What is the strongest alloy

The hardest metal

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 what the hardest metal in the world was, but all experiments confirmed: alloys are stronger than pure metal, no matter what it is.

But what is the situation today?

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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 for long periods of 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.

The extent to which the residual effects of the use of such ammunition harm the environment and humans is not yet known for certain, since too little statistical material has been accumulated on this issue.

Source: https://TheDifference.ru/samyj-tverdyj-metall/

10 artificially created materials with unique properties

The diversity of nature is limitless, but there are materials that would not have been born without human participation. We bring to your attention 10 substances created by human hands and exhibiting fantastic properties.

1. One-way bulletproof glass

The richest people have a problem: judging by the growing sales of this material, they need bulletproof glass that will save lives, but will not stop them from shooting back.

This glass stops bullets on one side, but at the same time lets them through on the other - this unusual effect consists of a “sandwich” of a fragile acrylic layer and a softer elastic polycarbonate: under pressure, acrylic manifests itself as a very hard substance, and when a bullet hits it extinguishes its energy, cracking at the same time. This allows the shock-absorbing layer to withstand the impact of bullets and acrylic fragments without collapsing.

When fired from the other side, the elastic polycarbonate allows the bullet to pass through itself, stretching and destroying the brittle acrylic layer, which leaves no further barrier for the bullet, but you should not shoot too often, as this will create holes in the protection.

2. Liquid glass

There was a time when dishwashing detergent did not exist - people made do with soda, vinegar, silver sand, rubbing or a wire brush, but a new product will help save a lot of time and effort and make washing dishes a thing of the past.

“Liquid glass” contains silicon dioxide, which, when reacted with water or ethanol, forms a material that then dries into a thin (more than 500 times thinner than a human hair) layer of elastic, ultra-resistant, non-toxic and water-repellent glass.

With such material, there is no need for cleaning and disinfectants, since it is able to perfectly protect the surface from germs: bacteria on the surface of dishes or sinks are simply isolated. The invention will also find application in medicine, because instruments can now be sterilized using only hot water, without the use of chemical disinfectants.

This coating can be used to combat fungal infections on plants and seal bottles; its properties are truly unique - it repels moisture, disinfects, while remaining elastic, durable, breathable, and completely invisible, as well as cheap.

3. Shapeless metal

This substance allows golfers to hit the ball harder, increases the bullet's striking power and extends the life of scalpels and engine parts.

Contrary to its name, the material combines the strength of metal and the hardness of a glass surface: the video shows how the deformation of steel and shapeless metal differs when a metal ball falls. The ball leaves many small “pits” on the surface of the steel - this means that the metal absorbs and dissipates the impact energy. The shapeless metal remained smooth, which means it better returns the impact energy, which is also evidenced by a longer rebound.

Most metals have an ordered crystalline molecular structure, and from a blow or other impact, the crystal lattice is distorted, which is why dents remain on the metal. In a shapeless metal, the atoms are arranged randomly, so after exposure the atoms return to their original position.

4. Starlite

This is a plastic that can withstand incredibly high temperatures: its thermal threshold is so high that at first they simply did not believe the inventor. Only after demonstrating the capabilities of the material live on television, employees of the British Atomic Weapons Center contacted the creator of starlite.

Scientists irradiated the plastic with high-temperature flashes equivalent to the power of 75 bombs dropped on Hiroshima - the sample was only slightly charred. One tester noted: “Usually you have to wait several hours between flashes for the material to cool. Now we irradiated him every 10 minutes, and he remained unharmed, as if in mockery.”

Morris Ward

Unlike other heat-resistant materials, Starlite does not become toxic at high temperatures, and it is also incredibly lightweight.

It can be used in the construction of spacecraft, airplanes, fireproof suits or in the military industry, but, unfortunately, starlite never left the laboratory: its creator Morris Ward died in 2011 without patenting his invention and leaving no descriptions . All that is known about the structure of starlite is that it contains 21 organic polymers, several copolymers and a small amount of ceramics.

5. Airgel

Imagine a porous substance of such low density that 2.5 cm³ of it contains surfaces comparable to the size of a football field. But it's not a specific material, but rather a class of substances: airgel is a form that some materials can take, and its ultra-low density makes it an excellent thermal insulator. If you make a 2.5 cm thick window out of it, it will have the same thermal insulation properties as a 25 cm thick glass window.

All the lightest materials in the world are aerogels: for example, quartz aerogel (essentially dried silicone) is only three times heavier than air and is quite fragile, but can withstand a weight 1000 times its own.

Graphene airgel (illustrated above) consists of carbon, and its solid component is seven times lighter than air: having a porous structure, this substance repels water, but absorbs oil - it is supposed to be used to combat oil spills on the surface of water.

6. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)

This chemical solvent first appeared as a by-product of cellulose production and was not used in any way until the 60s of the last century, when its medical potential was discovered: Dr. Jacobs discovered that DMSO could easily and painlessly penetrate body tissues - this allows quickly and without damage inject various drugs into the skin.

Its own medicinal properties relieve pain from sprains or joint inflammation due to arthritis, for example, and DMSO can also be used to fight fungal infections.

Unfortunately, when its medicinal properties were discovered, industrial production had long been established, and its widespread availability prevented pharmaceutical companies from making a profit. DMSO also has the unexpected side effect of causing the person's breath to smell like garlic, which is why it is used primarily in veterinary medicine.

7. Carbon nanotubes

They're essentially single-atom-thick sheets of carbon rolled into cylinders—their molecular structure resembles a roll of chicken wire, and it's the strongest material known to science. Six times lighter but hundreds of times stronger than steel, nanotubes have better thermal conductivity than diamond and conduct electricity more efficiently than copper.

The tubes themselves are not visible to the naked eye, and in its raw form the substance resembles soot: in order for its extraordinary properties to manifest itself, trillions of these invisible threads must be made to rotate, which became possible relatively recently.

The material can be used in the production of cables for the “elevator to space” project, which was developed quite a long time ago, but until recently was completely fantastic due to the impossibility of creating a cable 100 thousand km long that would not bend under its own weight.

Carbon nanotubes also help in the treatment of breast cancer - they can be placed into each cell in the thousands, and the presence of folic acid makes it possible to identify and “capture” cancerous formations, then the nanotubes are irradiated with an infrared laser, and the tumor cells die. The material can also be used in the production of lightweight and durable body armor.

8. Paykerite

In 1942, the British were faced with the problem of a lack of steel to build the aircraft carriers needed to fight German submarines. Geoffrey Pike proposed building huge floating airfields from ice, but it did not pay off: ice, although inexpensive, is short-lived.

