What's an unmeltable, strong, and decently light metal?

Question

I'm trying to put together a little project i've been working on for quite a while.

Answer 1

The only metal like this is unobtanium. It is used in spacecraft, racing motorcycles and dildoes. It is very expensive.

Answer 2

Everything is a compromise. You need to specify how strong, how light and how hot it needs to get. but having said that, Titanium and its alloys are worth looking at.

Titanium has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal and melts at 1649C (Aluminium melts at 933C). It is 60% heavier than Aluminium, but over twice as strong. It is highly corrosion resistant. The only reason it is not used more is because of its cost.

P.S. If cost is no object, there is a material which is stronger and lighter than Titanium and which will not melt at any temperature. (if you can get it hot enough, it sublimes directly into vapour). Disadvantage is that it burns in air, is extremely difficult to work, and is not a metal:

Diamond.

PPS, a more practical suggestion would be ceramics. The properties you need are matched by the requirements for gas turbine blades. Ceramic or ceramic metal hybrids (cermets) are sometimes used for these.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as an "unmeltable" metal. Any known metal will melt at sufficiently high temperatures. The metallic structure falls apart at the atomic level - whoosh, no more solid metal.

And how do you mean "strong"?

Answer 4

The highest temperature melting metal I know of is tungsten. It's got such a high meting point that you can't cast it,as ceramic flasks/moulds break down at lower temperatures than it melts. It's processed by having a fine powder that is fused together using sintering.

It's fairly strong, but is also fairly heavy.

Any "ball park figures" and I might be able to find a material that can cope with the temperature/strengths you require.

Answer 5

If any metal was unmeltable, it would be practically worthless, as you couldn't do much with it, or use it with any efficiency. Aluminum is light, strong, and cheap. Use it.

Answer 6

If it's unmeltable then it could not be manufactured so it must come from the earth. If this was so, the only practical use (if small enough) would be as a paperweight. You would not be able to cut it with Oxy - Acetylene or even a Laser ('cos it's unmeltable). Neither would you be able to saw or drill it ('cos it's stronger than Tungsten {in it's natural form}). You may POSSIBLY be able to bend it, but even if you could, what are you going to do with it?

Sorry mate, but I think the same as a few others.  Use Aluminium.........

Answer 7

If you are making a project, no metal you use will melt at regular temperatures

Aluminum is relatively strong for its weight

Carbon steel works as well.

Both will melt at a certain point thought,

Answer 8

Kryptonite?