1. Tungsten
The strongest metal on Earth is tungsten, which has the highest tensile strength among all known metals.
Tungsten is a rare metal that is naturally found on the Earth’s surface. It was first identified as a new element in 1781 and separated into metal for the first time in 1783.
Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals, melting at 3422℃, and the highest boiling point of 5930℃. Its density is 19.3 times that of water, which is much higher than the melting point of lead.
Tungsten and steel alloys are widely used in a variety of products and industries, such as welding electrodes, superalloys, light bulbs, electrical applications, military applications, and more.
2. Titanium
Titanium is a shiny transition metal that is known for its high strength and very low density, making it a preferred choice for industrial use.
With its silver appearance, low density, and high strength, titanium possesses excellent resistance to seawater and chlorine corrosion.
Compared to steel, titanium is much purer and stronger, making it suitable for use in pigments, coatings, and additives. It is also used to make parts for aircraft and military equipment, and has numerous applications in various industries.
3. Tritium
Tritium is a rare metal that can be found on Earth and may be one of the most expensive rare elements.
It is often found alongside other rare metals on Earth, making it difficult to separate from these other elements.
4. Osmium
Osmium is the densest metal known and belongs to the platinum group of metals.
It is a shiny silver metal that is highly resistant to water and acid.
Osmium is used as a catalyst in certain alloys and industries. Due to its high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance, it is also widely used in the production of high-quality pens, compasses, long-life gramophone needles, and clock bearing nibs.
In the medical field, osmium is used to manufacture medical equipment such as heart valves and pacemakers. It is often combined with platinum to create an alloy composed of 90% platinum and 10% osmium. The melting point of osmium is 3030℃.
5. Iron
Iron is one of the most abundant elements on Earth and is also one of the most widely used metals in the world. It makes up the main part of both the outer and inner core of the Earth.
Iron can exist in four different crystalline forms.
This versatile metal is used in almost all industries, from food and container production to private cars, screwdrivers to washing machines, cargo ships to paper staplers.
6. Steel
Steel is the most commonly used metal and can be found in various industries as well as households. It is produced in a blast furnace by melting iron and adding carbon to it.
Due to its high tensile strength and low cost, steel is a primary component in ship construction, infrastructure, tools, automobiles, machines, electrical appliances, weapons, and many other applications. It is often referred to as the most important building material in the world.
7. Zirconium
Zirconium is a transition metal with a gray-white color and a high luster. It is commonly used as an alloying agent, shading agent, and refractory material.
Zirconium alloys are widely used in the production of pipes, pipe fittings, and heat exchangers. This metal is also utilized in steel alloys, colored glazes, bricks, ceramics, abrasives, flash lamps, filaments, artificial gemstones, and some deodorants.
Due to its strong corrosion resistance, zirconium is widely employed in the aviation industry, metal industry, aerospace industry, and nuclear industry. Additionally, zirconium is commonly used in the medical industry, such as in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease and dialysis, and in the dental field to produce dental crowns.
8. Chromium
Chromium is a shiny, brittle, hard metal, usually silver-gray in color. It is highly polished and does not tarnish in air. While it is unstable in oxygen, it can be used in a variety of applications due to its excellent hardness, corrosion resistance, and polishing performance. These applications include chromium plating, dye production, tanning, pigment production, mordant, and wood protective agents.
9. Vanadium
Vanadium is one of the strongest metals in the world. It is a soft, rare, and tough metal, usually gray-white in color. The metal is named after the Norwegian goddess of beauty, Varnadis, and is represented by the symbol V with an atomic number of 23. It was discovered by Andres Manuel in 1801.
China and Russia are the main producers of vanadium, which can be found naturally in 65 different minerals and can be used in fossil fuel sediments. This gray and hard metal can be used in various applications, such as ferrovanadium, nitrides, carbides, iron and steel, powder metallurgy, coatings, and superconducting magnets. The melting point of vanadium is 1910℃.
10. Tantalum
Tantalum is a soft, shiny, silver metal that is almost corrosion-resistant due to the oxide film on its surface, making it one of the strongest metals in the world. It finds wide applications in aircraft engines and electrical equipment, such as capacitors.
Due to its high resistance to chemical attack, tantalum is used in the chemical industry, for example, in heat exchangers for boilers used in strong acid evaporation. Tantalum’s atomic number is 73, and its symbol is Ta. The metal has boiling and melting points of 5457°C and 3020°C, respectively.
Despite its usefulness, tantalum production is limited to a few areas, including Thailand, Australia, Congo, Brazil, Portugal, and Canada.