Everything changed with the discovery by New York scientists of the extraordinary properties of a mixture of ice and sawdust, which was similar in strength to brick, and also did not crack or melt.

But the material could be processed like wood or melted like metal; the sawdust swelled in water, forming a shell and preventing the melting of ice, due to which any ship could be repaired while sailing.

Geoffrey Pike

But despite all the positive qualities, pikerite was unsuitable for effective use: to build and create an ice cover for a ship weighing up to 1000 tons, a one-horsepower engine was enough, but at temperatures above -26 ° C (and a complex cooling system is required to maintain it ) ice tends to sag. In addition, cellulose, also used in paper production, was in short supply, so paykerite remained an unfeasible project.

9. BacillaFilla - a construction microbe

Concrete has the property of “tiring” over time - it becomes dirty gray and cracks form in it. If we are talking about the foundation of a building, repairs can be quite labor-intensive and expensive, and it is not a fact that it will eliminate “fatigue”: many buildings are demolished precisely because it is impossible to restore the foundation.

A group of Newcastle University students have developed genetically engineered bacteria that can penetrate deep cracks and produce a mixture of calcium carbonate and glue, strengthening a building. The bacteria are programmed to spread across the surface of the concrete until they reach the edge of the next crack, and then the production of a cementitious substance begins, there is even a self-destruction mechanism for the bacteria, preventing the formation of useless “growths”.

This technology will reduce the anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, because 5% of it comes from concrete production, and it will also help extend the life of buildings, the restoration of which would cost a large amount in a traditional way.

10. D3o material

Resistance to mechanical stress has always been one of the main problems of materials science, until D3o was invented - a substance whose molecules are in free movement under normal conditions and are fixed upon impact.

D3o's structure is similar to the mixture of cornstarch and water that is sometimes used to fill swimming pools. Special jackets made of this material, comfortable and providing protection in the event of a fall, a blow from a bat or fists that you may receive, are already on sale.

The protective elements are not visible from the outside, which is suitable for stuntmen and even police.

Source: https://www.factroom.ru/facts/36397/

The lightest metals in the world

Natural materials such as stone and metal are associated with hardness, strength and, usually, greater weight. However, the latter property is nothing more than a stereotype. If you look at the periodic table of Mendeleev and pay attention to the density parameters of metals, it is not difficult to discover that there are specimens much lighter than water. Meanwhile, such chemical compounds and elements are in demand on a production scale.

List of "weightless" metals

Heaviness depends on the density and size of the atoms. The lower the first indicator and the higher the second, the lighter the chemical element. You don't have to be a great chemist to organize applicants into a structured list. It is much more interesting to find out what beneficial properties such metals have and what applications they find in human life.

Lithium

Lithium is the lightest alkali metal. If we compare the molecular weights of Li and H2O, it turns out that the metal is two times lighter than water. The question often arises of where to store this most valuable element, because it easily reacts with oxygen, oxidizing. To do this, experts use paraffin or petroleum ether.

Surprisingly, lithium in its pure form resembles the consistency of butter, so it can be easily cut with a regular kitchen knife.

Initially, the metal was derived from petalitanium. Later, in 1824, chemists began to synthesize lithium in the laboratory. The difficulty of extraction lies in the fact that the Li content in rocks is 21 grams per 1 ton.

Why do the seasons change each other?

The use of lithium in its pure form is almost impossible. And all because it actively interacts with the environment. More often it is used in the form of alloys with other elements.

In production, such chemical compounds take part in the creation of optical instruments, weapons, and pyrotechnics. Due to its oxidation properties, Li is used in the manufacture of medicines and textiles. It is impossible to imagine electrical appliances without this metal.

And recently its beneficial properties have been appreciated by the aerospace industry.

 Lithium deficiency has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the central nervous system. It is recommended for people with Alzheimer's disease and other mental disorders to take medications containing this biologically useful component.

Potassium

The second place in molecular weight is occupied by element 19 in the periodic table. Like Lithium, it is not found in the form of nuggets due to its increased activity, so potassium is removed from minerals.

It is very soft, has a silver color, and when burned, a violet flame is observed. Potassium interacts with oxygen, acids, and water.

Explosions often even occur, so working with this dangerous metal requires increased attention and the use of protective equipment. If potassium particles get on the skin, they will cause a severe chemical burn.

It should be stored in sealed containers, with the addition of substances that prevent the ingress of oxygen. It could be silicone, mineral oil.

Potassium obtained from rocks in its pure form is used:

• For the manufacture of electrodes;
• In lamps, photocells.

Why is the Moon red, yellow, orange, white?

In the form of alloys, potassium is used:

• When synthesizing superoxide;
• In works to determine the age of rocks;
• As an indicator in biology and medicine;
• As a coolant in reactors.

Potassium is in greatest demand in various types of alloys in medicine. A significant part of drugs, one way or another, is synthesized on the basis of this metal. For example, K iodide, K bromide, K chloride. In addition, it is the basis of fortified complexes aimed at supporting the state of the cardiovascular system and acid-base balance in the body.

Sodium

This inorganic substance is also alkaline and does not occur in nature in its pure form. Contained in minerals: borax, thenardite, halite and others. In laboratory conditions, sodium is obtained using molten table salt. Moreover, as a result of this industrial method, chlorine is also synthesized.

Like lithium and potassium, the metal reacts violently to oxygen, acids, carbon dioxide, and alcohols. May self-ignite if mixed with fluorine or chlorine. When water is added, a small explosion occurs and sodium hydroxide is formed.

In appearance it strongly resembles potassium. It has a silvery color, although it instantly fades in the open air. Among the useful characteristics for industry, excellent conductivity of current and heat is noted.

 Sodium boasts the largest difference between boiling and melting points. So, the first process occurs at +883 °C, and the second at +98 °C. This property determines the use of sodium in nuclear reactors, since it can withstand critical temperatures.

In the life of the human body, Na is necessary for normal metabolism. The lack of a useful element leads to neuralgia and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. But an excess promises high blood pressure and swelling.

25 Interesting Facts About Saturn

Aluminum

The most durable metal among light and non-ferrous metals is aluminum. This element identifies the golden mean, when not only weightless material is required, but also resistant to various types of influences.

 The baby rattle is the first product made of aluminum.

This is one of the few chemical elements that is directly involved in the production of everything that makes up modern life. The most popular metal in the world received the title of the most useful in the 20th century. Although, little has changed in XXI. Aluminum alloys (harder than pure metal) are used in construction, cutlery, tools, furniture and much more.

Artificial metal

In 2015, Californian scientists created microlattis. Today it is the lightest metal on Earth; it consists of 99.99% air. However, the element has unique strength due to its special design. This is a plexus of tubes, each of which is equal in size to 0.001 human hair. The amazing properties of microlattis are only just beginning to be fully used in industry.

to the point

Worth sharing!

