When they talk about the strongest metals in the world, I immediately remember a medieval knight with a sword at the ready and in armor made of the legendary Damascus steel. It is this that many rightly consider to be the hardest, most durable, resistant to mechanical or chemical influences. But steel is not pure metal; it consists of several components that have been processed to change the final properties of the finished product. Consequently, it cannot be called a substance with the highest hardness. What metal is the strongest on the planet?
10 Titan
Titanium is in 10th position in our ranking of the strongest metals in the world. It is a high-strength, silver-colored, low-density solid. Titanium is resistant to high temperatures, does not corrode, is resistant to chemicals and is not afraid mechanical damage. It is possible to melt titanium only at temperatures above 3200 degrees, and it boils when heated to a temperature of 3300 degrees. The scope of application of this metal is wide and varied - from the military industry to medicine.
Titanium was discovered by English and German chemists in the 18th century, and they named it in honor of the Titans - giant mythical creatures with unprecedented strength and other supernatural abilities.
For a long time titanium was not used in industrial purposes, since they could not get around the natural fragility of this metal. It was possible to obtain it in its pure form only in the winter of 1925
9
Uranium takes 9th place in the Top 10. His distinctive feature is weak radioactivity. Uranium occurs in nature both in pure form and as a component of sedimentary rocks. Among the main properties of this metal, it is necessary to highlight good flexibility and malleability, ductility, which allows it to be used in various industries.
Uranium alloys subjected to heat treatment are characterized by high resistance to corrosion; products made from them do not change shape due to temperature changes. That is why this metal was used to make tool steel until the mid-30s of the last century, but later this technology was abandoned.
8
Tungsten is in 8th place in our ranking. This metal has amazing, unparalleled refractory properties. It boils at an incredibly high temperature - 5900 degrees. And this hard silver-gray metal with a characteristic shine is not afraid of even the most aggressive chemical substances, easily takes shape during the forging process and is able to stretch without tearing in the thinnest thread. Tungsten filament - every person has heard and seen it. So this thread is made from tungsten.
WITH German language The word "tungsten" translates to "wolf foam"
The metal was discovered by Swedish chemist Carl Scheele in 1781
7 Rhenium
This silvery-white transition metal belongs to the expensive category, it is indispensable in the manufacturing process of modern electronics and technology. Rhenium was awarded the title of one of the most durable metals in the world due to its hardness and density, which do not decrease even under the influence of temperature changes. Rhenium is refractory and is produced from molybdenum and copper ore. This process is quite complex and labor-intensive, which explains the high cost of the finished metal. To obtain 1 kg of rhenium, you need 2 thousand tons of ore, finished production of this metal is no more than 40 tons per year.
Rhenium was invented by famous German chemists Ida and Walter Noddack, and they named it in honor of the picturesque Rhine River.
6 Osmium
The 6th position in our rating is given to osmium, the strongest metal in the world, belonging to the platinum group and characterized by incredible density. By analogy with most platinum metals, osmium is refractory and hard, but at the same time it is fragile; is not afraid of mechanical damage and exposure to aggressive substances.
A distinctive feature of osmium is its silvery-white color with a barely noticeable bluish tint and a rather bad smell(something resembling a combination of garlic and bleach). This metal is not found in its pure form in nature; very rarely it can be found in conjunction with iridium, and even then only in some areas of Siberia, Canada, the USA and in South Africa. Osmium is scarce, so it is extremely expensive and is used only where the enormous investment in its extraction is justified. This metal is used in electronics, the space and chemical industries, and surgery. It is the main component in the production of a rare drug - cortisone.
Osmium is the most expensive metal in the world. The price for 1 gram can reach 200 thousand dollars.
5
Beryllium has a light gray color and is characterized by hardness, fire resistance, good thermal conductivity and toxicity. The metal is mined from rocks and is widely used by modern science. It is indispensable in the aerospace industry and aviation, in nuclear energy and in metallurgy.
4
Chromium is the most common of the hardest metals in the world, products made from
which is sure to be found in every home. It is durable, resistant to aggressive environments, has a soft blue color and a characteristic shine. Chromium is widely distributed in nature in the form of chromium iron ore, it is used in almost all industries, and is added to other metals to give them additional hardness, corrosion resistance and improve appearance. Chrome-plated parts of interior items, plumbing fixtures and household appliances become an excellent decoration for every home.
The melting point of chromium is 1907 degrees, it boils at a temperature of 2671 degrees. In its pure form, chromium is very viscous and viscous, but in combination with oxygen it becomes brittle and extremely hard.
