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 is identical to niobium. But the German chemist Heinrich Rose managed to prove that these are two different elements. The scientist Werner Bolton from Germany was able to isolate tantalum in its pure form in 1922. This is a very rare metal. Most deposits of tantalum ore have been discovered in Western Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If strength is commonly understood as the ability of solid bodies to resist destruction and retain the shape of the product, then the following metals can be attributed to heavy-duty and durable metals.

Name titanium was awarded by Martin Klaproth, a German researcher who discovered a new metal not for its chemical qualities, but in honor of the mythological heroes of the children of the earth - the titans.

The presence of titanium in nature is in 10th place, most of all it is concentrated in minerals. Without this metal, the latest discoveries in the field of rocket, ship and aircraft construction would be impossible. Titanium is used in all areas of industry, in the manufacture of medical implants and body armor from the food industry and agriculture.

2nd place

Light gray tungsten , literally translated as wolf cream, is the most refractory metal, so it is indispensable in the manufacture of heat-resistant surfaces and products. The filament in a conventional light bulb is made from a tungsten filament.

That metal is used in ballistic missiles, in the manufacture of shells and bullets, in gyroscopic ultra-high-speed rotors.

3rd place

Tantalum it is almost impossible to modify, because it begins to melt at a temperature of 3015 degrees Celsius, and boils at a boiling point of 5300 degrees. It is impossible for an ordinary person to even imagine such a heat. The bluish-gray metal is the most indispensable in modern medicine; wire and sheets are made from it, which cover damaged bones.

Opened in 1817 molybdenum, gray-steel metal in its pure form is practically not found. The infusibility of this metal is striking, the melting point of which exceeds 2620 degrees. Molybdenum has found the greatest use in the military industry, where gun and armor steels are made.

5th place

Aviation and mechanical engineering, nuclear power and astronautics use niobium, very similar in its properties to tantalum metal. Niobium is practically not affected by any substances, neither salts nor acids, it is difficult to melt, and difficult to oxidize, which is what makes the unique metal so popular.

6th place

The heaviest metal on earth iridium possesses the most persistent anti-corrosion properties, even aqua regia cannot melt it. The addition of iridium to other alloys enhances their ability to resist corrosion.

7th place

Beryllium is one of the rare metals that are mined in the earth. Its unique qualities, such as high thermal conductivity and fire resistance, have made this metal indispensable in the manufacture of nuclear reactors. Beryllium alloys rightfully occupy a leading position in the aerospace and aviation industries.

8th place

Light blue chrome , which is also one of the most durable metals, due to its unique properties, when added to steel alloys, it makes them harder and more corrosion resistant. Chrome parts have a beautiful appearance that does not change over time.

9th place

The Saxons take care of their legends, the name of the hero of one of them, Kobold, was immortalized in the name of the metal - cobalt . Very often, when extracting ore, seekers mistook the gray-pink metal for silver.

Refractory metal, as an additive, increases the heat resistance, hardness and wear resistance of steel. Due to its unique qualities, cobalt is indispensable in machine tools.

Hafnium - a metal of light gray color, unique in its qualities, is mined from zirconium ore. Solid, refractory hafnium has a unique feature, the fact is that its heat-capacity dependence is anomalous and does not fall under any laws of physics.

Hafnium is used in nuclear power engineering and in optics, to strengthen various alloys and to make glass for X-rays; it is difficult to imagine military production without it.

Today we will look at the most durable metals in the world and discuss their properties. And opens the "strength rating" titanium.

Not the most durable?

The name of the metal, presumably, comes from the name of the ancient Greek hero Titan. Therefore, we associate this metal with invincibility. Titanium is considered by many to be the strongest metal in the world. However, in reality this is far from the case.

Pure titanium was first obtained in 1925. The new material was immediately noticed due to a number of properties. Titanium began to be very actively used in the industrial sector.

Today, titanium is in 10th place among natural metals in terms of prevalence. It contains about 700 million tons in the earth's crust. That is, the current raw materials will last another 150 years.

Titanium has excellent properties. It is a lightweight and durable metal, resistant to corrosion. It is easily heat-treatable and has a wide range of applications. It interacts with other elements of the periodic table only when heated. In nature, it is found in rutile and ilmenite ores. Pure titanium is obtained by sintering ore with chlorine.

It is able to withstand huge loads. The metal is distinguished by its high strength and impact resistance. It is used in the manufacture of vehicles, missiles and even submarines. Titanium withstands the force of pressure even at great depths.

It is also popular in the medical industry. Prostheses based on it do not interact with body tissues and are not subject to corrosion. But over the years, it begins to wear out, which makes it necessary to replace the prosthesis with a new one.

New developments

In 2016, scientists found a way to improve the properties of titanium and make it even more durable. The main goal of research is to find a more resistant material, while being compatible with body tissues. And then they remembered gold, which has been used in prosthetics for many years.

An alloy of titanium and gold, after several attempts to find the ideal ratio of the components, proved to be incredibly durable. 4 times stronger than other metals used today for prosthetics.

Tantalum

One of the most durable metals. Named after the ancient Greek god Tantalus, who angered Zeus and was cast into hell. It has a silvery-white color with a bluish tint. It is a characteristic element of granitic and alkaline magma. It is extracted from the mineral coltan, the largest deposits of which are located in Brazil and Africa.

It was opened back in 1802. Then it was considered a kind of columbium, but later it was established that these are two different metals, similar in properties. Only after 100 years was it possible to obtain pure tantalum. Its cost today is quite high - $ 150 per 1 kg of metal.

