What is the hardest metal on earth. Which metal is the hardest and which is the softest?

When they talk about the strongest metals in the world, I immediately remember a medieval knight with a sword at the ready and in armor made of the legendary Damascus steel. It is this that many rightly consider to be the hardest, most durable, resistant to mechanical or chemical influences. But steel is not pure metal; it consists of several components that have been processed to change the final properties of the finished product. Consequently, it cannot be called a substance with the highest hardness. What metal is the strongest on the planet?

10 Titan

Titanium is in 10th position in our ranking of the strongest metals in the world. It is a high-strength, silver-colored, low-density solid. Titanium is resistant to high temperatures, it does not corrode, and is resistant to chemicals and is not afraid of mechanical damage. It is possible to melt titanium only at temperatures above 3200 degrees, and it boils when heated to a temperature of 3300 degrees. The scope of application of this metal is wide and varied - from the military industry to medicine.

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

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

9

Uranium takes 9th place in the Top 10. His distinctive feature is weak radioactivity. Uranium occurs in nature both in pure form and in the form component element sedimentary rocks. Among the main properties of this metal, it is necessary to highlight good flexibility and malleability, ductility, which allows it to be used in various industries.

Uranium alloys subjected to heat treatment are characterized by high resistance to corrosion; products made from them do not change shape due to temperature changes. That is why this metal was used to make tool steel until the mid-30s of the last century, but later this technology was abandoned.

8

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

WITH German language The word "tungsten" translates to "wolf foam"
The metal was discovered by Swedish chemist Carl Scheele in 1781

7 Rhenium

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

Rhenium was invented by famous German chemists Ida and Walter Noddack, and they named it in honor of the picturesque Rhine River.

6 Osmium

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

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

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

5

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

4

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

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

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

3

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

2 Ruthenium

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

1 Iridium

Iridium was unanimously awarded the title of the strongest metal in the world - a refractory substance of unprecedented hardness. It is an extremely rare metal, not found in its pure form, but is sometimes mined in combination with osmium. Iridium is hard and therefore difficult to machine and is resistant to chemicals. It is used to impart additional oxidation resistance to chromium and titanium and is used in jewelry and many industries.

The first metal that humanity began to use for economic purposes was copper: it is easy to process, it is found quite often in nature, so it is not surprising that it served as the material for the first metal knives and axes. A little later, people discovered that by adding tin to copper, they could get a much stronger alloy - bronze. And when they mastered iron, it turned out that in its pure form it is not much stronger than copper, but when combined with carbon it acquires much better strength properties. Medieval alchemists, in addition to searching for the philosopher's stone, also experimented with alloys, trying to determine which one was the most hard metal in the world, but all experiments confirmed: alloys are stronger than pure metal, no matter what it is. But what is the situation today?

The hardest

All the most durable “pure” metals were discovered by man quite late. The reason is simple: they are much less common than the iron or copper we are used to. There are several methods for determining the hardness of materials: Mohs, Vickers, Brinell and Rockwell, the data of which differ slightly. On the Mohs scale, for example, iron has a value of only 4, and the highest hardness of diamond is 10. And a dozen metals whose hardness is 5 units or higher look like this:

• iridium – 5;
• ruthenium – 5;
• tantalum – 5;
• technetium – 5;
• chromium – 5;
• beryllium – 5.5;
• osmium – 5.5;
• rhenium – 5.5;
• tungsten – 6;
• uranium – 6.

Most of this “magnificent ten” are extremely rare in nature (for example, the annual production of ruthenium in the world is about 18 tons, and rhenium is about 40 tons) or have radioactivity, making their use in everyday life difficult. And all of them have a very significant cost, with the possible exception of chromium. It is the high hardness and relatively low price of this metal that made it popular in the manufacture of durable alloys.

Use of the hardest metals

Due to the fact that most of the hardest metals are very rare in nature, their strength qualities remain unclaimed or are in extremely limited demand, for example, for coating components and parts of mechanisms subjected to the greatest load. But using rhenium or ruthenium additives in the manufacture of tool steel or armor, you see, is stupid. There simply aren’t enough of these metals for everything. Therefore, chromium turned out to be in great demand. It is the most important alloying additive, improving both the strength and corrosion resistance of alloys.

Some of the solid metals are used in very small quantities in medicine, in the creation of space technology, as catalysts and in some other areas. In these cases, it was not their hardness that was in demand, but other accompanying qualities. Tungsten, for example, as the most refractory metal on the planet (melting point +3422 Celsius), has found application in the creation of incandescent filaments for lighting devices. It is added in small quantities to alloys that must withstand high temperatures. long time– for example, in the metallurgical industry.

