Is Titanium Stronger Than Diamond? (Answer Might Surprise You)

Is Titanium stronger than diamond? No, titanium is nowhere near as strong as a diamond.

While it is true that Titanium is a strong metal, there are no natural substances on earth stronger than diamonds.  

Throughout this article we’ll explore the two substances and see more about their properties.

Is Titanium Stronger Than Diamond? (EXPLAINED)

What is Titanium?

Titanium is a chemical element, symbol Ti.

It is a transition metal that is silver in color and very strong.

It is resistant to corrosion in salt water and chlorine.

Titanium was named after the Titans from Greek Mythology.

It was discovered in Cornwall, Great Britain, in 1791. It is typically found in mineral deposits from the earth’s crust.

It is also present in almost all living things, and bodies of water, rocks and the soil. 

It is extracted from mineral ores and is then made into different compounds and alloys.

What physical properties does Titanium possess?

Titanium is a strong metal with a fairly high melting point (over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit).

Titanium is not a very good metal for electrical and thermal conductivity.

Titanium is denser than aluminum and more than twice as strong as the most commonly used aluminum alloy, although it is not as hard as some grades of steel and it will lose strength when it is heated over 806 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Titanium is not a magnetic metal. 

See also: Can Titanium Scratch Glass?

What is Titanium used for?

Titanium is often alloyed with other metals and elements, including iron, aluminum, vanadium and others.

These alloys are used for items in the aerospace industry, such as jet engines, missiles, and spacecraft.

It is also used for other military and industrial uses, including production of chemicals, paper, and automobiles.

It is also used in agriculture, medical prostheses and implants, dental instruments and files, jewelry, sporting goods, and telecommunications equipment such as mobile phones.

Where is Titanium Found?

As mentioned earlier, titanium is found in mineral deposits all over the planet.

Titanium is the ninth most abundant element found in the Earth’s crust.

It typically occurs in smaller amounts in almost every rock on Earth rather than in large deposits that can be mined like other elements.

Is it naturally occurring or man-made?

Titanium is a naturally occurring element that is then manipulated by humans to use in a variety of ways.

What is a Diamond?

A diamond is a naturally occurring mineral made of carbon.

It is a rare mineral and is the hardest known natural substance on Earth.

It is resistant to chemicals and boasts the highest thermal conductivity of any naturally occurring material.

Diamonds are also an incredibly valuable and popular gemstone that is traditionally used in engagement and wedding rings and other types of jewelry.  

A diamond’s atoms are arranged in a crystal structure.

Diamonds are typically clear in color, but they can also be found in blue, yellow, brown, green, purple, pink, orange or red colors if they contain impurities or defects.

Diamonds also have the ability to disperse light in different colors.

The majority of natural diamonds are between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years old and were formed between 93 and 155 miles beneath the earth’s surface in the mantle. 

What Physical Properties do Diamonds Possess?

Diamonds are solid forms of carbon, where the atoms are arranged in a crystal pattern.

Contrary to some beliefs, diamonds are not formed from coal.

They rate at 10 on the Mohs Scale.

Diamonds have the largest number of atoms per unit volume, which makes them an incredibly hard substance that is not easily compressible.

Diamonds are extremely conductive and possess a high sound velocity, and have a high electrical resistance.

It is a chemically inert mineral.

Diamonds are not easily corroded and have a high optical dispersion.

What are Diamonds Used for?

Diamonds are most well known for being used in jewelry.

However, diamonds are actually highly useful for a variety of purposes, such as:

  • As abrasives in industrial settings
  • Windows for openings in lasers, x-ray machines, vacuum chambers
  • In speakers
  • Cutting, grinding or drilling other materials
  • Stone Polishing

Where are Diamonds Found?

Diamonds are extremely old minerals and they are extremely rare.

Diamonds have been found in source rocks and in deposits.

Most diamonds are found in the Earth’s mantle.

There are diamond mines all over the world, including in Australia at the Argyle diamond mine, which is considered the largest producer of diamonds in the world.

Diamonds are also found in:

  • Australia
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • Congo
  • India
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • United States of America

Are Diamonds Naturally Occurring or Man-Made?

Diamonds are a rare naturally occurring mineral.

However, humans have discovered other materials that closely resemble diamonds.

Simulated diamonds are mainly used for jewelry and have become very popular because they can be difficult to distinguish as “simulated” by the naked eye and they have a much more reasonable price tag than a genuine diamond.

Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite are the two most common materials used as simulated diamonds, although clear Sapphires are also used as simulated diamonds as well. 

These materials look like diamonds but they have different chemical compositions.

Man has also figured out how to create synthetic diamonds, which mimic the properties of genuine diamonds, so they can be used in many of the same ways that a genuine diamond can be used. 

The first synthetic diamonds were created in 1954 by scientists at General Electric.

Just like simulated diamonds, synthetic diamonds are much more affordable than genuine diamonds, so they have become widely used. 

Diamonds vs. Titanium – Similarities and Differences:

  • Diamonds are the hardest known naturally occurring substance. Diamond’s toughness is measured at 7.5-10 MPa-m and as a 10 on the Mohs Scale. Diamonds are incredibly strong on their own and do not need to be combined with other substances.
  • Titanium has a strength of 63,000 PSI but it scores low on the Mohs scale. It is fairly strong and hard on its own, but in order for it to be strengthened, it must be combined with other metals and elements.
  • Titanium strength measures .434 GPa and Diamond’s strength is 60 GPa.
  • Diamonds and titanium are both naturally occurring elements.
  • Diamonds are rare, whereas Titanium is one of the most abundant elements on earth.
  • Diamonds are incredibly hard to corrode, whereas Titanium is very easy to corrode.
  • Both Diamonds and Titanium have to be mined for use.

Now that you know the similarities and differences between diamonds and titanium and what each is used for, use your expert knowledge to impress your friends!

You might also like:

Is Titanium Stronger Than Diamond