3
Tantalum is in 3rd place in our ranking; it is worthy of a “bronze medal” as one of the most durable metals on the planet. Tantalum has a silvery color with a characteristic lead-like luster, is characterized by increased hardness and amazing density. Along with refractoriness, strength, resistance to rust and aggressive chemical attack, this metal is characterized by ductility. It is easily machined, which is highly valued in the chemical industry and metallurgy. The metal is indispensable during the construction of nuclear reactors; it is the main element of heat-resistant alloys.
2 Ruthenium
Ruthenium is silver in color, characterized by unique feature– the presence of fragments of muscle tissue of living beings. According to scientists, it was this unusual composition that influenced the properties of the metal and made it super-strong.
Ruthenium is not only strong and hard, it is also chemically stable, can form complex compounds and plays the role of a catalyst. chemical reactions. The properties of this metal described above make it indispensable in the manufacture of various wiring and contacts, and laboratory glassware. The metal is also in demand in jewelry. As for the production of ruthenium itself, it is almost entirely concentrated in the Republic of South Africa.
From childhood we know that the most durable metal- this is steel. We associate everything iron with it.
Iron man, iron lady, character of steel. When we pronounce these phrases, we mean incredible strength, strength, hardness.
For a long time, steel was the main material in production and armament. But steel is not metal. More precisely, it is not entirely pure metal. This is with carbon, in which other metal additives are present. By using additives, e.g. change its properties. After this, it is processed. Steelmaking is a whole science.
The strongest metal is obtained by introducing appropriate alloys into steel. This could be chromium, which imparts heat resistance, nickel, which makes the steel hard and elastic, etc.
In some areas, steel has begun to replace aluminum. Time passed, speeds increased. Aluminum couldn't stand it either. I had to turn to titanium.
Yes, yes, titanium is the strongest metal. To give steel high strength characteristics, titanium began to be added to it.
It was discovered in the 18th century. Due to its fragility, it was impossible to use. Over time, having obtained pure titanium, engineers and designers became interested in its high specific strength, low density, corrosion resistance and high temperatures. Its physical strength exceeds the strength of iron several times.
Engineers began adding titanium to steel. The result is the most durable metal, which has found application in ultra-high temperature environments. At that time, no other alloy could withstand them.
If you imagine an airplane flying three times faster than you can imagine how the covering metal heats up. Sheet metal The skin of the aircraft in such conditions heats up to +3000C.
Today, titanium is used unlimitedly in all areas of production. These are medicine, aircraft manufacturing, ship production.
It is clear that titanium will have to move in the near future.
Scientists from the USA, in the laboratories of the University of Texas in Austin, discovered the thinnest and most durable material on Earth. They called it graphene.
Imagine a plate whose thickness is equal to the thickness of one atom. But such a plate is stronger than diamond and transmits a hundred times better electricity than computer chips made of silicon.
Graphene is a material with damaging properties. It will soon leave the laboratory and rightfully take its place among the most durable materials in the Universe.
It is even impossible to imagine that a few grams of graphene would be enough to cover a football field. This is metal. Pipes made of such material can be laid manually without the use of lifting and transport mechanisms.
Graphene, like diamond, is the purest carbon. Its flexibility is amazing. This material bends easily, folds perfectly and rolls perfectly.
Manufacturers of touch screens have already begun to take a closer look at it, solar panels, cell phones, and finally, super-fast computer chips.
In many countries around the world, the sale of car registration plates through auction is absolutely legal, and at the same time there are many people who are ready to fork out big bucks to become the owner of a “beautiful” license plate.
Sometimes during auctions things get to the point of absurdity, and rare license plates go under the hammer for amounts that are many times higher than the cost of the car itself. Which of the currently existing registration plates are the most expensive?
"VIP 1"
In 2004 car number“VIP 1” was sold in the UK for 62,000 pounds sterling (approximately 5.3 million rubles), and in 2008 it was purchased by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, having already paid more than 24 million rubles for it.
During an auction in Scotland, one of the bidders paid more than 34 million rubles for the “S1” number. At one time, the latter was installed on one of the very first cars in the country. We are talking about a 1903 car, which, among other things, also belonged to the Scottish Lord Kingsburgh.
The buyer of the sign, who chose not to disclose his name, said that he plans to install such a rare sign on his old red Skoda.
"25 O"
In 2014, the Driver Licensing Agency and Vehicle The UK set a record amount for the license plate “25 O”, but this did not bother the owner of the local Ferrari car dealership, John Collins, who purchased this registration plate for more than 44 million rubles.