Tantalum is a refractory metal with a fairly high density. From a chemical point of view, it is stable, as it does not dissolve in dilute acids. In powder form, tantalum burns well in air. It is used for the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors, heaters in vacuum furnaces. Tantalum capacitors increase the life of electronic systems up to 10-12 years. It is noteworthy that even jewelers have found application for it - they replace platinum.

The strength test of metals showed that the alloy of tantalum and tungsten has almost one hundred percent strength.

Osmium is the most...

Osmium is another incredibly strong metal. It is also included in the list of the rarest and most expensive. In the composition of the earth's crust, it is present in scanty quantities. It belongs to scattered ones, that is, it does not have its own deposits. Therefore, its extraction is accompanied by enormous difficulties.

Osmium belongs to the group of platinum metals. Its cost is about 10,000 dollars per 1 gram. For the price, it is second only to artificial California. It is made up of several isotopes that are incredibly difficult to separate. The most popular isotope is osmium-187. Its price for 1 gram reaches 200,000 dollars!

Osmium is the champion in density among metals. In addition, it is a high strength metal. Alloys, which contain osmium, acquire resistance to corrosion, become stronger and more durable. Metal is also used in its pure form, for example, for the manufacture of expensive fountain pens, which practically do not wear out and write for years.

Chromium

Chromium, cobalt and tungsten have been known to science since 1913 and are united under the general name - stellites. They retain their hardness even at temperatures of 600 degrees Celsius.

Basically, this metal is found in the deep layers of the Earth. It is also found in the composition of stony meteorites, which are considered analogues of our mantle. Only chrome spinels are of industrial value. Many minerals that contain chromium are completely useless. The purest chromium is obtained by electrolysis of concentrated aqueous solutions or by electrolysis of chromium sulfate.

Metal combined with steel greatly enhances its strength and also adds oxidation resistance. It improves the characteristics of steel without reducing its ductility.

Ruthenium

Belongs to the platinum group and belongs to the noble metals. However, from their list, ruthenium is considered the least noble ... It was discovered by the scientist Karl-Ernst Klaus in 1844. It is noteworthy that the professor constantly sniffed and tasted the results of his research. Once he even got a burn of his mouth when he tasted one of the ruthenium compounds he had discovered.

Its world reserves today are about 5,000 tons. Ruthenium has been studied for a long time, but many of its properties are still unknown. The whole problem is that so far no way has been found to completely purify ruthenium. The contamination of raw materials makes it difficult to investigate its properties. However, doctors are sure that the use of metal in everyday life can increase the incidence among the population. Therefore, the release of the ruthenium-106 isotope in the Urals caused such a resonance in the press. After all, ruthenium-106 has radioactive properties.

At the same time, its value in 2017 unexpectedly surpassed all platinum metals.

Iridium is the strongest metal

It is iridium that has the highest strength. Yes, it is inferior to osmium in density, but it has the highest strength factor. It is also called the rarest of the metals, but in fact the content of astatine in the earth's crust is even less.

Iridium has been studied very carefully. After 70 years, its main properties - incredible strength and resistance to corrosion, have become known throughout the world. Today it is used in many industries. The lion's share of the metal is exploited by the chemical industry. The rest is divided into many other areas, including medicine and jewelry. Iridium combined with platinum creates high-quality and very durable jewelry.

When it comes to the most durable metal in the world, for sure, many people imagine a formidable warrior in armor and with a sword made of Damascus steel. However, steel is far from the strongest metal in the world, since it is obtained by alloying iron with carbon and other additives. The hardest of the pure metals is considered titanium!
There are two different versions about the origin of the name of this metal. Some say that the silver-colored substance began to be called that in honor of the fairy queen Titania(from Germanic mythology). Indeed, in addition to being a very durable metal, it is also amazingly light. Others are inclined to believe that the metal got its name thanks to the Titans - strong and powerful children of the Earth goddess Gaia. Be that as it may, both versions look quite beautiful and poetic, and have the right to exist.

Titanium was discovered by two scientists at once: the German M.G. Klaptor and the Englishman W. Gregor. Such a discovery, with a difference of six years, was made at the end of the 18th century, after which the substance was immediately added to the periodic table. There it took the 22nd serial number.

True, because of its fragility, the metal was not used for a long time. Only in 1925, having gone through a series of experiments, chemists managed to obtain pure titanium, which became a real breakthrough in the history of mankind. The metal turned out to be very manufacturable with low density, high specific strength and corrosion resistance, as well as high strength at high temperatures.

In terms of mechanical strength, titanium and six times the strength of aluminum. That is why the list of possible applications of titanium is endless. It is used in medicine for osteoprosthetics, in the military industry (to create a submarine hull, armor in aviation and nuclear technology). Also, the metal has established itself in sports and jewelry, the production of mobile phones.

Video:

By the way, in terms of distribution on earth, the strongest metal in the world occupies the tenth position. Its deposits are located in South Africa, China, Ukraine, Japan, India.

Although, judging by the latest discoveries in the field of chemistry, over time, titanium will have to give the title of super-metal to another representative. Not so long ago, scientists invented a substance stronger than metal. This is "liquid metal", or in translation - "liquid". The miracle substance has managed to establish itself as stainless and flawless for casting. And although humanity still needs to work hard to learn how to fully use the new metal, perhaps the future will belong to it.

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 various fields of human activity, 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 of fuel elements 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 technology 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, this condition is 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 of medical equipment in 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.