Source: https://udipedia.net/samye-legkie-metally-v-mire/

The most interesting metal alloys

It is known that metals are rarely used in their pure form. Most often we are surrounded by various metal compounds and their alloys. Alloys are substances consisting of chemical elements, one of which is a metal.

Preparation of alloys

It was noticed a long time ago that if you mix molten metals and cool the resulting mixture, you get a substance whose properties differ from the properties of each of the metals. So, if aluminum is added to molten copper, then as a result of a chemical reaction a new compound with the formula AlCu is obtained.

Alloys are obtained in various ways. If the molten components are mixed and then the resulting melt is crystallized, a cast alloy is obtained. Crystallization is the process of transition from a liquid to a solid state.

In this case, a compound with a crystalline structure is formed. And if the powders of the components are mixed, and then the mixture is sintered at high temperature, an alloy is obtained, which is called a powder alloy.

To improve properties, elements called alloying elements are introduced into alloys.

Types of alloys

Alloys can contain only metals or compounds of metals with non-metals.

The alloy usually gets its name from the name of the element that is contained in the alloy in the largest quantity and forms the basis of the alloy. So, if the base of the alloy is iron, then the alloys are called ferrous.

And if the basis of the alloys is non-ferrous metals, then the alloys are called non-ferrous. There are also alloys of rare metals and alloys of radioactive metals.

Ferrous alloys

Alloys can have two or more components.

The most famous ferrous alloys are steel and cast iron. Both of these alloys are a mixture of iron and carbon. But cast iron contains much more carbon than steel. In addition to carbon, cast iron contains sulfur, phosphorus, manganese and silicon. These elements are also added to steel, but in much smaller quantities. Cast iron is a brittle material.

It is used where forging is not required. But steel is not only durable, but also a ductile material. Therefore, it is widely used in industry in metal structures, mechanisms, parts, for the manufacture of cutting tools, etc.

In our home we are surrounded by stainless steel products: knives, forks, spoons, scissors, graters, pots.

Non-ferrous alloys

The most famous copper alloys are bronze and brass.

An alloy of copper and tin is called bronze. In the 3rd millennium BC, tools were made from copper, since copper deposits at that time were huge.

It turned out that if copper is combined with tin, a substance is obtained that is more amenable to casting. This is how bronze was obtained for the first time. The next millennium was called the “Bronze Age”. In the 15th century Guns began to be cast from bronze.

Nowadays, bronze is used in mechanical engineering for the manufacture of various parts.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Used in the production of equipment, the automotive industry, and the chemical industry. Interestingly, brass is similar in appearance to gold. Therefore, until the 19th century, it was often passed off as gold.

The combination of copper and aluminum is called aluminum bronze. Aluminum bronze is a very ductile material.

Cupronickel is an alloy of copper and nickel. Used to make cutlery and art products.

The well-known aluminum alloy duralumin is a compound of aluminum with copper, magnesium and manganese. Used in the aviation industry and aircraft construction.

Magnesium, titanium, and beryllium alloys also find their use in industry and medicine.

Metals and alloys play a very important role in various types of human activity. It is impossible to list all the areas in which metals and their alloys are used.

Source: https://steelfactoryrus.com/samye-interesnye-splavy-metallov/

The strongest steel in the world

Can you imagine what would have happened if our ancestors had not discovered important metals such as silver, gold, copper and iron? We would probably still be living in huts using stone as our main tool. It is the strength of the metal that played an important role in shaping our past and now works as the foundation on which we build the future.

Some of them are very soft and literally melt in your hands, like the most active metal in the world. Others are so hard that they cannot be bent, scratched or broken without the use of special tools.

And if you are wondering which metals are the hardest and most durable in the world, we will answer this question, taking into account various estimates of the relative hardness of materials (Mohs scale, Brinell method), as well as parameters such as:

• Young's modulus: takes into account the tensile elasticity of an element, that is, the ability of an object to resist elastic deformation.
• Yield Strength: Determines the maximum tensile strength of a material beyond which it begins to exhibit plastic behavior.
• Tensile strength: the limiting mechanical stress beyond which a material begins to fail.

10. Tantalum

This metal has three advantages: it is durable, dense and very resistant to corrosion. In addition, this element belongs to the group of refractory metals such as tungsten. To melt tantalum you will have to build a fire at a temperature of 3,017 °C.

Tantalum is primarily used in the electronics sector to produce long-lasting, heavy-duty capacitors for phones, home computers, cameras, and even electronic devices in cars.

9. Beryllium

But it’s better not to approach this metal beauty without protective equipment. Because beryllium is highly toxic and has carcinogenic and allergic effects. If you inhale air containing beryllium dust or vapor, beryllium disease will occur, affecting the lungs.

However, beryllium is not only harmful, but also beneficial. For example, add just 0.5% beryllium to steel and get springs that will remain elastic even when brought to red-hot temperatures. They can withstand billions of load cycles.

Beryllium is used in the aerospace industry to create heat shields and guidance systems, and to create fire-resistant materials. And even the vacuum tube of the Large Hadron Collider is made of beryllium.

8. Uranus

This naturally occurring radioactive substance is very widespread in the earth's crust, but is concentrated in certain hard rock formations.

One of the world's hardest metals, it has two commercially significant applications - nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. Thus, the final products of the uranium industry are bombs and radioactive waste.

7. Iron and steel

As a pure substance, iron is not as hard as other participants in the rating. But due to its minimal extraction costs, it is often combined with other elements to produce steel.

Steel is a very strong alloy made of iron and other elements such as carbon. It is the most commonly used material in construction, mechanical engineering and other industries. And even if you have nothing to do with them, you still use steel every time you cut food with a knife (unless it’s ceramic, of course).

6. Titan

Titanium is practically synonymous with strength. It has an impressive specific strength (30-35 km), which is almost twice as high as that of alloy steels.

Being a refractory metal, titanium is highly resistant to heat and abrasion, which is why it is one of the most popular alloys. For example, it can be alloyed with iron and carbon.

If you need a very hard and at the same time very light structure, then you cannot find a better metal than titanium. This makes it the number one choice for creating various parts in the aircraft, rocket and shipbuilding industries.

5. Rhenium

This is a very rare and expensive metal, which, although found in nature in its pure form, is usually an “appendage” - an impurity to molybdenite.

If Iron Man's suit were made of rhenium, it could withstand temperatures of 2000°C without losing strength. We will remain silent about what would have happened to Iron Man himself inside the suit after such a “fire show”.

Russia is the third country in the world in terms of natural reserves of rhenium. This metal is used in the petrochemical industry, electronics and electrical engineering, and in aircraft and rocket engines.

