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What are the Top 6 Strongest Metals?

Tungsten

Tungsten, one of the rarest metals to be found, is very hard and possesses the highest tensile strength of pure metals. It is very brittle and difficult to work in its raw form, however, when utilised in higher purity it is harder than most steels and can be made malleable enough to work - it can also be further enhanced when alloyed with steel. 

Tungsten is mostly used to produce hard materials, most commonly tungsten carbide, which can be used to make knives, drills and circular saws, and industries including construction and metalworking rely on tools made from tungsten carbide.

Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, and is used to make everything from cutlery to skyscrapers and is one of the most common materials we use today. Steel is made by heating iron to remove any impurities, and then adding carbon (although other elements may be used). 

Steel is one of the most commonly used materials in the world, and is generally utilised to form the structure of most railways, bridges, skyscrapers, and most large building infrastructure around the world.

Chromium

Chromium is a transitional metal that is both hard and highly resistant to corrosion and discolouration. For this reason, chromium is most commonly used as an additive to form stainless steel, providing the alloy with additional hardness and a polished look that is difficult to tarnish. 

Titanium

Titanium is a metal that is well noted for its high tensile strength to density ratio – the highest of any metallic element. It is often alloyed with other materials, including iron and aluminium, to produce strong and lightweight alloys that are popular for use in the aerospace industry. Two thirds of all titanium alloys produced are used in the manufacture of aircraft parts. Titanium also has an extraordinarily high resistance to corrosion making it ideal for use in propeller shafts.

Iron

Iron is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust, making up around 34% of the total mass of the planet. It is also widely used as the base metal for a large majority of alloys, most commonly steel, as it will provide the alloy with additional strength. Iron also plays a fundamental role in construction, transportation, infrastructure projects, industrial machinery, plumbing, and more.

Vanadium

Vanadium’s strength can be attributed to its atomic structure and bonding characteristics. In its solid state, vanadium atoms form a strong crystalline lattice structure that is held together by metallic bonds, characterised by a "sea of electrons" shared among the atoms. This cohesive electron cloud imparts substantial bonding forces that effectively hold the atoms together. When subjected to external forces, these metallic bonds distribute and transfer stress throughout the lattice, making vanadium resistant to deformation.

What are the Different Types of Strength?

Compressive Strength

Compressive strength is tested by applying pressure to the steel until it breaks in order to determine the level of pressure it is able to withstand. Compressive strength is particularly important if the steel is to be used in construction.

Tensile Strength

Tensile strength measures the amount of pulling stress that can be administered before a material falls or breaks, and is usually achieved by pulling the steel in vices before it eventually snaps. Metals with a high tensile strength are important for bridges, springs, and more.

Yield Strength

Yield strength is a measurement of a given material’s ability to withstand deformation or bending, and is usually measured via a bend test where two ends of a beam will be gripped and bent. The yield strength denotes the material’s yield point - the point at which the material will no longer return to its original shape once stress is removed.

Impact Strength

Impact strength determines how much energy a material can absorb via an impact without fracturing or breaking. This is a particularly important feature for commercial aircraft and military equipment such as armour plating.