As a materials science expert with a focus on advanced materials, I can tell you that the title of the "strongest material in the world" is not held by a single substance but rather is a title that has been claimed by various materials at different times, depending on the context and the specific property being measured.
Currently, one of the strongest materials known is
graphene, which is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. Graphene is incredibly strong for its weight, with a tensile strength of over 130 gigapascals (GPa), which is about 100 times stronger than the strongest steel.
Another contender is
carbon nanotubes, which are cylindrical nano-constructs of graphene and exhibit exceptional strength-to-weight ratios. They are also extremely hard and can be either single-walled or multi-walled, depending on their structure.
In the realm of engineered materials,
aerogels can be incredibly strong for their low density, although they are not as strong as graphene or carbon nanotubes when compared on a weight-to-weight basis.
It's important to note that "strength" can refer to different properties such as tensile strength, compressive strength, hardness, or even a combination of these. Therefore, the "strongest" material can vary depending on the specific application and the type of stress it is designed to withstand.
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