The man decided to fork out such a large sum because this number effectively matches the Ferrari 250 SWB that he owns. By the way, the latter itself is worth a fortune, namely about 10 million pounds sterling (over 855 million rubles). Such a high price is due to the fact that this example of the Italian two-door once belonged to rock star Eric Clapton.
In 2008, a businessman from Bradford, Afzal Khan, spared no expense and paid about 37 million rubles (at current exchange rates) for a sign with the “F1” index, which has been in use in Britain for 109 years. This number was installed on the man's Mercedes SLR McLaren, and then “moved” to the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Carbon Edition.
When purchasing a registration plate, the businessman expressed confidence that over time the “F1” number will only become more expensive. He put it up for sale in 2018, asking £14.4 million. However, on this moment There was no one willing to pay such crazy money for a rare number.
The most expensive sign in the world today is considered to be the number “1”. Abu Dhabi businessman Said Abdul Ghaffar Khouri wished to be the first, who paid over 641 million rubles for a registration plate with one at an auction in the United Arab Emirates. The record deal took place back in 2008, but over the years no one has been able to beat it.
As for Russia, it is still impossible to legally buy “beautiful” license plates from us, although in last years officials are actively discussing such an initiative. However, quite a few people acquire registration plates that they like illegally, using the services of shady websites and offices.
The concept of wealth and prosperity is different for each person. For some, having a villa on the seashore is enough, while others simply need a luxury car, hand-built, to be happy. There is a third category of people, although they are quite small. It is this group of rich people who are ready to give any money for the most expensive number on the ground. This is the true distinctive sign of every car owner who once again proves that its owner paid a large sum for the opportunity to “award” his “iron friend” with a special state badge.
Tenth place – VIP1 – $465,000
The last, tenth place in our hit parade is given to our compatriot – Roman Abramovich. It was he who became the owner of a luxurious license plate purchased in the UK. A sign with the inscription “VIP1” will tell you that the car belongs to a billionaire. It cost almost half a million dollars to be able to mark his “iron horse” - Rolls-Royce Corniche IV Convertible. Interestingly, before the billionaire, such a number belonged to Pope II (John Paul).
Ninth place – M1 – $540,000
This is a truly expensive number that appeared in the UK at the dawn of the automotive industry. This means that these are the numbers that were assigned to the very first machines that humanity invented and produced. This fact influenced the cost of the sign, making it distinctive. To become its owner, you will need to pay at least half a million dollars. This is what Mike McCumb did in 2006, when he purchased an honorary M1 for his “swallow”. Moreover, the purchase was not impulsive or spontaneous; Mike planned it ahead of time, deciding to make a nice gift for both himself and his family in honor of his son’s sixth birthday.
Eighth place – F1 – $720,000
A decent amount of 720 thousand dollars was spent on the purchase of not a yacht or a house, diamonds, but a state license plate. Afzal Khan parted with such an impressive sum, who spared no expense in highlighting his car - a Volvo S80. However, Afzal later transferred the number purchased from Essex County Council to another car - a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. To this day there is a car with such an “accessory”. Moreover, the owner repeatedly received quite lucrative offers from resellers who wanted to buy state signs at a “tempting” price - much higher than what Khan himself had to pay. However, the owner does not give in to persuasion, which is why he is awarded eighth place in the hit parade.
Seventh place – 24 – $871,000
All presented expensive rooms in terms of cost, they cannot in any way compete with the amount that the resident of Abu Dhabi had to pay for his signs. It is noteworthy that it is the residents of hot countries who do not take into account expenses, choosing the most expensive “differences” for themselves and their cars. This is what number “24” became.
Sixth place – Facebk – $1,200,000
So, the $1 million mark has been successfully passed, but will there be more... The million mark was crossed by a buyer who did not regret paying $1.2 million for Facebook. This is exactly what Thai Tran, the original owner of the state license plate, was counting on. The Australian bought the signs in the hope that in the near future he would be able to resell them at exorbitant prices - for no less than a million. His aspirations were more than justified when the rooms were finally purchased in 2012.
However, the “combinator” did not stop there, deciding to continue making money on resale. His next acquisition was a Paypal number, and Thai Tran expects to sell it for no less than a million dollars. Who knows, maybe in the near future the hit parade will have to be supplemented with another super-expensive acquisition...
Fifth place – 6 – $1,673,000
Such expensive rooms went to Hong Kong back in 1994. It was at this time that the car owner decided that his car should be radically different from others. It must be said that the owner had the means, which is why the car received such expensive plates under the number “6”.