4. Chrome

On the Mohs scale, which measures the scratch resistance of chemical elements, chromium is in the top five, behind only boron, diamond and tungsten.

Chrome is valued for its high corrosion resistance and hardness. It is easier to handle than the platinum group metals and is more abundant, which is why chromium is a popular element used in alloys such as stainless steel.

And one of the strongest metals on Earth is used in the creation of dietary supplements. Of course, you will not be ingesting pure chromium, but a dietary combination of it with other substances (for example, chromium picolinate).

3. Iridium

Like its “brother” osmium, iridium belongs to the platinum group metals and resembles platinum in appearance. It is very hard and refractory. To melt iridium, you will have to build a fire above 2000 °C.

Iridium is considered one of the heaviest metals on Earth, as well as one of the most corrosion-resistant elements.

2. Osmium

This “tough nut” in the world of metals belongs to the platinum group and has a high density. In fact, it is the densest natural element on Earth (22.61 g/cm3). For the same reason, osmium does not melt until 3033 °C.

When alloyed with other platinum group metals (such as iridium, platinum and palladium), it can be used in many different applications where hardness and durability are needed. For example, to create containers for storing nuclear waste.

1. Tungsten

The strongest metal found in nature. This rare chemical element is also the most refractory of the metals (3422 °C).

It was first discovered in the form of acid (tungsten trioxide) in 1781 by Swedish chemist Carl Scheele. Further research led two Spanish scientists, Juan José and Fausto d'Elhujar, to the discovery of acid from the mineral wolframite, from which they subsequently isolated tungsten using charcoal.

In addition to its widespread use in incandescent lamps, tungsten's ability to perform in extreme heat makes it one of the most attractive elements for the weapons industry. During World War II, this metal played an important role in initiating economic and political relations between European countries.

Tungsten is also used to make carbide and, in the aerospace industry, to make rocket nozzles.

Table of tensile strength of metals

Metal Designation Tensile strength, MPa

Lead	Pb	18
Tin	Sn	20
Cadmium	Cd	62
Aluminum	Al	80
Beryllium	Be	140
Magnesium	Mg	170
Copper	Cu	220
Cobalt	Co	240
Iron	Fe	250
Niobium	Nb	340
Nickel	Ni	400
Titanium	Ti	600
Molybdenum	Mo	700
Zirconium	Zr	950
Tungsten	W	1200

Alloys vs metals

Alloys are combinations of metals, and the main reason for their creation is to create a stronger material. The most important alloy is steel, which is a combination of iron and carbon.

The higher the strength of the alloy, the better. And ordinary steel is not the “champion” here. Alloys based on vanadium steel seem especially promising to metallurgists: several companies produce options with a tensile strength of up to 5205 MPa.

And the most durable and hardest biocompatible materials at the moment is the titanium alloy with gold β-Ti3Au.

Source: https://varimtutru.com/samaya-krepkaya-stal-v-mire/

Platinum + gold is the strongest metal alloy in the world

Platinum + gold is the strongest metal alloy in the world

And straight to the heart of the scientific achievement - researchers from the American Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new metal alloy and characterized it as the strongest alloy ever created by scientists in laboratories around the world.

The new material developed, made from a combination of platinum and gold , is estimated to be 100 times more wear-resistant than high-strength steel, making it the first metal alloy in the same class as diamond surfaces.

Why is this so important

All sectors of human activity require wear-resistant alloys. Just imagine that, for example, car tires made of a new alloy would only wear down one atomic layer per mile . And on such tires you will be able to “drift” a distance of 500 equators of the planet - doesn’t that sound fantastic? However, this is a simplified explanation of the essence of technological achievement.

Sandia researchers Michael Chandross and Nick Argibay observing the testing of an alloy with platinum gold that is now the strongest alloy in the world

It is also necessary to note the fact that the new alloy itself produces its own lubricant , which is a complex and expensive component when using other materials.

In a simplified version of the explanation of the content of the engineering discovery, the formula of the alloy formally sounds like this: 90% platinum + 10% gold. Such alloys are not revolutionary scientific achievements - they are simply technological innovations that provide long-term resistance to heat and friction.

Moreover, the new alloy provides excellent mechanical and thermal stability over very long periods of cyclic stress.

Research laboratory has developed a new alloy

Why scientists are proud of the new alloy

“Even under extreme stress and temperature, many known alloys will soften, especially under prolonged stress.

We saw that with our new platinum-gold alloy, mechanical and thermal stability was maintained at excellent levels and we did not see significant changes in microstructure over very long periods of cyclic stress during sliding,” says research leader John Curry. Computer simulations help designers “control individual atoms” and obtain predictable properties of new materials.

Gold + platinum = strong metal alloy

What’s special about the new alloy is that a certain “black film” is formed during strength tests of the new material. This "film" is diamond-like carbon and is an excellent lubricant that works "on its own" without the need for complex and expensive additional processes.

"Platinum Gold"

Yes, of course, criticism of the researchers’ achievements is obvious - the alloy of gold and platinum is a very expensive material .

Everything is true, but in some areas of human activity the cost of an error in the reliable operation of devices is so high that spending on gold and platinum does not seem unnecessary and expensive at all.

The real economy will put everything in its place, but the new achievement of scientists will certainly find its embodiment in complex devices that ensure the critical processes of the life of civilization.

Expensive, but very durable alloy

Newatlas materials used

• metal alloy
• reliability
• USA
• sustainability

Source: https://taratutenko.ru/platina-zoloto-v-to-samy-protchny-metallitcheskiy-splav-v-mire.html

Aluminum alloys - grades, properties and applications

Aluminum is a silvery-white, lightweight paramagnetic metal. First obtained by the Danish physicist Hans Oersted in 1825. In the periodic table of D.I. Mendeleev it has the number 13 and the symbol Al, the atomic mass is 26.98.

Aluminum production

To produce aluminum, bauxite is used - a rock that contains aluminum oxide hydrates. The world's reserves of bauxite are almost unlimited and are incommensurate with the dynamics of demand.

Bauxite is crushed, ground and dried. The resulting mass is first heated with steam and then treated with alkali - most of the aluminum oxide passes into the alkaline solution. After this, the solution is stirred for a long time.

At the electrolysis stage, alumina is exposed to an electric current of up to 400 kA. This allows the bond between the oxygen and aluminum atoms to be broken, leaving only liquid metal.

The aluminum is then cast into ingots or various elements are added to it to create aluminum alloys.

Aluminum alloys

The most common elements in aluminum alloys are copper, manganese, magnesium, zinc and silicon. Less common are alloys with titanium, beryllium, zirconium and lithium.

