Today we are looking at the 10 strongest metals in the world. For obvious reasons, it is important for scientists, designers, and engineers to be aware of the properties of the many elemental metals and their myriad alloys.
The strength of a metal or alloy is determined by a number of properties and when choosing a metal it is important that the one chosen has the correct properties for the application, such as CNC Machining. For instance, for overall strength, nothing beats steel. If you want hardness then Tungsten is the one to go for and a close contender to both steel and tungsten, with properties close to both is Titanium.
Of course, Diamond is harder, and Graphene is tougher but we are limiting our list to the 10 strongest metals in the world.
When a material scientist speaks of ‘strength’ they are looking at a number of properties that define them as strong.
When we speak of tensile strength we are looking at the measurement of the force which would be required to pull something such as a cable, wire, rope, or a structural beam such as a girder to the point at which it breaks. The measurement is the maximum amount of stress before breaking, usually measured in pounds per square inch (PSI).
As an example, cookie dough has low tensile strength, and steel has high tensile strength.
This is a measure of how well the material resists being squeezed. In more basic terms it is the hardness of the material. This can also be measured in Psi. Another way to measure compressive strength is the use of the Mohs scale. On this scale of 0-10, 0 is the softest, and 10 is the hardest. Not surprisingly, diamonds are 10 on the scale. Compressive strength is an important property of tooling materials.
Yield strength refers to how well a beam made from a particular metal resists being bending and permanent deformation. This is a very important measurement for structural engineers. Metal will bend to a certain degree and this is the elastic state, a state when the metal will return to its original shape after being bent, a useful property of spring steels. Once the metal has reached the plastic state it has failed. This is measured in Mega Pascals (Mpa)
The ability of a material to resist impact without shattering. Going back to the diamond, it has a Mohs scale of 10 but can be shattered when struck with a hammer. Whereas steel can be struck with a hammer without shattering, the hammerhead itself is steel.
So now that we’ve looked at the properties let’s list the 10 strongest metals in the world. But first, let’s be clear, most of these ‘metals’ are in fact not classed as metals. Alloys are combinations of metals, and the main reason for making alloys is to produce a stronger material – see diagram below.
The most important alloy is steel, which is a combination of iron and carbon and is much harder than either of its two elemental components. Metallurgists create alloys of most metals, even steel, and they belong on lists of the hardest metals. We’ll go ahead and call all these metals as they are still composed primarily of elemental metals.
Diagram showing what makes an alloy stronger than pure metalThis alloy of Iron and Carbon (hence the name) has been with us for centuries. It is also a very widely used metal and we could indeed be said to be in the steel age. Carbon steel scores highly for all four of the properties which define strength.
Steel can be up to 1000 times stronger than iron
There are a few variations of this but in general mixing carbon steel with nickel increases the yield and tensile strength of this alloy to far above those of plain old carbon steel.
Iron and nickel are the most abundant metals in metallic meteorites and in the dense metal cores of planets such as Earth.
This is a special alloy of steel, chromium, and manganese. This mixing produces a corrosion-resistant metal with amazing properties, for instance, 304 stainless steel. Its properties make it good for Turning and Milling. You can check out all the stainless steel alloys we stock here.
If you have a chunk of stainless steel laying around, you can use it to de-stink your hands after chopping garlic and onions.
Known in the old days as Wolfram, this very special metal has the highest tensile strength of any naturally occurring metal. Not used often in its natural state as it is brittle and prone to shattering under the impact. That is why it is alloyed with other metals and alloys to create even stronger alloys.
Tungsten RingTungsten Carbide saw bladeTungsten Carbide machining toolsTungsten has the highest melting point of any of the metals at 6191.6 °F, to be exact.
As we explained above, tungsten is naturally very brittle, so it has to be alloyed with another material. Combining with Carbon produces Tungsten Carbide. The hardness of This material makes it ideal for use in tools with cutting edges, from common knives to circular saw blades to drill bits, and of course in the CNC machining industry.
