Top Five Strongest Metals and Their Properties

DID YOU KNOW?
Metals are so strong due to the forces of attraction which hold metal ions together. Metallic bonds are the strongest type of atomic bonds.

Here’s a list of five of the strongest metals in the world:

IRON
Iron ore is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. It is known for its dense nature (responsible for its high melting and boiling points) and its magnetic and conductive properties.

TITANIUM
Titanium has the highest tensile strength-to-density ratio of any naturally-occurring metal (it’s really strong!), but it scores lower on the hardness scale than steel. Titanium alloys are strong and lightweight and are popular for use in the aerospace industry.

CHROMIUM
If you define metal strength simply by hardness, then chromium tops the list. By itself though, chromium doesn’t have a great tensile strength or yield strength. Chromium is often added to alloys (like stainless steel) to make them harder.

CARBON STEEL
Carbon steel is made by combining iron with carbon, making it stronger and harder. This alloy has been in use for centuries, is highly impact resistant, and is commonly used as a building material.

TUNGSTEN
Tungsten is unmatched in terms of tensile strength. It is also brittle, however, and shatters under impact. Tungsten is often combined with other metals to make even stronger alloys.

So, what purposes do these strong metals serve? Here are some popular applications for each:

IRON
Automobiles – Furniture – Utensils – Architecture – Construction – Weapons – Armored vehicles

TITANIUM
Used in pigments – Coatings – Aircraft manufacturing – Military equipment

CHROMIUM
Used in chrome plating – Dye production – Tanning – Pigment production – Added to stainless steel

CARBON STEEL
Infrastructure and Metal Building construction – Automobile industry – Weapons manufacturing

TUNGSTEN
Added to metal alloys – Filament in light bulbs & x-ray tubes – Heating elements – Welding electrodes