Aluminum alloys are conventionally divided into two groups: cast and wrought.

To make casting alloys, molten aluminum is poured into a mold that matches the configuration of the resulting product. These alloys often contain significant silicon impurities to improve castability.

Wrought alloys are first cast into ingots and then shaped into the desired shape.

This happens in several ways depending on the type of product:

1. By rolling, if necessary, to obtain sheets and foil.
2. By pressing, if you need to obtain profiles, pipes and rods.
3. Molding to obtain complex shapes of semi-finished products.
4. Forging, if you need to obtain complex shapes with increased mechanical properties.

Aluminum alloy grades

To mark aluminum alloys in accordance with GOST 4784-97, an alphanumeric system is used, in which:

• A - technical aluminum;
• D - duralumin;
• AK - aluminum alloy, malleable;
• AB - avial;
• B - high-strength aluminum alloy;
• AL - cast aluminum alloy;
• AMg - aluminum-magnesium alloy;
• AMts - aluminum-manganese alloy;
• SAP - sintered aluminum powders;
• SAS - sintered aluminum alloys.

After the first set of characters, the alloy grade number is indicated, and after the number is a letter that indicates its condition:

• M - alloy after annealing (soft);
• T - after hardening and natural aging;
• A - clad (a pure layer of aluminum is applied);
• N - hard-worked;
• P - semi-hardened.

Aluminum-magnesium alloys

These ductile alloys have good weldability, corrosion resistance and a high level of fatigue strength.

Aluminum-magnesium alloys contain up to 6% magnesium. The higher its content, the stronger the alloy. Each percent increase in magnesium concentration increases the tensile strength by approximately 30 MPa and the yield strength by approximately 20 MPa.

Under such conditions, the relative elongation decreases, but only slightly, remaining within 30–35%.

However, when the magnesium content exceeds 6%, the mechanical structure of the alloy in the cold-worked state becomes unstable, and corrosion resistance deteriorates.

To improve strength, chromium, manganese, titanium, silicon or vanadium are added to the alloys. Impurities of copper and iron, on the contrary, negatively affect alloys of this type - they reduce weldability and corrosion resistance.

Aluminum-manganese alloys

These are strong and ductile alloys that have a high level of corrosion resistance and good weldability.

To obtain a fine-grained structure, alloys of this type are alloyed with titanium, and manganese is added to maintain stability in the cold-worked state. The main impurities in Al-Mn alloys are iron and silicon.

Aluminum-copper-silicon alloys

Alloys of this type are also called alcusines. Due to their high technical properties, they are used in sleeve bearings, as well as in the manufacture of cylinder blocks. They have high surface hardness, so they are difficult to break in.

Aluminum-copper alloys

The mechanical properties of alloys of this type in a heat-strengthened state sometimes even exceed the mechanical properties of some low-carbon steels. Their main drawback is their low corrosion resistance, which is why these alloys are treated with surface protective coatings.

Aluminum-copper alloys are alloyed with manganese, silicon, iron and magnesium. The latter has the greatest influence on the properties of the alloy: alloying with magnesium significantly increases the yield strength and strength. Adding iron and nickel to the alloy increases its heat resistance, and silicon increases its ability to undergo artificial aging.

Aluminum-silicon alloys

Alloys of this type are otherwise called silumins. Some of them are modified with additions of sodium or lithium: the presence of literally 0.05% lithium or 0.1% sodium increases the silicon content in the eutectic alloy from 12% to 14%. The alloys are used for decorative casting, the manufacture of mechanism cases and elements of household appliances, since they have good casting properties.

Aluminum-zinc-magnesium alloys

Durable and well processed. A typical example of a high-strength alloy of this type is B95. This strength is explained by the high solubility of zinc and magnesium at a melting point of up to 70% and up to 17.4%, respectively. When cooled, the solubility of elements decreases noticeably.

The main disadvantage of these alloys - low corrosion resistance during mechanical stress - is corrected by alloying with copper.

Avial

Avial is a group of alloys of the aluminum-magnesium-silicon system with minor additions of other elements (Mn, Cr, Cu). The name is derived from the abbreviation of the phrase “aviation aluminum”.

Avial began to be used after the discovery by D. Hanson and M. Geiler of the effect of artificial aging and thermal hardening of this group of alloys due to the release of Mg2Si.

These alloys are characterized by high ductility and satisfactory corrosion resistance. Forged and stamped parts of complex shapes are made from aircraft. For example, spars of helicopter rotor blades. To improve corrosion resistance, the copper content is sometimes reduced to 0.1%.

The alloy is also actively used to replace stainless steel in mobile phone cases.

Physical properties

• Density - 2712 kg/m3.
• Melting point - from 658°C to 660°C.
• Specific heat of fusion - 390 kJ/kg.
• Boiling point - 2500 °C.
• The specific heat of evaporation is 10.53 MJ/kg.
• Specific heat capacity - 897 J/kg·K.
• Electrical conductivity - 37·106 S/m.
• Thermal conductivity - 203.5 W/(m K).

Chemical composition of aluminum alloys

Aluminum alloys
Brand	Mass fraction of elements, %	Density, kg/dm³
GOST	ISO209-1-89	Silicon (Si)	Iron (Fe)	Copper (Cu)	Manganese (Mn)	Magnesium (Mg)	Chromium (Cr)	Zinc (Zn)	Titanium (Ti)	Other	Aluminum no less
Every	Sum
AD000	A199.8 1080A	0,15	0,15	0,03	0,02	0,02	0,06	0,02	0,02	99,8	2,7
AD00 1010	A199.7 1070A	0,2	0,25	0,03	0,03	0,03	0,07	0,03	0,03	99,7	2,7
AD00E 1010E	EA199.7 1370	0,1	0,25	0,02	0,01	0,02	0,01	0,04	Boron:0.02 Vanadium+titanium:0.02	0,1	99,7	2,7

In the distant past, due to the high cost of aluminum, it was used to make jewelry. Thus, scales with aluminum and gold bowls were presented to D. I. Mendeleev in 1889.

When the cost of aluminum decreased, the fashion for jewelry made from this metal passed away. But even today it is used to make jewelry. In Japan, for example, aluminum is used to replace silver in the production of national jewelry.

Cutlery

Aluminum cutlery and cookware continue to be popular. In particular, aluminum flasks, pots and spoons are widely used in the army.

Glass making

Aluminum is widely used in glass making. High reflectivity and low cost of vacuum deposition are the main reasons for using aluminum in the manufacture of mirrors.

Food industry

Aluminum is registered as a food additive E173. It is used as a food coloring and also to preserve food from mold. E173 colors confectionery products in a silver color.