The military uses tungsten to make bullets and missiles used in “kinetic bombardment.” This type of attack uses a super dense material to breach armor instead of explosives.
Often used in the aerospace industry due to being pound-for-pound, the strongest metal in the world. Pure titanium has a low yield strength of around 275 to 580 Mpa. It is therefore usually alloyed to produce stronger variations.
Titanium is the only element that will burn in pure nitrogen gas, no oxygen required.
This specialized alloy is also known as Gamma Titanium Aluminide is composed of Titanium, Aluminum, and Vanadium. Titanium aluminide alloys offer superior high-temperature performance with low weight for turbine blades and are as strong as nickel-based alloys, but at only half the weight.
Replacing the titanium turbine blades of a jet engine with an exact replica in titanium aluminide increases the thrust ratio because the engine is able to run over 300°F hotter.
You may have never heard of this alloy but this superalloy is one of the 10 strongest metals in the world. A mixture of Austenite, Nickle, and Chromium. It is a specialized alloy that keeps its strength in extreme conditions such as high temperatures. This ability makes it ideal for high-speed turbines and nuclear reactor applications.
Inconel® is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation.
This shiny, super hard metal is too brittle to be used by itself for many applications. It is therefore alloyed with other metals to make it harder. In its natural state, it is the hardest metal there is. Ideal for electroplating.
The weapons of the famous Terracotta Army of the Qin Dynasty in China were tipped with chromium deposits, which helped prevent tarnishing.
We left this particularly strong metal alloy for last. And for good reason, scientists are still experimenting with various magnesium alloys to create new alloys. This has already been termed the strongest and lightest metal there is. Lighter than Aluminum and stronger than titanium alloys. If the metal is used in cars it would automatically save 40% on fuel without any modification to the engine.
There are so many alloys being created that giving tensile or yield strength figures would be outdated within months. Just know this – pound-for-pound, there is nothing stronger.
Apple is reportedly working on its own magnesium alloy for use as the frame for their phones, laptops, and tablets.
You're probably looking for a simple numbered list of strong metals here, rated from strongest to weakest. Unfortunately, you're not going to get an answer so easily. First, we need to determine what kind of strength we're talking about.
When it comes to metals, strength can be defined in four different ways.
Compressive Strength
A material's capacity to withstand compaction or size reduction, or how much resistance it has to being squeezed together.
Tensile Strength
How strongly a material resists tension or a measure of how much strength it takes to stretch it or pull it apart.
Yield Strength
How well a material resists deformation or how much strength it takes to bend it.
Impact Strength
A material's ability to resist sudden force or impact without breaking or shattering.
Steel and alloys top the list for overall strength. Steels, alloys of iron, and other metals are much harder than any one type alone. The following are the strongest metals in the world:
What Is an Alloy?
Alloys are combinations of metals that produce an even stronger material.
While the aforementioned alloys can be considered the strongest metals in the world, the following metals are the strongest pure, non-alloy metals:
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness, created in 1822 by German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs, is used to rate a mineral's scratch resistance. The method of comparing hardness by seeing which minerals can visibly scratch others is, however, of great antiquity. While greatly facilitating the identification of minerals in the field, the Mohs scale does not show how well hard materials perform in an industrial setting. Despite its lack of precision, the Mohs scale is highly relevant for field geologists who use the scale to roughly identify minerals using scratch kits.
The Vickers hardness test was developed in 1921 by Robert L. Smith and George E. Sandland at Vickers Ltd as an alternative to the Brinell method to measure the hardness of materials. The basic principle, as with all common measures of hardness, is to observe the questioned material's ability to resist plastic deformation from a standard source.
The Vickers test can be used for all metals and has one of the widest scales among hardness tests. The unit of hardness given by the test is known as the Vickers Pyramid Number (HV) or Diamond Pyramid Hardness (DPH). The hardness number can be converted into units of pascals but should not be confused with pressure, which uses the same units.
The hardness number is determined by the load over the surface area of the indentation, and not the area normal to the force, and is therefore not pressure.