Fourth place – 9 – $4,190,000
In the UAE, transport costs are not taken into account at all. Residents of this hot country can afford to be original. Further proof of this is the state license plate “9” purchased in September 2010. The owner paid more than 4.19 million dollars for the right to use the mark!
Third place – 7 – $4,600,000
The third place of honor also belongs to a resident United Arab Emirates. It was he who wanted to buy a unique number seven for the car. The lucky sign will decorate the car and be inherited. This is exactly what you can do according to the laws of a hot country. Such an expensive “accessory” was purchased in February 2010.
Second place – 5 -6900000$
The car number “5” and the previous seven belong to the same person. In all likelihood, the owner decided to assign unique numbers to all his cars. At the same time, the UAE law states: purchased signs can be moved from one car to another, given as a gift and passed on by inheritance. Over time, the owner may even organize an auction and sell such an expensive item. If you are lucky, the new buyer will pay more for number “5” than the amount that the current owner had to pay.
First place – 1 – $14,211,000
A resident of Abu Dhabi deservedly took first place. It was the Arabs who became the undisputed leaders of the hit parade. And the secret is that in this country it is profitable to purchase, since it is considered a profitable investment. A participant in the auction where the sign was sold in 2008 was ready to pay twice the amount spent - 30 million dollars so that the honorary unit would go to him. However, there were no worthy competitors, so the most expensive number for the car went to Mr. Said Abdul Gafoor Khuri. It is his Pagani Zonda that will adorn such an expensive acquisition. And all proceeds from the auction went to charity - for the construction of a new hospital. And good deeds are worth so much money!
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When purchasing a new car, many people strive to install so-called “beautiful” license plates on it - with an unusual combination of letters and numbers or from a series of license plates assigned to a certain government agency. In this way, car enthusiasts demonstrate their high status and income level. In the future, the most expensive car license plates in Russia will increase in price, so this is also a good way to invest.
For many car owners, a car is not just a means of transportation, but a favorite toy. They treat her like a friend (or girlfriend), try to keep her in perfect order, purchase expensive decorations for the salon. Every little thing is important to such people, including the license plate. An expensive license plate does not give the owner any privileges and does not save him from problems and fines. Its main purpose is to satisfy the owner’s ambitions and emphasize his high position in society.
Car enthusiasts are happy to buy such non-standard license plates and are willing to spend a lot of money on them. Wealthy people have a good tradition: purchasing elite license plates as gifts for friends or their girlfriend.
The sales scheme is quite simple. Some cheap car is bought, registered with numbers that are planned to be sold. Then old car sold together with “nice” license plates, the buyer registers the car, takes them into storage, receives new license plates, and returns the car to the previous owner. Next, the new owner registers his car with “beautiful” license plates.
Prices for elite rooms range from 40 thousand to 11 million rubles. The average cost is 200–300 thousand rubles.
An elite number is an indicator of the high status and wealth of the car owner
Confrontation: deputies do not agree with the traffic police
Representatives of the State Traffic Inspectorate have repeatedly proposed legalizing the sale of “nice” license plates for cars, as this is necessary to combat corruption among employees. In 2010, regulations were developed and submitted for consideration regulating the holding of auctions for the sale of license plates for vehicles. However, they were not accepted: the deputies considered that the same service cannot be valued at different amounts.
In 2011, the head of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, V. Fedorov, submitted to the State Duma the bill “On the registration of vehicles,” according to which car owners have the right to independently choose the alphanumeric designation of the license plate. Disagreements arose among the deputies: some agreed with the project, others proposed introducing an increased state duty for “beautiful” license plates. The bill was adopted in the first reading, but did not go further.
This law has many supporters, but there are also those who oppose its adoption.
Petr Shkumatov, member of the public council of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, popular blogger: “This system needs to be simplified, motorists need to be given the opportunity to choose the numbers they like. Otherwise, resellers will buy these numbers at auctions. They are the only ones who will say thank you because their task will be easier.”
On August 4, 2019, the Federal Law “On State Registration of Vehicles” comes into force, but it does not contain a clause on the official issuance of “beautiful” license plates. So lovers of elite rooms will still be able to purchase them only secondhand.
A survey among the population “Is there a need for a bill allowing the sale of “beautiful” license plates” showed:
- for - 68%;
- against - 32%.
The traffic police leadership is confident that the bill is necessary. When will the deputies understand this?
Tricky schemes for selling numbers
There are many intermediary companies on the market that resell criminal numbers.