Military industry

Due to its light weight and low cost, aluminum is widely used in the manufacture of small arms - machine guns and pistols.

Rocketry

Aluminum and its compounds are used as rocket fuel in two-component rocket propellants and as a combustible component in solid rocket propellants.

Aluminum energy

In the aluminum energy industry, aluminum is used to produce hydrogen and thermal energy, as well as to generate electricity in air-aluminum electrochemical generators.

Source: https://ferrolabs.ru/blog/alyuminiy-i-ego-splavy/

Aluminum alloys series 7xxx

Alloys of the 7xxx series are the strongest among all aluminum alloys (Figure 1). However, they have a major drawback - they are prone to stress corrosion. The main alloying elements are from 1 to 9% zinc (most often from 4 to 6%), from 1 to 3% magnesium, and also, for some alloys, up to 3.0% copper, aluminum - everything else. These alloys are strengthened by heat treatment.

Important applications of these alloys are related to their high strength. These are aerospace technology, military equipment and nuclear power equipment. In addition, they have applications in construction, as well as for the manufacture of sports equipment, such as ski poles and tennis rackets.

Figure 1 - strength of popular aluminum alloys

The solubility of zinc in aluminum decreases from 31.6% at 275 ºС to 5.6% at 125 ºС (Figure 2). The 7xxx series industrial alloys contain zinc, magnesium and copper with minor additions of manganese and chromium, as well as zirconium to control grain growth and recrystallization.

Figure 2 – “Aluminum” section of the aluminum-zinc phase diagram [2]

Aluminum alloys of the 7xxx series are used for the manufacture of load-bearing elements of aircraft, such as the upper shells of wings, stringers, horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Horizontal and vertical stabilizers have the same design criteria as wings.

The upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal stabilizer experience bending and compressive loading is critical for them. Therefore, the compressive modulus of elasticity is the most important property.

Critical design parameters of upper wing components are compressive strength and fatigue resistance.

The most durable alloys of the 7xxx series

All aluminum alloys of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu system exhibit the highest strength. The addition of 2% copper in combination with magnesium and zinc significantly increases the strength properties of the 7xxx series alloys.

The following alloys have the highest tensile strength values ​​that aluminum alloys can have:

• 7075: 5.5% zinc - 2.5% magnesium - 1.5% copper;
• 7079: 4.3% zinc - 3.3% magnesium - 0.6% copper;
• 7178: 6.8% zinc - 2.7% magnesium - 2.0% copper.

Alloy 7075-T6 has a very high strength-to-weight ratio, low production cost and good machinability. Therefore, it is preferred when choosing a material for structural elements of aircraft. However, alloy 7075 has fairly low corrosion resistance. The susceptibility of this alloy to stress corrosion cracking can be controlled by proper heat treatment and the addition of certain materials such as chromium.

Figure 3 – Level of strength of aluminum alloy 7075-T6 among other structural materials

State T6

Alloy 7075, an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Cr alloy, has the most widespread and long-lasting use of all the 7xxx series alloys. It was introduced in Japan in 1943, was a top secret and was used to make Japanese military aircraft.

Alloy 7075 was originally used for thin cross-section parts and components, primarily in the form of sheets and extrusions. For these products, the hardening rate is usually very high and tensile stresses do not occur in the short transverse direction.

Therefore, stress corrosion cracking is not a problem for such materials in the high strength T6 condition.

However, when alloy 7075 is used in large sized and thick products and parts, it becomes clear that such products and parts heat strengthened to T6 conditions often do not meet the specified requirements.

Products that were produced by extensive machining from large forgings, extrusions or plates were then subjected to long-term tensile stresses in unfavorable orientations.

Under such operational conditions, stress corrosion cracking (stress corrosion) occurred quite frequently.

Condition T73

The solution to this problem was the introduction of the T73 condition for thick and massive 7075 alloy products. The heat treatment used to obtain this condition requires a two-stage artificial aging. The second stage is performed at a higher temperature than that used to achieve the T6 state. This additional heat treatment reduces the strength to a level below that achieved by alloy 7075 in the T6 condition.

The T7 state is achieved by overaging, which means that the aging of the alloy continues after reaching the peak values ​​of its hardness and strength, in contrast to the T6 state.

Numerous experiments and long-term operating experience have confirmed that alloy 7075-T73 has significantly higher resistance to stress corrosion compared to alloy 7075-T6.

Interestingly, the wheels of the famous Curiosity rover are made from 7075-T7351 alloy using a machined one-piece forged ring (Figure 8).

(A)

Figure 8 – Wheel of the Curiosity rover made of aluminum alloy 7075-T7351:

a – on Earth; b – under operating conditions on Mars

Source: https://aluminium-guide.ru/visokoprochnye-alyuminievye-splavy-serii-7xxx/

The most durable metals - TOP 10

Reading time: 5 min.

Metals accompany humanity almost all of its conscious life. This began, of course, with copper, since it is the most amenable to processing material and available in nature.

Evolution helped people develop significantly technically and over time they began to invent alloys that became stronger and stronger. In our time, experiments continue, and new durable alloys appear every year. Let's consider the best of them.

Titanium

Titanium is a high-strength material that is in high demand in many industries. The most common area of ​​application is aviation. This is due to the successful combination of low mass and high strength. Also, the properties of titanium are high specific strength, resistance to physical influences, temperatures and corrosion.

Tungsten

The most refractory metal currently known. It has a silver-gray color and is a so-called transitional element. The properties of tungsten allow it to resist chemical attack and be forgeable. The most famous area of ​​application is used in incandescent lamps.

Rhenium

Silver-white metal. It can be found in nature in its pure form, but there is also molybdenum raw material in which it is also found. A distinctive feature of rhenium is its refractoriness. It belongs to expensive metals, so its cost is also off the charts. Application area: electronics.

Osmium

Osmium is a silvery-white metal that has a slight blue tint. It belongs to the platinum group and has an unusually strong similarity to iridium in such properties as refractoriness, hardness and brittleness.

Beryllium

This metal is an element that has a light gray tint and is highly toxic. Having such unusual properties, the material has found wide application in the field of nuclear energy and laser technology. The high strength of beryllium allows it to be used in the manufacture of alloying alloys.

Chromium

The bluish-white tint makes chrome stand out from the crowd. It is resistant to alkalis and acids. In nature it can be found in its pure form. Chromium is often used to create various alloys, which are later used in the fields of medicine and chemical equipment.

It is worth noting that ferrochrome is an alloy of chromium and iron. It is used in the manufacture of metal cutting tools.

Tantalum

It is a silvery metal with high hardness and density. A lead tint on metal is formed due to the appearance of an oxide film on the surface. The metal lends itself well to processing.