While titanium is one of the strongest pure metals, steel alloys are stronger. This is because a combination of metals is always stronger than a single metal. Carbon steel, for example, combines the strength of steel with the resilience of carbon. Alloys are essentially supermetals.
In 2015, Australian and Chinese researchers discovered a magnesium alloy that is widely considered to be the strongest and lightest metal in the world. It is also highly resistant to corrosion, making it a useful material for vehicle manufacturing.
Recently, magnesium alloy has been used to create the bodies of cell phones and DSLR cameras like the Nikon D800 and the Sony A7R.
Titanium is not stronger than a diamond. In terms of hardness, Titanium is not harder than a diamond either.
Titanium strength is .434 GPa, or giga pascals. Diamond strength is around 60 GPa. As for the hardness scale, titanium is 36 Rockwell C, while diamond is 98.07 Rockwell C.
Although titanium has gained a reputation for being an extremely strong material, most steels are stronger. The only advantage titanium has over steel is that it is a much lighter material. When compared to diamond, however, titanium does not come close in strength or hardness.
The strongest known metal in the universe is steel alloy. Because steel alloy is so versatile, it can be crafted to meet nearly any requirement. Still, however, it is crafted, the combination of steel with other strong metals makes it the strongest known metal in the universe.
As for hardness, chromium is the hardest known metal. While the hardest known mineral in the universe is diamond, the honor of the hardest metal goes to chromium. Chromium is used in the well-known alloy stainless steel to make it harder.
The rarest metal in the world is rhodium. This metal is sourced mainly from South Africa, Russia, and Canada and is used for its reflective properties. Other metals that are considered almost as rare as rhodium are listed below.
Rhodium
Reflective, non-corrosive
Platinum
Malleable, non-corrosive
Gold
Durable, malleable
Ruthenium
Durable, hard
Iridium
High melting point, dense, non-corrosive
Osmium
Bluish-silver, dense, brittle
Palladium
Malleable, stable when heated
Rhenium
Extremely dense
Silver
Conductive, reflective
Indium
Reflective, malleable
According to a PhysOrg.com article from 2009, a material called wurtzite boron nitride has a greater indentation strength than diamond. The scientists who made this discovery have also calculated that another material, lonsdaleite, is even stronger than wurtzite boron nitride and 58 percent stronger than a diamond. This discovery marked the first case where a material exceeded a diamond in strength under the same loading conditions.
The extreme strength of the two materials is due to their reaction to compression. Most materials undergo a structural transformation under pressure that makes them stronger. Lonsdaleite and wurtzite boron nitride have subtle differences in the directional arrangements of their structural bonds, making them stronger than diamonds under pressure.
Because vibranium is the fictional metal that Captain America's shield is made of, it is most likely stronger than titanium. However, because we can not perform strength or hardness tests on a fictional material, all we can say is titanium is real and strong, and vibranium is an as-yet undiscovered material, at least in this universe.
© 2017 Jo Kenyon
ANTHOLEX NIGERIA LIMITED on July 07, 2020:
Your write up is very educative.
Can you please send me your news letters?
Tajzheal on May 27, 2020:
The strongest known metal in the universe is a steel alloy. Because steel alloy is so versatile, it can be crafted to meet nearly any requirement. Still, however it is crafted, the combination of steel with other strong metals makes it the strongest known metal in the universe.
As for hardness, chromium is the hardest known metal. While the hardest known mineral in the universe is diamond, the honor of the hardest metal goes to chromium. Chromium is used in the well-known alloy stainless steel to make it harder.
Tajzheal on May 27, 2020:
As for hardness, chromium is the hardest known metal. While the hardest known mineral in the universe is diamond, the honor of the hardest metal goes to chromium. Chromium is used in the well-known alloy stainless steel to make it harder.
Ankur Sharma on May 20, 2020:
What if titanium and tungsten are made alloy and some carbon is also added
KHK on April 27, 2020:
Fictional metals don't count in here.