Uranus

Uranium, like tungsten, is the hardest metal on Earth, but uranium is much more common on our planet, and therefore has found much wider application. And its radioactivity did not interfere with this. The best known use of uranium is as a “fuel” in nuclear power plants. It is also used in geology to determine the age of rocks and in the chemical industry.

The strength properties and high specific gravity of uranium (it is 19 times heavier than water) were useful in the creation of armor-piercing ammunition. In this case, it is not pure metal that is used, but its depleted version, almost entirely consisting of the weakly radioactive isotope uranium-238. Heavy cores made of this metal perfectly penetrate even well-armored targets. How harmful are the residual effects of using such ammunition? environment and to humans, is not yet known for certain, since statistical material on this issue Too little has been accumulated.

The debate continues about which metal should be awarded the title of the most durable and valuable in the world. The reason for the controversy was the difference in their characteristics and features.

A silver-white, extremely refractory metal belonging to the platinum group, it tops our strength ratings. It was opened only in 1803. It is extremely rare in nature; the main source of iridium production is small celestial bodies that have fallen on the planet. The volume of global iridium production does not exceed 3 tons.

According to scientists, there are deposits of it on our planet; they are located in the very depths of the earth’s bowels, which makes their extraction extremely difficult today.

Iridium is added to refractory metals: titanium, tungsten, chromium to increase their resistance to acids, and is used in the production of jewelry and stationery. The potential of iridium is also actively used in industry; spark plugs for internal combustion engines and parts for spacecraft are produced.

Due to its rarity, the price of the noble metal is extremely high; as of October 2016, it is more than $20 per gram.

One of the strongest metals with high atomic density has a lead tint provided by an oxide film on the surface. It was mined in its pure form only at the beginning of the 20th century.

To obtain 1 ton of tantalum, about 3,000 tons of ore must be processed. The main deposits are located in France, Australia, China and Egypt. Despite its hardness, it has high ductility rates comparable to gold.

It begins to melt at ultra-high temperatures (about 3000 ⁰C), is resistant to chemical reagents and almost all acids, except a mixture of nitric and hydrofluoric acid.

If, after its discovery, tantalum was used exclusively for the production of wire for incandescent lamps, now its resistance to mechanical and thermal influences is appreciated.

It has found wide application in various industries, mechanical engineering and the space industry. Superconductors are made from it and used in the production of bone prostheses and military armor.

The difficulty of extracting tantalum ensures its high price, amounting to about $300 per kilogram as of October 2016.

One of the hardest metals, it belongs to the platinum group, therefore it is considered noble, has a high melting point (2334 ⁰C), rarity, and resistance to external influences.

Ruthenium crystals are quite fragile and can be pounded in a mortar without any problems. It is mostly mined in South Africa and has a pleasant blue-gray tint. Ruthenium is isolated from the rock through complex chemical processing, but in its pure form it is practically not used due to its fragility.

Mainly added to compounds with various metals to improve characteristics such as hardness (to platinum and palladium in jewelry), resistance to aggressive environments (titanium), increasing the efficiency of electrical contacts, thermocouples, and is also used for the production of laboratory glassware.

It is not only one of the hardest, but also the most expensive metals, the price exceeds $20 per gram.

A hard metal of a silvery-white color, not found in its pure form, but mined from chromium iron ore. Melts at a temperature of 1907 ⁰C, is resistant to alkalis and acids, and is not subject to corrosion.

Due to its properties, it is widely used in light industry, used for the production of metal-cutting tools and weapons. The price of the metal is unstable and fluctuates over a very wide range.

A hard, durable, lightweight and very toxic metal with a light gray hue. You can die from beryllium vapor poisoning. It has found application in the nuclear industry in the production of neutron reflectors; it is added to alloys to give them additional strength and corrosion resistance.

Also used in the nuclear industry, metallurgy, and aerodynamics. The price of beryllium in 2016 was $5500-6000 per kilogram

A durable and dense metal of silver-blue color, 3 times heavier than lead. It is rarely found in its pure form; as a rule, it is extracted from other representatives of the platinum group, in tandem with iridium, or as part of cosmic bodies that fell to Earth.

It has a strong unpleasant aroma. Found in a number of regions of Russia, Northern and South America. It is separated from other impurities through complex chemical reactions, the duration of which is up to 9 months. Found wide application in various industries.

