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In the metal industry, tensile strength is a crucial property that fabricators and structural engineers consider when designing products for high-stress applications. While many metals can endure these conditions, which pure metal has the highest tensile strength?
With an ultimate tensile strength of 980 MPa, tungsten boasts the highest tensile strength and is considered the strongest metal on Earth.
However, it’s important to understand how its yield and tensile strength compares to its compressive strength to differentiate tungsten’s application areas and its ability to withstand permanent deformation.
In this article, we compare tungsten’s tensile strength and compressive strength and discuss other strong metals with high tensile strength properties that can be used in place of this particular metal.
Tungsten’s Tensile Strength vs. Compressive Strength
Tensile strength refers to a metal’s ability to resist tension (pulling force) before it breaks, while compressive strength refers to its ability to withstand compression (pushing force). Below, we detail both the tensile and compressive strengths of tungsten, one of the densest naturally occurring metals.
Understanding the Tensile Strength of Tungsten
A material’s ability to withstand load or stress before it breaks or fails permanently is referred to as its ultimate tensile strength. In this regard, tungsten, the strongest metal, has the highest tensile strength among all other metals worldwide.
The primary reason for its high tensile strength is the arrangement of its atoms and molecules. Strong metallic bonds, facilitated by 5d electrons, exist between its atoms.
Thus, breaking these bonds requires tremendous energy, resulting in tungsten having the highest melting point of 6,192°F among all metals. Because of this, tungsten is used in microwaves and in traditional incandescent lighting.
Due to its exceptional tensile strength, tungsten metal alloy is extensively used to produce hard metals like tungsten carbide (tungsten steel). In terms of tensile strength and versatility, it is often compared to carbon steel. The ability to withstand high stress makes tungsten steel an ideal alloy for aerospace and military engineering applications.
Although it’s considered one of the strongest metals on earth, tungsten still comes with machining challenges.
Despite these challenges, tungsten can be effectively used to make highly specialized devices that require dense metal cores, such as high-temperature furnace parts, high-voltage breakers, and high-power semiconductor rectifying devices.
However, it doesn’t matter what natural metal has the highest tensile strength unless it scores equally well on compressive strength for high-strength applications of any type.
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Understanding the Compressive Strength of Tungsten
Compressive strength, unlike tensile strength, refers to a material’s ability to withstand uniaxial compression force until it breaks. This factor is crucial when choosing materials for structural design.
The higher the load a given material can bear, the stronger it can resist plastic or permanent deformation. A material’s ability to withstand load stress is expressed as its yield strength. The yield strength of tungsten and its alloys varies between 300 to 1000 MPa.
A tungsten-carbon alloy (tungsten carbide) has a Mohs hardness of 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is close to that of a diamond (10). That’s why tungsten carbide is mainly used for cutting tools and in the mining industry.
What are Some of the Strongest Metals Next to Tungsten?
While tungsten is considered the strongest metal, several other metals and alloys also possess impressive strength properties. Here’s a comparison of some of the strongest metals and alloys:
| Alloys | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) | Properties and Characteristics | Applications |
| Stainless Steel | 860 | 520 |
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| Chromium | 413 | 362 |
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| Titanium (CP 4) | 550 | 483 |
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| Vanadium | 800 | 776 |
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| Inconel (IN718) | 965 | 550 |
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It’s worth noting that while these are some of the strongest metals and alloys, the right metal for a particular application depends on various factors beyond just strength. For instance, titanium alloys and gamma titanium aluminide are commonly used in the aerospace industry for their excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
The Evolution of Strong Metals
Until 1920, tungsten was known as an ideal steel alloying element and was used as a filament in incandescent lamps. In 1935, the first tungst0en heavy metal alloys were produced, and the next 40 years marked its exponential industrial demand. Electrical circuit components often relied on these strong metals for their durability and conductivity.
Today, despite global challenges, the market for strong metals like tungsten, titanium, and various steel alloys is booming and is expected to experience an exponential rise in the future. Metal evaporation work has become increasingly important in the production of high-tech components.
These metals and their alloys continue to play crucial roles in various industries, from aerospace and military engineering to medical implants and cutting-edge technologies. Scientists are constantly working to create stainless steel with enhanced properties for specialized applications.
However, because of the current supply chain disruptions, it’s imperative to maintain a surplus inventory of tungsten or to find recycled materials to continue production regardless of market fluctuations.
Choosing the Right Metal for Your Application
When selecting a metal or alloy for a specific application, it’s essential to consider various factors beyond just tensile strength or compressive strength. These include:
- Specific strength (strength-to-weight ratio)
- Corrosion resistance
- Thermal properties
- Cost and availability
- Machinability
- Environmental impact
For instance, while tungsten might have the highest tensile strength, its high density might make it unsuitable for applications where weight is a critical factor. In such cases, titanium alloys or specialized alloys like gamma titanium aluminide might be more appropriate.
Similarly, stainless steel or pure titanium might be the better choice for applications requiring high corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, such as medical implants, despite not being the strongest metal overall.
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Whether you need materials for aerospace applications, military engineering projects, or cutting-edge technological innovations, choosing the right metal or alloy is crucial. Our team of experts can help you select the perfect material for your specific needs, ensuring you get the optimal balance of strength, performance, and cost-effectiveness.