Today, tantalum is successfully used in the construction of nuclear reactors and metallurgical production.

Ruthenium

A silvery metal that belongs to the platinum group. It has an unusual composition: it contains muscle tissue of living organisms. Another distinctive fact is that ruthenium is used as a catalyst for many chemical reactions.

Iridium

This metal ranks first in our rating. It has a silvery white color. Iridium also belongs to the platinum group and has the highest hardness of the above metals. In the modern world it is used very often. It is mainly added to other metals to improve their resistance to acidic environments. The metal itself is very expensive, since it is very poorly distributed in nature.

Source: https://BigRating.ru/samye-prochnye-metally/

Hardest alloy - Which alloy is the hardest?

alexxlab | 04/09/2019 | 0 | Questions and answers

The hardest alloy discovered | Popular Mechanics Magazine

A team of scientists from the universities of Texas and Florida has produced the hardest known biocompatible material. It turned out to be an alloy of titanium and gold β-Ti3Au.

Perhaps soon prosthetics will be made from even stronger metal.

Titanium is inert enough to not interact with living tissue or oxidize in the body, but sometimes it lacks strength. On average, titanium dentures need to be replaced every 10 years due to wear and tear. Therefore, scientists have long been faced with the task of finding another, more durable and at the same time biocompatible material.

Previous experiments with alloys of titanium with silver and copper showed good results, but the researchers suggested that if a metal with properties similar to copper or silver, but with a higher atomic mass, was used in the alloy, the alloy would be stronger. The choice was made on gold: it has long been used in prosthetics.

Study leader Professor Emilia Morosan from Rice University in Houston, Texas, said the discovery was made while studying magnets made of titanium and gold.

To test the substances for impurities, laboratory staff needed to obtain metal powder from the samples.
In the case of Ti3Au, this failed: the diamond grater could not cope with the alloy. After a series of experiments, it was possible to identify the ideal ratio of metals in the alloy.

The result was a metal four times stronger than those currently used in the production of prosthetics.

The results of the study were published in the journal Science Advances .

www.popmech.ru

The most durable alloy

Glass made of metal

Specialists from the California Institute of Technology have obtained a material that is unique in its properties - the strongest alloy to date - “metallic glass”. The uniqueness of the new alloy is that metallic glass is made of metal, but has the internal structure of glass. Today, scientists are figuring out what exactly gives the alloy such unusual properties and how they can be introduced into alloys made from less expensive materials.

The amorphous structure of glass, unlike the crystalline structure of metal, is not protected from the propagation of cracks, which explains the fragility of glass. Metal glasses also have the same disadvantage, which also break quite easily, forming shear bands that develop into cracks.

Alloy properties

Specialists from the Californian Institute noticed that the appearance of a large number of shear bands provides high resistance to the development of cracks, due to which the opposite effect is achieved: the material bends without collapsing.

It is precisely this material, the energy of producing shear bands that is much less than the energy required to turn them into cracks, that they created.

“By mixing five elements, we ensured that when cooled, the material “does not know” which structure to adopt and chooses an amorphous one,” explained study participant R. Ritchie.

Metal glass

Source: https://stankotec.ru/raznoe/samyj-tverdyj-splav-kakoj-splav-samyj-tverdyj.html

The strongest metal alloy in the world - Metalist's Handbook

Titanium is a highly durable hard metal that immediately attracted attention. The properties of titanium are: high specific strength; resistance to high temperatures; low density; corrosion resistance; mechanical and chemical resistance. Titanium is used in the military industry, aviation medicine, shipbuilding, and other areas of production.

9 Uranus

The most famous element, 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 everywhere and has paramagnetic properties, flexibility, malleability, and relative ductility. Uranium is used in many areas of production.

8 Tungsten

Known as the most refractory metal in existence, it is one of the strongest metals in the world. It is a solid transitional element of a shiny silver-gray color. It has high strength, excellent refractoriness, and resistance to chemical influences. Due to its properties, it can be forged and drawn into a thin thread. Known as tungsten filament.

7 Rhenium

Among the representatives of this group, it is considered a high-density transition metal with a silvery-white color. It occurs in nature in its pure form, but is found in molybdenum and copper raw materials. It is characterized by high hardness and density, and has excellent refractoriness. It has increased strength, which is not lost due to repeated temperature changes. Rhenium is an expensive metal and has a high cost. Used in modern technology and electronics.

6 Osmium

A shiny silver-white metal with a slightly bluish tint, it belongs to the platinum group and is considered one of the strongest metals in the world. Similar to iridium, it has a high atomic density, high strength and hardness.

Since osmium is a platinum metal, it has properties similar to iridium: refractoriness, hardness, brittleness, resistance to mechanical stress, as well as to the influence of aggressive environments.

It has found wide application in surgery, electron microscopy, the chemical industry, rocketry, and electronic equipment.

5 Beryllium

It 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 production areas: nuclear energy; aerospace engineering; metallurgy; laser technology; nuclear energy. Due to its high hardness, beryllium is used in the production of alloying alloys and refractory materials.

4 Chrome

The next most durable metal in the world is chromium - a hard, highly durable metal of a bluish-white color, 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 is used to create various alloys that are used in the manufacture of medical and chemical processing equipment. When combined with iron, it forms an alloy called ferrochrome, which is used in the manufacture of metal-cutting tools.

3 Tantalum

Tantalum is one of the strongest 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 leaden tint.

The distinctive properties of tantalum are high strength, refractoriness, resistance to corrosion, and resistance to aggressive environments. The metal is a fairly ductile metal and can be easily machined.

Today tantalum is successfully used: in the chemical industry; during the construction of nuclear reactors; in metallurgical production; when creating heat-resistant alloys.

2 Ruthenium

Ruthenium is a silvery metal belonging to the platinum group. Its peculiarity is the presence of living organisms in the muscle tissue. 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 and acts as a material for the manufacture of electrodes, contacts, and sharp tips.

1 Iridium

The most durable metal is iridium - silver-white, hard and refractory, which belongs to the platinum group. In nature, the high-strength element is extremely rare and is often combined with osmium. Due to its natural hardness, it is difficult to machine and is highly resistant to chemicals.

Iridium reacts with great difficulty to exposure to halogens and sodium peroxide. This metal plays an important role in everyday life. It is added to titanium, chromium and tungsten to improve resistance to acidic environments, used in the manufacture of stationery, and used in jewelry to create jewelry.

The cost of iridium remains high due to its limited presence in nature.

Source: https://ssk2121.com/samyy-prochnyy-splav-metallov-v-mire/

What is the strongest material on earth - a list of the strongest things in the world

Do you know which material on our planet is considered the strongest? We all know from school that diamond is the strongest mineral, but it is far from the strongest. Hardness is not the main property that characterizes matter. Some properties may prevent scratches, while others may promote elasticity. Want to know more? Here is a rating of materials that will be very difficult to destroy.

