Conductor that has the highest melting point

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for conductors with exceptionally high melting points, specifically those exceeding 4000°C. Participants explore various metallic alloys and materials, including both natural and engineered options, while emphasizing the need for bulk production capabilities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about engineered conductors with melting points greater than 4000°C, excluding 2D/1D materials.
  • Another participant suggests Tungsten as a candidate, noting its use in incandescent light filaments, but acknowledges its melting point is below 4000°C.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about the existence of any synthesized metal alloy with a melting point above 4000°C.
  • Discussion includes the possibility of high-melting-point ceramics, but notes a lack of conductive materials meeting the specified criteria.
  • Graphite's sublimation temperature is mentioned, with a range provided, and Diamond is noted for its high temperature tolerance, though its electrical conductivity is questioned.
  • One participant discusses the implications of alloy phase diagrams, suggesting that pure metal elements may have higher melting points than their alloys.
  • Hafnium carbide is proposed as a material with a melting point of 3890°C and a specific electrical conductivity, raising the question of whether this conductivity is sufficient for the original inquiry.
  • Tantalum hafnium carbide is mentioned as having the highest known melting point of 3990°C, indicating no materials with melting points exceeding 4000°C are currently known.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that no known conductive materials or alloys exceed a melting point of 4000°C, but multiple competing views regarding specific materials and their properties remain. The discussion is unresolved regarding the existence of suitable conductors at the specified temperature threshold.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the search for materials, including the need for additional properties such as resistivity and chemical stability, as well as the challenge of finding suitable conductive materials that can withstand extreme temperatures.

ZeroFunGame
Messages
93
Reaction score
5
TL;DR
Hoping for feedback regarding engineered/man-made conductors that has high melting points (>4000C).
Hoping for feedback regarding engineered conductors that has high melting points (>4000C). Does anyone perhaps know of such metallic alloys or conductive material? (please, no 2D/1D materials -- exotic materials/alloys are OK, just has to be able to be made in bulk!) Thank you!
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Conductors usually have other requirements too; like resistivity, chemical stability (primarily oxidation), ductility, TCE, etc.
However, since you only asked about temperature, I'll vote for Tungsten, used for the filament in incandescent lights.
 
Tungsten is a high one! But its melting point is <4000C, which was why I engineered the post to inquire about alloys or exotic materials that perhaps only folks may know of in their respective fields. Appreciate the feedback DaveE!
 
I am unaware of no metal alloy that has actually been synthesized with a melting point that high.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
I am unaware of no metal alloy that has actually been synthesized with a melting point that high.

Does this mean tungsten would be the conductor (natural or engineered) that has the highest melting point?
 
Obviously, I had a misplaced double negative.

I don't know if there is some alloy of tungsten that has a higher melting point, nor if it is still metallic.
 
That's what I assumed. There are certainly ceramics with high melting points that meets the 4k C criteria, but unfortunately, nothing on conductors. Not even the good ol' CNTs...
 
Graphite sublimation temperature is, depending on the reference, ≅3870 to 4020°C.
Try a Google search for: sublimation temperature of graphite

Here's one that may not match your (unstated) application or constraints: Diamond is good up tp 4440°C but I don't recall if it is electrically conductive.

The highest temperature refractory material I found was at:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/176628/new-record-worlds-most-heat-resistant/...the mixed compound (Ta0.8Hf0.20C) was consistent with previous research, melting at 3905°C...

(above found with :
https://www.google.com/search?&q=4000+degree+electrical+conductor)

Cheers,
Tom
 
When it comes to metals and their alloys, if you look at an alloy phase diagram you will see that the highest temperature is one of the elements, with the lowest temperature being the eutectic alloy.

That suggests it is most unlikely there will be a higher melting point alloy than one of its pure metal elements.

One problem with thermocouples is the bond between the two different metal elemental wires, since that junction is an alloy that melts and fails before either of the wires.
 
  • #10
Tom.G said:
Diamond is good up tp 4440°C but I don't recall if it is electrically conductive.
It will burn instantly in the presence of oxygen above about 400°C.
 
  • #11
How good a conductor does it need to be? According to this site, hafnium carbide has a melting point of 3890C, and an electrical conductivity of 109 μΩ-cm. This would make it comparable to nichrome wire in terms of conductivity. Is that good enough? According to this Wikipedia site, tantalum hafnium carbide has the highest known melting point of 3990C, so there are no materials, conductive or not, with melting points >4000C.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Melting point of graphite and diamond?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K
Can Tungsten Be Used as a Solution for Yellowstone's Super Volcano?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Research question about burning metals and their flashes and colors
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
Can liquid conductors be used to improve the efficiency of electric motors?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Undergrad Why Does Snow Pack Better Near the Melting Point?
  • · Replies 170 ·
6
Replies
170
Views
24K
Undergrad Current's Effect on Electrical Arcs
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Boiling and melting point of impure substances
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
44K
In which temperature range does WF_6 melt?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Parallel Equipment Grounding Conductors, Short Circuit
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
Diamond vs. glass -- thermal properties
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K