Let's stay in the real world.
Boron nitride is one of the hardest metal alloys known today.
Alloys containing chromium and tungsten are also significantly higher on the scale than any tool steel or stainless alloy
jude on March 04, 2020:
what are different kinds of valcanoes
Casey Fowler on February 05, 2020:
I found some metal ore it is highly reflective. It makes a carbon battery on a flashlight get so bright the light it gives off looks like a welder arc while welding. It is silver looking under a microscope looks like mercury but is so hard you cant grind it dent it . Also it is nonmagnet and I shot it (1/8'inch thick) 10ft away and it barely left a trace on the metal of where the bullet hit. Can someone tell me where to get it analyzed.
Feedback on January 23, 2020:
Joe, you have over 50 comments, most of which are questions. You, being the authority on this article have replied to ZERO. You're perfectly happy to collect ad revenue from your audience, but unwilling to engage them and educate them... I'm going to chalk this up to another ego article of, "look how much I know and you don't." Sad really, the state of journalism in today's age. It seems the only "journalists" willing to respond are those who wish to propagate false information as a reinforcement medium.
Was hoping to gain some real insight from this article. Thanks for wasting several minutes of my life. :)
Timothy Hawks from Pomona on November 25, 2019:
I work as a saw operator in the Aerospace industry and I've cut a lot of metal and I was wondering how come beta21 is alot harder to cut then titanium when beta21 is in the titanium family also what's stronger beta21 or cobalt? Thank you for your time.
Iqewnium on October 25, 2019:
Looking for bulletproofnium ...?
I have very little left. Just rub it on your clothes or skin & it'll become harder than Litanium or quartnium if impacted by anything traveling over 1300 FPS
Ella on October 22, 2019:
what type of steel is used to mould the tungsten tips into for a borehole drill?
steve Burke on October 03, 2019:
beryllium is the strongest specific strength metal known. much higher than titanium. in fact titanium,aluminum and steel (the alloys of ) are about the same strength/ratio or specific strength. only beryllium is the odd ball on this. its extremely expensive and is very toxic in power form. used mainly in high end telescopes like the web that is about to go into space, and hardening up copper. We use it in injection mold making - at 2% alloying with copper changes the strength from about 20kpsi to 120kpsi
JB12Gamer on October 01, 2019:
what it be called if you caombined titanium, chromium, and tungsten
megabyte on September 16, 2019:
I got vibranium tons of it. but im afraid that it could go to the wrong hands if i sell it.
Xape on August 29, 2019:
Is magnesium alloy the strongest metal?
Pacific rim on August 07, 2019:
I'm confused it says steel alloy is stronger but then it says there another metal that is combined and is stronger so which one is stronger
Dr.Marvelous on July 14, 2019:
Yes it is possible Raul. I created my own vibranium recently. I have plans to sell someon on amazon soon.
Raúl. on June 29, 2019:
Is Vibranium possible to create. Using a combination of steels?
Mwangi on June 23, 2019:
That's why
You mamm on June 21, 2019:
Cool info
bob on June 12, 2019:
yeet
heh on June 07, 2019:
Vibranium is not real :)
Nata on May 28, 2019:
Hi, just wanted to say I love how Vibranium is included in this post. Love the light touch :)
Ravi on May 19, 2019:
I like ...
JunoJim on May 02, 2019:
WOW !!! Very few real or smart answers here... I made a ring from Inconel - doesn't corrode - virtually indestructible - burned out a few carbide drill bits...
me on April 23, 2019:
fortnight
hunter on April 11, 2019:
what is the strongest metal period. that is my question strong enough to take a bullet
Hermèsthe inventor on April 06, 2019:
I need a metal or alloy strong enough to withstand space for at least 100 years
Banna Bud on March 29, 2019:
What about mythril and orichalium?!!
richard on March 22, 2019:
So are we just going to forget about unabtanium...
anonymous on March 21, 2019:
The strongest known material in the universe (in real life) is diamene which is a form of graphene. It is actually stronger than graphene and graphene is already 200x stronger than steel. It is flexible and upon impact becomes harder than diamond.