Diamond

Diamond in all its glory

A classic example of strength, stuck in textbooks and heads. Its hardness means it is scratch resistant. On the Mohs scale (a qualitative scale that measures the resistance of various minerals), diamond scores at 10 (the scale goes from 1 to 10, with 10 being the hardest substance). Diamond is so hard that other diamonds must be used to cut it.

Darwin's spider silk

A web that can stop an airbus

Often cited as the world's most complex biological substance (though this claim is now disputed by its inventors), Darwin's web is stronger than steel and has greater stiffness than Kevlar. Its weight is no less remarkable: a thread long enough to encircle the Earth weighs only 0.5 kg.

Aerographite

Aerographite in a regular package

This synthetic foam is one of the lightest building materials in the world. Aerographite is about 75 times lighter than polystyrene foam (but much stronger!). This material can be compressed to 30 times its original size without damaging its structure. Another interesting point: aerographite can support 40,000 times its own weight.

Palladium micro-doped glass

Glass during a crash test

This substance was developed by scientists in California. Microalloy glass has an almost perfect combination of rigidity and strength. The reason for this is that its chemical structure reduces the brittleness of glass, but retains the rigidity of palladium.

Wolfram carbide

Tungsten drill

Tungsten carbide is incredibly hard and has qualitatively high rigidity, but it is quite brittle and can be bent easily.

Silicon carbide

Silicon carbide in the form of crystals

This material is used to create armor for battle tanks. In fact, it is used in almost anything that can protect against bullets. It has a Mohs hardness rating of 9 and also has low thermal expansion.

Cubic boron nitride

Molecular structure of boron nitride

About as strong as diamond, cubic boron nitride has one important advantage: it is insoluble in nickel and iron at high temperatures. For this reason, it can be used to process these elements (diamond forms of nitrides with iron and nickel at high temperatures).

Dyneema

Dyneema cable

Considered the strongest fiber in the world. You might be surprised by this fact: Dainima is lighter than water, but it can stop bullets!

Titanium alloys

Alloy tube

Titanium alloys are extremely flexible and have very high tensile strength, but do not have the same rigidity as steel alloys.

Amorphous alloys

Amorphous metals change shape easily

Liquidmetal was developed by Caltech. Despite the name, this metal is not liquid and at room temperature has a high level of strength and wear resistance. When heated, amorphous alloys can change shape.

Nanocellulose

Future paper could be harder than diamonds

This latest invention is created from wood pulp, while having a greater degree of strength than steel! And much cheaper. Many scientists consider nanocellulose to be a cheap alternative to palladium glass and carbon fiber.

Shellfish teeth

saucer shell

We mentioned earlier that Darwin's spiders spin threads of some of the strongest organic material on Earth. Nevertheless, the limpet's teeth turned out to be even stronger than the webs. Limpet teeth are extremely tough.

The reason for these amazing characteristics is the purpose: collecting algae from the surface of rocks and corals.

Scientists believe that in the future we could copy the fibrous structure of limpet teeth and use it in the automobile industry, ships and even the aviation industry.

Maraging steels

A rocket stage in which many components contain maraging steels

This substance combines a high level of strength and rigidity without loss of elasticity. Steel alloys of this type are used in aerospace and industrial manufacturing technologies.

Kevlar

Kevlar helmet stopped a bullet

Used in everything from drums to bulletproof vests, Kevlar is synonymous with toughness. Kevlar is a type of plastic that has extremely high tensile strength. In fact, it is about 8 times larger than steel wire! It can also withstand temperatures around 450℃.

Spectra

Spectra pipes

High performance polyethylene is a truly durable plastic. This lightweight, strong thread can withstand incredible tension and is ten times stronger than steel. Similar to Kevlar, Spectra is also used for ballistic resistant vests, helmets and armored vehicles.

Graphene

Flexible graphene screen

A sheet of graphene (an allotrope of carbon) one atom thick is 200 times stronger than steel. Although graphene looks like cellophane, it is truly amazing. It would take a school bus balancing on a pencil to pierce a standard A1 sheet of this material!

Buckypaper

New technology that could revolutionize our understanding of strength

This nanotechnology is made from carbon tubes that are 50,000 times thinner than human hair. This explains why it is 10 times lighter than steel but 500 times stronger.

Metal microgrid

microlattice alloys are regularly used in satellites

The world's lightest metal, metal microlattice is also one of the lightest structural materials on Earth. Some scientists claim that it is 100 times lighter than polystyrene foam! A porous but extremely strong material, it is used in many fields of technology. Boeing has mentioned using it in aircraft, mainly in floors, seats and walls.

Carbon nanotubes

Nanotube model

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be described as “seamless cylindrical hollow fibers” that consist of a single rolled molecular sheet of pure graphite. The result is a very light material. At the nanoscale, carbon nanotubes have 200 times the strength of steel.

Airbrush

Fantastic airbrush is hard to even describe!

Also known as graphene airgel. Imagine the strength of graphene combined with unimaginable lightness. Airgel is 7 times lighter than air! This incredible material can fully recover from over 90% compression and can absorb up to 900 times its weight in oil. It is hoped that this material can be used to clean up oil spills.

Unnamed substance under development at MIT

Massachusetts Polytechnic Main Building

At the time of this writing, scientists at MIT believe they have discovered the secret to maximizing the 2D strength of graphene in 3D. Their as-yet unnamed substance may have about 5% the density of steel, but 10 times the strength.

Carbin

Molecular structure of carbyne

Despite being a single chain of atoms, carbyne has twice the tensile strength of graphene and three times the stiffness of diamond.

Wurtzite boron nitride

birthplace of boron nitride

This natural substance is produced in the craters of active volcanoes and is 18% stronger than diamond. It is one of two naturally occurring substances currently found to be harder than diamonds. The problem is that there is not much of this substance, and now it is difficult to say for sure whether this statement is 100% true.

Lonsdaleite

Meteorites are the main sources of lonsdaleite

Also known as hexagonal diamond, this substance is made up of carbon atoms, but they are simply arranged differently. Along with wurtzite boron nitride, it is one of two natural substances harder than diamond. In fact, Lonsdaleite is 58% harder! However, as with the previous substance, it is found in relatively small volumes. Sometimes it occurs when graphite meteorites collide with planet Earth.

The future is just around the corner, so by the end of the 21st century we can expect the emergence of ultra-strong and ultra-light materials that will replace Kevlar and diamonds. In the meantime, one can only be amazed at the development of modern technologies.

Source: https://www.publy.ru/post/28102