A Metal is any of a class of substances characterized by high electrical and thermal conductivity as well as by malleability, ductility, and high reflectivity of light. Approximately three-quarters of all known chemical elements are metals. The vast majority of metals are found in ores. Metals are usually crystalline solids. Metals have a relatively simple crystal structure distinguished by a close packing of atoms and a high degree of symmetry. From multi-level parking garages to skyscrapers amidst a bustling city, modern industrial processes need materials that are capable of withstanding a lot. On the hunt for strong materials, engineers turn to metals because of their strength, availability, and versatility. Strength of a metal depends on four properties like tensile strength, compressive strength, yield strength, and impact strength. In terms of tensile strength, tungsten is the strongest out of any natural metal (142,000 psi). Here are the 10 strongest metals in the world.
1.Tungsten
Tungsten W is found naturally on Earth almost exclusively as compounds with other elements. In terms of tensile strength, tungsten is the strongest out of any natural metal (142,000 psi).It has the highest melting point of all the elements discovered, melting at 3,422 °C (6,192 °F; 3,695 K). It also has the highest boiling point, at 5,555 °C (10,031 °F; 5,828 K). Tungsten is one of the toughest metals. But in terms of impact strength tungsten is weak. Its density is 19.25 grams per cubic centimeter. Pure single-crystalline tungsten is more ductile. Naturally occurring tungsten consists of four stable isotopes (182W, 183W, 184W, and 186W) and one very long-lived radioisotope, Tungsten also has 11 meta states.
Tungsten is a mostly non-reactive element with water and it is immune to attack by most acids and bases. It does not react with oxygen does not react to air at room temperature. The world’s reserves of tungsten are 3,200,000 tonnes; they are mostly located in China (1,800,000 t), Canada (290,000 t), Russia (160,000 t), Vietnam (95,000 t) and Bolivia. Tungsten is extracted from its ores in several stages. Tungsten is used in making Bullets and missiles. Tungsten is often used in electrical and military applications. Tungsten used in incandescent light bulb filaments, X-ray tubes, electrodes in gas tungsten arc welding, superalloys, and radiation shielding. Tungsten compounds are often used as industrial catalysts.
2.Steel
Iron is extracted from iron ore by removing the oxygen. While steel is technically an alloy rather than a metal, it is the strongest alloy currently available. Today, steel is one of the most common manmade materials in the world. The most important properties of steel are great formability and durability, good tensile and yield strength and good thermal conductivity. Very important stainless steel property is its resistance to corrosion. The Steel industry is often considered an indicator of economic progress. Steel is made from iron and carbon and is a highly versatile alloy. In its pure form, iron is soft and generally not useful as an engineering material. To strengthen it, converting it into steel by adding small amounts of carbon. Steel is possibly the most important engineering and construction material in the world. There are many measurement systems used to define the properties of a given steel. For example, Yield strength, ductility and stiffness are determined using tensile testing. Toughness is measured by impact testing; and hardness is determined by measuring resistance to the penetration of the surface by a hard object.
The relationship between stress and strain is a measure of the elasticity of the material, and this ratio is referred to as Young’s modulus. A high value of Young’s modulus is one of the steel’s most differentiating properties; it is in the range 190-210 GPa. The physical properties of steel are related to the physics of the material, such as density, thermal conductivity, elastic modulus, Poison’s ratio etc. It is used to fabricate everything from sewing needles to oil tankers. Because of its high tensile strength and low cost, steel is used in buildings, infrastructure, tools, ships, trains, cars, machines, electrical appliances, and weapons. On average, 50 percent of a car is made of steel. Steel is used in the production of farm vehicles and machines. Most of the appliances in modern homes, such as refrigerators, televisions, sinks, ovens and so on are made of “plain” steel.
- Chromium
Chromium Cr is the hardest metal. Chromium is a steely-gray lustrous, brittle, hard metal. It is known to have high corrosion resistance. When polished, it gains a very shiny surface, which is used to plate other metals. Chromium is also highly valued as a metal that is able to be highly polished while resisting tarnishing. It is poisonous in excess. Chromium is mined as chromite ore. Globally this ore is available in India, South Africa, Finland, Zimbabwe, Kazakihstan and the Philippines. The name of the element Chromium is derived from the Greek word chroma, meaning color. Chromium(VI) is a strong oxidising agent in contrast to the molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) oxides. Chromium is extremely the third hardest element behind carbon (diamond) and boron. Chromium has a melting point of 1907 °C (3465 °F), which is relatively low compared to the majority of transition metals.