In combination with tungsten it is used to produce incandescent filaments, and with platinum - for pacemakers and surgical instruments. Due to the difficulty of mining and limited quantity has a high price, 100 g of osmium costs about $7,700.

It is a by-product in the production of copper and molybdenum. It is used in modern aircraft construction, the production of high-precision electronics, and in the synthesis of high-octane gasoline.

The expansion of the scope of rhenium application is hampered by the complexity of extraction and dispersion over the surface of the earth's crust. The same factor provides the metal with a high cost (up to $4000 per kg).

A light gray metal reminiscent of platinum, it is characterized by high density and refractoriness. It is quite common in nature, found in the form of rock compounds called wolframite.

Despite the hardness of tungsten, it can be easily forged at temperatures above 1600 ⁰C, which allows it to be used in heavy industry as a base for refractory metals.

Tungsten elements are used to create televisions and lighting devices. As of October 2016, the price per kilogram of tungsten is $150.

One of the strongest metals in the world, which is a weak radioactive element. Distributed everywhere, found both in pure form and as part of sedimentary rocks.

The process of producing pure uranium is quite labor-intensive, divided into several stages, as a result of which only a few grams of metal are obtained from a ton of uranium ore. It is used for the production of nuclear fuel, cores for armor-piercing projectiles, and also for coloring glass.

The cost of uranium in 2016 is about $60 per kg.

When wondering about the strongest metal in the world, you probably imagine a warrior with a huge sword, cutting down everything in his path. But steel is most often used to make weapons. Firstly, it is not a metal, but an alloy of iron and carbon, and secondly, it is far from the most durable on earth. Most strong metal on earth it 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 Englishman Gregor and the German Klaptor discovered titanium in late XVII century. Immediately after the discovery of the metal, it was added to the periodic table. There he can be found at number 22.

At first, people had problems using titanium, since it was very (paradoxically) fragile. This was due to the fact that pure titanium, that same strong metal, could only be isolated in 1925. Before this, it was found only in natural alloys, which made it fragile. Now it is used to create armor, medical prostheses and in jewelry.

Just recently, scientists from California announced that they had managed to create the strongest alloy in the world. Moreover, this alloy may be the strongest substance on earth. It consists of palladium and a small amount of silver and other metals (scientists have not yet disclosed the exact composition). Main feature The main advantage 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 glass-like liquid.

One of the creators of the alloy, Marios Demitrou, claims that within a year such a metal alloy can be used in medical implants and as car parts. But scientists have yet to decide main problem new alloy - higher cost. According to Marios Demitrou, his team has already begun research that will reduce the cost of the alloy by more than 80%.

Most of the elements in the periodic table belong to metals. They differ in physical and chemical characteristics, but have common properties: high electrical and thermal conductivity, plasticity, positive temperature. Most metals are solid under normal conditions, with one exception to this rule: mercury. Chromium is considered the hardest metal.

In 1766, a previously unknown rich red mineral was discovered at one of the mines near Yekaterinburg. It was given the name “Siberian red lead”. Modern name This one is “crocoite”, its PbCrO4. The new mineral has attracted the attention of scientists. In 1797, the French chemist Vauquelin, conducting experiments with it, isolated a new metal, later called chromium.

Chromium compounds are brightly colored in a variety of colors. This is why it got its name, because in translation from Greek “chrome” means “paint”.

In its pure form, it is a silver-bluish metal. This essential component alloy (stainless) steels, giving them corrosion resistance and hardness. Chromium is widely used in electroplating, to provide a beautiful, wear-resistant protective coating, and in leather processing. Rocket parts, heat-resistant nozzles, etc. are made from alloys based on the base. Most sources claim that chromium is the hardest metal existing on earth. The hardness of chromium (depending on the experimental conditions) reaches 700-800 units on the Brinell scale.

Chromium, although considered the hardest metal on earth, is only slightly inferior in hardness to tungsten and uranium.

How chromium is obtained in industry

Chromium is found in many minerals. The richest deposits of chrome ores are located in South Africa (South Africa). There are many chrome ores in Kazakhstan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Turkey and some other countries. The most widespread is chromium iron ore Fe (CrO2)2. From this mineral, chromium is obtained by firing in electric furnaces over a layer. The reaction proceeds according to the following formula: Fe (CrO2)2 + 4C = 2Cr + Fe + 4CO.

The hardest metal from chromium iron ore can be obtained in another way. To do this, first the mineral is fused with calcined