When wondering about the most durable metal in the world, you probably imagine a warrior with a huge sword that cuts everything in its path. But for the manufacture of weapons, steel is most often used. Firstly, it is not a metal, but an alloy of iron and carbon, and secondly, it is far from the most durable on earth. The strongest metal on earth is titanium.
The exact origin of the name of this substance is not known. Some believe that it was named after Titania, a fairy from Germanic mythology. The main argument of supporters of this point of view is the density of titanium - the metal is not only very strong, but also very light. Another point of view is based on the consonance of the name of the metal and the name of the mighty gods - the Titans. Independently of each other, the English Gregor and the German Klaptor discovered titanium at the end of the 17th century. Immediately after the discovery of the metal, it was added to the periodic table. There it can be found at number 22.
Titanium is the strongest metal in the world At first, people had problems using titanium, as it was very (paradoxically) brittle. This was due to the fact that pure titanium, that very strong metal, could only be isolated in 1925. Before that, he came across only in natural alloys, which gave him fragility. Now it is used to create armor, medical prostheses and in jewelry.
More recently, scientists from California said that they managed to create the most durable alloy in the world. Moreover, this alloy may be the most durable substance on earth. It consists of palladium and a small amount of silver and other metals (scientists have not yet disclosed the exact composition). The main feature of the new alloy is the absence of a crystal lattice in its classical form. In it, the molecules are not crystallized, but are sandwiched in a glassy liquid.
One of the creators of the alloy, Marios Demitru, claims that in a year such a metal alloy can be used in medical implants and as car parts. But scientists have yet to solve the main problem of the new alloy - great cost. According to Marios Demitru, his team has already begun research that will reduce the cost of the alloy by more than 80%.
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 ductile 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 was 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 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;
- element is widely used in 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 resistant to aggressive environments, have a high density, and are 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.
many lovers interesting facts I'm wondering which metal is the hardest? And offhand to answer this question will not be easy. Of course, any chemistry teacher can easily say correctly without even thinking. But among ordinary citizens who last time studied chemistry at school, not many will be able to correctly and quickly give an answer. This is due to the fact that everyone has been accustomed to making various toys from wire since childhood and remembered well that copper and aluminum are soft and easy to bend, but steel, on the contrary, is not so easy to give the desired shape. A person deals with the three named metals most often, so he does not even consider the rest of the candidates. But steel is certainly not the hardest metal in the world. In fairness, it should be noted that this is not a metal at all in the chemical sense, but a compound of iron with carbon.
What is titanium?
The hardest metal is titanium. Pure titanium was first obtained in 1925. This discovery made a splash in scientific circles. Industrialists immediately drew attention to the new material and appreciated the benefits of its use. By official version, the hardest metal on Earth, got its name in honor of the indestructible Titans, who, according to ancient Greek mythology, were the founders of the world.
According to scientists, the total world reserves of titanium today are about 730 million tons. At the current rate of extraction of fossil raw materials, there will be enough for another 150 years. Titanium ranks 10th in terms of natural reserves among all known metals. The world's largest producer of titanium is Russian company VSMPO-Avisma, which satisfies up to 35% of the world's needs. The company is engaged full cycle processing from ore mining to the manufacture of various products. It takes about 90% Russian market for the production of titanium. About 70% of finished products are exported.
Titanium is a light, silvery metal with a melting point of 1670 degrees Celsius. Shows high chemical activity only when heated, under normal conditions does not react with most chemical elements and connections. It does not occur in nature in its pure form. It is common in the form of rutile (titanium dioxide) and ilmenite (a complex substance consisting of titanium dioxide and ferrous oxide) ores. Pure titanium is recovered by sintering the ore with chlorine and then displacing the more active metal (most commonly magnesium) from the resulting tetrachloride.
Industrial applications of titanium
The hardest metal has a fairly wide range of applications in many industries. Amorphously arranged atoms provide titanium the highest level tensile and torsion strength, good impact resistance, high magnetic qualities. The metal is used to make air transport hulls and missiles. It copes well with the enormous loads that machines experience at great heights. Titanium is also used in the manufacture of hulls for submarines, as it is able to withstand high pressure at great depths.
