what is the strongest metal on the face of the earth ?

Answer 1

Naturally occurring, or man-made composite?
I'm pretty sure Titanium is the lightest/strongest. Some man-made alloys may be even better than that.

Answer 2

Before I give my own answer, check this out:

"Clear distinct yield point
Non-fictional materials do not have a clear distinct yield point. The sharp tip of point #2 in the "typical structural steel" stress-strain curve is grossly exagerated. There is never such a sharp peak stress. Furthermore, I just checked a bunch of stress-strain curves and accepted yield points in the MMPDS, and even for steels that follow this general curve shape the accepted yieldpoint is in the middle of the "bathtub" following the first stress peak. The 0.2% permanent strain threshold is the widely accepted yield point. References:[1] [2]--Yannick 03:15, 11 October 2006 (UTC)" [See source.]

The bathtub curve is a common curve of strain vs stress, where the strain (Y axis) starts high vs. stress (X axis), slopes downward, levels off, and then rises again as the stress (applied the force/cross sectional area) increases. The result is a curve that looks like the silhouette of an old fashion bathtub.

OK, given the strain vs. stress bathtub curve, the yield point (YP), where the tested material sudden lets go or even snaps apart, it how the strongest metal on the face of the earth is determined. But, as the cited piece shows, YP is somewhat sloppy and the strength of any material is questionable.

Check this out:

"Multiwalled carbon nanotubes have the highest tensile strength of any material yet measured, with labs producing them at a tensile strength of 63 GPa, still well below their theoretical limit of 300 GPa. However as of 2004, no macroscopic object constructed of carbon nanotubes has had a tensile strength remotely approaching this figure, or substantially exceeding that of high-strength materials like Kevlar." [See source.]

Anyway, as metals go, piano wire has the highest tensile strength (yield point = 2200-2482 MPa). "piano wire" is AISI 1060 0.6% carbon steel. [See source.]

PS: Those who answered titanium aren't even close to what piano wire can do. The YP for titanium is 830 MPa. And wrong again for tungsten, which has break point (no YP) = 1510 MPa. Note: Pa (Pascal) is a force per cross sectional area (pressure) unit of measure for measuring stress.

Answer 3

Titanium is the strongest natural metal, the composite chobham armor plating on M1 Abrams tanks is likely the strongest manmade alloy.....

Answer 4

the strongest pure metal is titanium but im pretty sure that there are some stronger alloys

Answer 5

Not sure if this is right but I'm saying Tungsten.

Answer 6

As a pure substance, its Titanium.
As for alloys, I dunno. There are hundreds of alloys stronger then titanium so thats in the air.

Answer 7

Titanium,I think.