D on March 02, 2019:
All these comments and nothing about Adamantium??????
Shaun on February 05, 2019:
I thought aluminium/tin foil was the strongest so i made a wrench out of it and it was useless.
Akeaman on January 06, 2019:
The srocket that l put on a spaceship about 15 yrs ago is the strongest metal called ramrod.
anonymous on November 23, 2018:
Hmm.. Just wondering why no mention on Hihiirokane althought its exist.. I mean the three national treasure of Japan use them..
brian on November 16, 2018:
vacuforium new metal stronger than any metal
Izaro Phrecius on October 21, 2018:
Belief is the strongest metal of them all
LightningDeath on October 20, 2018:
For making Vibranium all you need is Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Zr-4Mo Beta C alloy with Ti-6Al-4V with Fe-12Ni-5Pt-15Al and Fe-6C-6Al-4W-7Sn and Steel this would be most likely an alloy for Vibranium use those alloys together and you will make a man made version of Vibranium
cbt-the-god on October 08, 2018:
just curios, the best metal for bulletproof purposes is probably AR-500 Steel
Neo on August 21, 2018:
how 'bout mythril and orichalcum?
Ahsani on August 09, 2018:
Best answers on metal found so far. Thanks, dude.
The Mechaneer on July 27, 2018:
So what's the most durable, least likely to deform, non metal?
Oh, and is graphene or carbon nono tubing better for mecha type machinery?
Tim on July 23, 2018:
What would be considered the best type of metal to use to make weapons with like swords for example
Tim on July 23, 2018:
What would be considered the best type of metal to use to make weapons with like swords for example
just curios on May 30, 2018:
so if i wanted to make armour that was bulletproof and shock resistant what is the metal i should use
shitty guns on May 24, 2018:
need strongest metrals for the best guns. where can i find?
Anonymous Johnymous on May 21, 2018:
Most of you guys would say that Wakandan Vibranium is the strongest known metal, when there is a metal known as Supermanium. And the name says itself, it can only be forged and made by only Superman. Vibranium is pretty weak when it comes to oxidation and forging. Supermanium can handle temperatures almost as hot as the sun's core, Y'all are weak.
Logan on May 18, 2018:
I need more adamantium.where can find?
smart guy on May 17, 2018:
anyone know where to get vibranium
Mike on May 13, 2018:
How about Neutronium, accessible only from the core of a collapsed neutron star
Knowledgeable Guy on May 02, 2018:
Using my own knowledge of comic books, I'd suggest using wakandan vibranium if you wish to make the metal out of something that can be found on Earth. Although if you're looking for stronger metals, then I'd suggest using the holy metal of Uru which can be only be found in the deepest mining forges of Asgard. Uru being the strongest metal in the existing universe, but then again Thanos' gauntlet is actually made from Uru anyway so it would technically be impossible to make a gauntlet more powerful than that.
red power ranger on April 25, 2018:
hi dad
power ranger on April 23, 2018:
hello
Thanos on April 18, 2018:
@Nathan, I am also looking for metals to use to make a gauntlet. Let me know what you find out.
Quan on April 07, 2018:
Im loking at metlas for my year 3 aiiigment about metals
please help if you now anything about metals
steve on March 29, 2018:
make a pen that turns into a shield
Juan on March 16, 2018:
I bet at least 80% of the people making this inquiry, were thinking in Adamantium or Vibranium.
Corey on March 01, 2018:
@Nathan I would suggest basalt fiber for a temperature resistant gauntlet. It has the tensile strength of S-Glass fiberglass, is made of stone, is fireproof, and doesn't melt until 2400F
Nathan on February 28, 2018:
I'm trying to find metals that I could use to make a gauntlet that are extremely strong, and also incredibly resistant to extreme temperatures and drastic temperature changes. Any ideas?
Poust on December 31, 2017:
Merry happy dreams sweetheart