Dealers have developed several ways to get the signs you need cheaper:
- Search the Internet and social networks for those who are ready to sell such numbers.
- 20–30 cars are registered at once, and those that may be of interest are selected from the issued license plates.
- View advertisements for the sale of used cars: you can catch interesting license plates in the photos.
There are many intermediary companies, this is a profitable business: they buy rooms cheaper and sell them at a higher price. For example, there are cases where intermediaries bought a car with coveted license plates for 500 thousand rubles, and then resold it for 3 million rubles. It’s easy to calculate how much money you can make from such a deal.
Dealers have accumulated a wealth of experience in finding and buying “beautiful” license plates
True stories
There are many interesting, sometimes even scandalous, stories associated with the so-called criminal numbers that have caused a stormy public outcry. In 2013, Moscow began issuing license plates with the new region code 777. The combination A001AA 777 went to a young woman, the owner of a modest small car, which was loudly announced by the leadership of the traffic police. However, subsequently photographs of a sophisticated Mercedes GL with this number appeared on the Internet, which naturally caused a wave of indignation among citizens.
Then bloggers began posting photos showing that the most beautiful license plates from the 777 series are installed on expensive cars. Information has emerged that license plate A777AA 777 was sold for 15 million rubles. People were looking forward to seeing a car with this number appear on the streets of Moscow. To hush up the brewing scandal, the traffic police management decided to install this sign on a VAZ-2114 police car.
Would you pay a high price for a “nice room”?
YesNo
Curiosities with unusual numbers are also found abroad. In the United States, the license plate T1H2NO is officially prohibited in many states. It would seem like an ordinary set of letters and numbers, but if you read it backwards, you get: Oh, Shit! ("Oh shit!").
Prices for rooms in different regions of Russia
“Beautiful” license plates for a car are not a cheap pleasure, in different regions In Russia the prices are different. The table presented will help you figure out in which regions popular rooms will cost more and in which - cheaper.
Price range for unusual license plates in different regions of Russia
Thus, the spread of prices across regions is small. It is clear that the cost depends on the popularity of the number and the demand for it. The least interesting rooms can be purchased quite cheaply - from 15 thousand rubles. It is not surprising that the highest prices are in St. Petersburg and Moscow; the further from the center, the lower the cost of the coveted license plates.
Rating of the most expensive rooms in Russia
Rich people are ready to shell out almost the cost of the car itself for “beautiful” license plates. Since there are such buyers, it means that there are corresponding offers. Prices for some particularly popular license plates in Russia are simply sky-high.
- “Round”, that is, multiples of 100, are found on premium cars (for example, X500RV). Price - 125 thousand rubles.
- Mirror numbers in which the first and last digit are repeated (for example, 424, 939). Price - 150 thousand rubles.
- The AAA777 combination is often found on cars of the Presidential Administration. Price - 325 thousand rubles.
- 777 777 is a metropolitan show-off when the digits of the number coincide with the region number. Price - 1.85 million rubles.
- Numbers from the top ten from 001 to 009 emphasize that the car owner is first in everything - in life, in business, and financially (for example, B001BB). Price - 4 million rubles. (https://nomerauto.su/pervaja-desjatka/)
- Numbers in which three identical numbers and letters also coincide (for example, M888MM). Price - 5.9 million rubles.
- License plate of the elite series NNN777 77. Price - 10 million rubles.
- AMP, EKH series (members of the government, the State Duma, the Federation Council, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the prosecutor's office travel with such license plates). Price - 11 million rubles.
Folk decoding of the EKH special number - “I go as I want”
The sale of numbers from the AMP and EKH series is considered illegal in Russia, sellers and buyers get out as best they can. At the same time, many Russian human rights activists openly speak out in favor of officially allowing the sale of such numbers.
Victor Travin, President of the College of Legal Protection of Car Owners: « There is nothing illegal here. We do not have the concept of “special number”. All registration plates are exactly the same, with the exception of those approved by government decree and belonging to a special category of vehicles.”
Survey of Moscow residents on the topic « How do you feel about installing expensive license plates on a car?
- strongly negative - 61%;
- indifferent - 25%;
- positive - 9%;
- I want this number - 5%.
Most people consider buying « beautiful" rooms are a waste of money. Nevertheless, a huge number of offers for sale find their buyers, which means that someone still needs it. Having decided to make such a purchase, you need to remember that this pleasure is quite expensive, and besides, such transactions are made unofficially. Therefore, it is advisable to first weigh the pros and cons.
