differently. Like wurtzite boron nitride, lonsdaleite is a natural substance that is harder than diamond. Moreover, this amazing mineral is harder than diamond by as much as 58%! Like wurtzite boron nitride, this compound is extremely rare. Sometimes lonsdaleite is formed during a collision with the Earth of meteorites, which include graphite.

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 the 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 strongest 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.

Chromium is next in the top ten most durable metals in the world - a hard, high-strength bluish-white metal that is 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 processing 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;
• in the construction of 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 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, used in jewelry to create jewelry. The cost of iridium remains high due to its limited presence in nature.

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