In the medical industry, metal is used in the manufacture of prostheses and dental implants, as well as surgical instruments. As an alloying element, the element is added to some steel grades, which gives them increased strength and corrosion resistance. Titanium is well suited for casting, as it allows you to get perfectly smooth surfaces. Jewelry and decorative items are also made from it. Titanium compounds are also actively used. Paints, white are made from dioxide, they are added to the composition of paper and plastic.
Complex organic titanium salts are used as a hardening catalyst in paint and varnish production. Titanium carbide is used to make various tools and attachments for processing and drilling other metals. In precision engineering, titanium aluminide is used to produce wear-resistant elements that have a high margin of safety.
Most hard alloy metal was obtained by American scientists in 2011. It consists of palladium, silicon, phosphorus, germanium and silver. new material called "metal glass". He combined the hardness of glass and the plasticity of metal. The latter does not allow cracks to propagate, as happens with standard glass. Naturally, the material was not put into wide production, since its components, especially palladium, are rare metals and are very expensive.
AT this moment the efforts of scientists are aimed at searching for alternative components that would preserve the obtained properties, but significantly reduce the cost of production. However, individual parts for the aerospace industry are already being produced from the obtained alloy. If alternative elements can be introduced into the structure and the material becomes widespread, then it is quite possible that it will become one of the most demanded alloys of the future.
Metals have been used by man since the dawn of civilization. One of the first known was copper, due to its ease of processing and widespread use. Archaeologists have found thousands of copper items during excavations. Progress does not stand still, and soon humanity learned to produce durable alloys to make weapons and agricultural tools. To this day, experiments with metals do not stop, so it has become possible to determine which is the most durable metal in the world.
Iridium
So, the most durable metal is iridium. It is obtained by precipitation from the dissolution of platinum in sulfuric acid. After the reaction, the substance acquires a black color, in the future, in the process of various compounds, it can change color: hence the name, which means "rainbow" in translation. Iridium was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century, and since then only two methods have been found to dissolve it: molten alkali and sodium peroxide.
Iridium is very rare in nature, in the composition of the earth its amount does not exceed 1,000,000,000. As a result, one ounce of the material costs at least $ 1,000.
Iridium is widely used in different areas human activities, especially in medicine. It is used to produce eye prostheses, hearing aids, electrodes for the brain, as well as special capsules that are implanted in cancerous tumors.
According to the theory of scientists, such a small amount of matter indicates that it is of alien origin, namely, brought by some asteroid.
Another strongest metal in the world, the name of which comes from the name of our country. It was first discovered in the Urals. Rather, platinum was found there, in which Russian scientists later discovered a new metal. It was 200 years ago.
Due to its beauty, ruthenium is often used in jewelry, but not in its pure form, because it is very rare.
Ruthenium is a noble metal. It has not only hardness, but also beauty. In terms of hardness, it is only slightly inferior to quartz. But at the same time, it is very fragile, it is easy to crush it into powder or break it by dropping it from a height. In addition, it is the lightest and most durable metal, its density is hardly thirteen grams per centimeter cubed.
For all its poor impact resistance, ruthenium is excellent at resisting high temperatures. To melt it, it is necessary to heat it to more than 2300 degrees. If this is done with an electric arc, the substance can immediately go into a gaseous state, bypassing the liquid stage.
In the composition of alloys, its use is extremely wide, even in space mechanics, for example, alloys of ruthenium and platinum metals were chosen for the manufacture fuel cells for artificial Earth satellites.
The Swedish scientist Ekeberg was the first to discover this metal on Earth. But the chemist failed to isolate it in its pure form, difficulties arose with this, which is why it received the name of the Greek hero of myths, Tantalus. Tantalum began to be actively used only during the Second World War.