4.Titanium
Titanium Ti is one of the strongest metals out there, with an ultimate strength of more than 430 Megapascals. It is one of the least dense metals, making it an ideal option for industrial uses that require a strong metal with a high melting point. Titanium has excellent resistance to corrosion in seawater. Titanium is stronger than steel, lighter in weight. Titanium is widely distributed and constitutes 0.44 percent of Earth’s crust. The metal is found combined in practically all rocks, sand, clay, and other soils. Titanium is not attacked by mineral acids at room temperature or by hot aqueous alkali. Titanium readily reacts with oxygen at 1,200 °C (2,190 °F) in air, and at 610 °C (1,130 °F) in pure oxygen, forming titanium dioxide. Pure titanium is ductile, about half as dense as iron and less than twice as dense as aluminum; it can be polished to a high lustre.
A compound of titanium and oxygen was discovered (1791) by the English chemist and mineralogist William Gregor and independently rediscovered (1795) and named by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth. These alloys are mainly used in aircraft, spacecraft and missiles because of their low density and ability to withstand extremes of temperature. They are also used in golf clubs, laptops, bicycles and crutches. Power plant condensers use titanium pipes because of their resistance to corrosion. Titanium metal connects well with bone, so it has found surgical applications such as in joint replacements and tooth implants. It is extensively used as a pigment in house paint, artists’ paint, plastics, enamels and paper. It is also a good reflector of infrared radiation.
5.Iron
Iron Fe is also a brittle and hard substance. Iron dissolves in dilute acids. It rusts easily. It is the most important of all metals. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust. Iron is rare in the Earth’s crust, limited mainly to deposition by meteorites. 90% of all metal that is refined today is iron. Iron can form magnets or be attracted to magnets. Pure iron is quite reactive. Iron reacts readily with oxygen and water to give brown to black hydrated iron oxides, commonly known as rust. The body of an adult human contains about 4 grams of iron, mostly in hemoglobin and myoglobin. Both the Earth’s inner and outer core, that account for 35% of the mass of the whole Earth, are believed to consist largely of an iron alloy, possibly with nickel.
Iron is also found combined with other elements in hundreds of minerals; of greatest importance as iron ore are hematite, magnetite, limonite , pyrite, goethite and siderite . The metal is extracted by smelting with carbon and limestone. People have been using iron for more than 5,000 years. In a very finely divided state metallic iron is pyrophoric. It is used in architecture, bearings, cutlery, surgical instruments and jewellery. Iron is Used to make bridges, electricity, pylons, bicycle chains, cutting tools and rifle barrels. Cast iron is used for pipes, valves and pumps. Iron is used in numerous sectors such as electronics, manufacturing, automotive, and construction and building.
6.Vanadium
In 1801, vanadium was discovered by Andres Manuel del Rio. It has good corrosion resistance, high strength at high temperature, and low density. Vanadium V has high resistance to alkalis, hydrochloric and sulfuric acids. It is found in different kinds of mill forms. It has high hardness when compared to most of the steels and metals. At a temperature of about 660°C, vanadium can be easily oxidized in air. It should be prevented from being exposed outside because it can react with oxygen and nitrogen gases. It is produced in China and Russia from steel smelter slag. Vanadium can be welded using TIG welding method if argon or helium is covered at front and back of a work piece.
About 80% of the vanadium produced is used as a steel additive. Vanadium-steel alloys are used for piston rods, armour plate, tools, crankshafts, axles. The vanadium redox battery for energy storage may be an important application in the future. Vanadium(V) oxide is used as a pigment for ceramics and glass, as a catalyst and in producing superconducting magnets. It is usually found in carbon containing deposits that include coal, tar sands, oil shale and crude oil. Vanadium is mainly applied in parts having low density, good low temperature ductility, high strength at high temperatures, and good corrosion resistance in bad environments. It is used in jet engines, air frames, nuclear reactors and gears etc.
7.Lutetium
Lutetium Lu is a silvery white metal, which resists corrosion in dry air, but not in moist air. The lutetium atom is the smallest among the lanthanide atoms, due to the lanthanide contraction. Lutetium has the highest density, highest melting point, and hardness of the lanthanides. It is found with almost all other rare-earth metals. Lutetium is very difficult to separate from other elements. It reacts slowly with water, but dissolves rapidly in acids. Lutetium was independently discovered in 1907 by French scientist Georges Urbain, Austrian mineralogist Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach, and American chemist Charles James. Lutetium usually occurs in association with the element yttrium. It burns readily at 150 °C to form lutetium oxide. Lutetium dissolves readily in weak acids. Lutetium, derived from the Latin Lutetia. It is sometimes used in metal alloys. Lutetium has the highest Brinell hardness of any lanthanide. Lutetium has a concentration of around 0.8 to 1.7 ppm in the Earth’s crust.
It is estimated that nearly 0.03% of lutetium is present in monazite ores. It is used as catalysts in petroleum production and used in polymerization and alkylation. It is used for cracking hydrocarbons. It is used in detectors of positron emission topography that detects cellular activity of the body. It is used in cancer treatment. Lutetium aluminium garnet has been proposed for use as a lens material in high refractive index immersion lithography. It is also used in magnetic bubble memory devices and light-emitting diode light bulbs. Lutetium-177 used as a radionuclide in neuroendrocine tumor therapy and bone pain palliation. Lutetium is considered to be one of the toxic metals. Hence inhalation of this compound is very dangerous as it might lead to fatal conditions. Some skin disorders can occur if we contact with Lutetium.
