What is the strongest or the hardest metal on earth?
STRENGTH: Titanium is the strongest metal in the periodic table but it is not the strongest metal. It is often thought of as the strongest but actually it has one of the highest strength to weight ratios. I.e., for a metal that is so light-weight, it is extremely strong. Typically it has a ultimate tensile strength of up to 170,000 psi. Another unique property is that its strength does not deteriorate in high temperature applications. This makes it ideal for use in aerospace especially engine components. There are many metals (alloys, not pure elements) much stronger than this. Two stainless steels (alloys), for example, are 17-4PH and 15-5PH HARDNESS: Osmium is the hardest, as well as the most dense transition metal. Osmium (and the other transition element iridium) is often used in the balls of ball-point pens because of its hardness. Lutetium, is the hardest metal of the rare-earths, used as important additive to some specialty alloys. Many carbon-steel alloys are extremely hard.