Tantalum is a hard, durable metal of a silvery color, exhibits little activity at ordinary temperatures, oxidizes only when heated above 280 ° C, and melts only at almost 3300 Kelvin.
Despite its strength, tantalum is quite ductile, approximately like gold, and working with it is not difficult.
Tantalum can be used as a substitute for stainless steels, the service life can vary by as much as twenty years.
Tantalum is also used:
- in aviation for the manufacture of heat-resistant parts;
- in chemistry as part of anti-corrosion alloys;
- in nuclear power, because it is extremely resistant to cesium vapor;
- medicine for the manufacture of implants and prostheses;
- in computer science for the production of superconductors;
- in military affairs for various kinds of shells;
- in jewelry, because when oxidized, it can acquire various shades.
This metal is considered biogenic, which means it can positively influence living organisms. For example, the amount of chromium regulates cholesterol levels. If chromium in the body is less than six milligrams, then this leads to a sharp increase in blood cholesterol. Chromium ions can be obtained, for example, from barley, duck, liver or beets.
Chromium is refractory, does not react to moisture and does not oxidize (only when heated above 600°C).
Metal is actively used to create chrome plating, dental crowns
This long-lasting metal was formerly called glucinium because people noted its sweetish taste. In addition, this substance has many more amazing properties. He is reluctant to enter into chemical reactions. Extremely durable: it has been experimentally established that a millimeter thick beryllium wire is able to hold an adult on the weight. For comparison, aluminum wire can withstand only twelve kilograms.
Beryllium is highly toxic. When ingested, it is able to replace magnesium in the bones, a condition called berylliosis. It is accompanied by a dry cough and swelling of the lungs, which can lead to death. Toxicity is perhaps the only significant disadvantage of beryllium for humans. Otherwise, it has a lot of advantages and a lot of ways to use it: heavy industry, nuclear fuel, aviation and astronautics, metallurgy, medicine.
Beryllium is very light compared to some alkali metals.
This durable metal is even more expensive than iridium (and second only to California). However, it is used in areas where the result is more important than the cost of it: for the production medical equipment to the world's best clinics. In addition, it can be used to make electrical contacts, parts of measuring equipment and expensive watches like Rolex, electron microscopes, military warheads. Thanks to osmium, they become stronger and withstand higher temperatures, up to extreme ones.
Osmium does not occur in nature on its own, only paired with rhodium, so after extraction, the task is to separate their atoms. Less common is osmium in a "set" with platinum, copper and some other ores.
Only a few tens of kilograms of matter are produced per year on the planet.
This metal has a very strong structure. It itself is whitish in color, and when crushed into a powder it becomes black. The metal is very rare and is mined in conjunction with other ores and minerals. The concentration of rhenium in nature is negligible.
Due to the incredible high cost, the substance is used only in cases of emergency. Previously, its alloys, due to their heat resistance, were used in aviation and rocket science, including for equipping supersonic fighters. It was this area that was the main point of world consumption of rhenium, making it a material for military-strategic purposes.
Rhenium is used to make filaments and springs for measuring instruments, self-cleaning contacts and special catalysts needed to produce gasoline. This is what in recent years has increased the demand for rhenium at times. The world market is ready to literally fight for this rare metal.
All over the world there is only one of its full-fledged deposits, and it is located in Russia, the second, much less - in Finland
Scientists have invented a new substance, which in its properties can become stronger than known metals. It was called "Liquid Metal". Experiments with him began quite recently, but he has already proven himself. It is quite possible that in the near future "Liquid-metal" will replace the metals so well known to us.
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.
- high specific strength;
- resistance to high temperatures;
- low density;
- corrosion resistance;
- mechanical and chemical resistance.
Titanium is used in military industry, aviation medicine, shipbuilding, and other areas of production.
The most famous element, which is considered one of the strongest metals in the world, and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 technological equipment. In combination with iron, it forms a ferrochromium alloy, which is used in the manufacture of metal-cutting tools.
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.
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.
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 has a high resistance to impact. chemical. 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.