- Zirconium
Zirconium chemical element Zr is extremely resistant to heat and corrosion. Gems that contain zirconium were known in ancient times as zircon. Zircon is a natural semi-precious gemstone found in a variety of colors. Zirconium is lighter than steel and its hardness is similar to copper. Zirconium does not dissolve in acids and alkalis.
Zirconium is a very strong, malleable, ductile, lustrous silver-gray metal. It is solid at room temperature. In powder form, zirconium is highly flammable, but the solid form is much less prone to ignition. The melting point of zirconium is 1855 °C (3371 °F), and the boiling point is 4371 °C (7900 °F).
Zirconium occurs in about 30 mineral species. More than 1.5 million tonnes of zircon are mined each year, mainly in Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka . Most baddeleyite is mined in Brazil. In 1789, the German chemist, Martin Klaproth analysed a zircon and separated zirconium in the form of its ‘earth’ zirconia, which is the oxide ZrO2.
For the Ancient Egyptians the scarab beetle was a symbol of regeneration and creation, conveying ideas of transformation, renewal and resurrection. The Ancient Egyptians used zircon gemstones in jewellery. Zirconium does not absorb neutrons, making it an ideal material for use in nuclear power stations. Space and aeronautic industries use Zirconium to manufacture high-temperature parts like blades, combustors, and vanes in jet engines. In photographic flashbulbs and surgical instruments, to make the glass for television, in the removal of residual gases from electronic vacuum tubes, and as a hardening agent in alloys, especially steel.
It is extensively used by the chemical industry. Zirconium(IV) oxide is used in ultra-strong ceramics. Scissors and knives can be made from it. It is also used in antiperspirants, cosmetics, food packaging and to make microwave filters. With niobium, zirconium is superconductive at low temperatures and is used to make superconducting magnets. Baddeleyite and impure zirconium (zirconia) are used in lab crucibles.
- Osmium
Osmium chemical element Os is a shiny, silver metal that resists corrosion. It is the densest of all the elements and is twice as dense as lead. Of the platinum metals it has the highest melting point, so fusing and casting are difficult. Osmium is un effected by water and acids, but dissolves with molten alkalis.
Most osmium is obtained commercially from the wastes of nickel refining. Osmium is a rare element and found in the Earth’s crust. It is difficult to fabricate. In 1803AD, Osmium was discovered by Smithson Tennant when dissolving an impure sample of platinum in aqua regia, a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids.
It is also a member of the platinum group metals or PGMs (along with Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Iridium and Platinum) as well as being a transition metal. The name Osmium is derived from the Greek word Osme, which means odor. The largest known primary reserves of osmium include South Africa and Canada. It is added to platinum or indium to make them harder. It is used to produce very hard alloys for fountain pen tips, instrument pivots, needles and electrical contacts. It is also used in the chemical industry as a catalyst. It is used in making high-quality pen nibs, compass needles, long-life gramophone needles and clock bearings. Osmium tetroxide, OsO4, is highly toxic. Concentrations in air as low as 10-7 g m-3 can cause lung congestion, skin damage, and severe eye damage.
10.Tantalum
Tantalum Ta appears as a shiny and silvery metal in its soft and pure form but Tantalum is in the form of hard, rare, blue-grey, lustrous metal. It is highly conductive of heat and electricity. It shows excellent resistance to all acids in normal temperature. This metal is corrosion resistant and is bound to chemical attack below 150 C. It has a high melting point of about 3017 °C and a boiling point of about 5458 °C. The chemical inertness of tantalum makes it a valuable substance for laboratory equipment, and as a substitute for platinum. Tantalum was discovered in Sweden in 1802 by Anders Ekeberg, in two mineral samples one from Sweden and the other from Finland. The name tantalum was derived from the name of the mythological Tantalus, the father of Niobe in Greek mythology. Tantalum carbide, TaC, like the more commonly used tungsten carbide, is a hard ceramic that is used in cutting tools.
Tantalum causes no immune response in mammals, so has found wide use in the making of surgical implants. It can replace bone, for example in skull plates; as foil or wire it connects torn nerves; and as woven gauze it binds abdominal muscle. Tantalum alloys can be used for turbine blades, rocket nozzles and nose caps for supersonic aircraft. It is employed in the manufacture of capacitors. Used as an alloy due to its high melting point and anti-corrosion. It is used mainly as an alloying medium as it is helpful for hardening metals. It is utilized in the chemical industries. It has a high number of medical as well as dental applications. Tantalum causes many health-related problems such as irritation of the skin and eye when inhaled, ingested or when it gets absorbed into the skin.
