Melting Points of Metals: A Comprehensive Chart

Melting point is one of the many characteristics of metal that you must take into consideration, as it can impact both strength and heat conductivity in machined metal parts. Additionally, when selecting metals for high temperature uses, it is important to consider the melting point aspects of your chosen metal. So, what are the melting points of various metals? Lets take a look below.

What is the Melting Point of Metal?

When it comes to the definition of metal melting point, it refers to the critical temperature at which a metal transitions from solid to liquid. At a specific temperature point, the crystal structure inside the metal is completely disrupted by thermal energy, and the solid and liquid phases are in a dynamic equilibrium state.

Why is Metal Melting Temperature Important?

In metal machining, the melting point of metal is a factor that you need to consider, and why it is so important is mainly due to the following reasons.

Cutting Speed

The melting point of the metal directly determines how high a cutting speed the metal part can withstand.

Low melting point metals: For example, the melting point of aluminum alloy is around 660 ℃. If the cutting speed is too high, the surface temperature of the aluminum alloy part will rise rapidly.

High melting point metals: For example, titanium alloys have a melting point of more than 1600 ℃. Although titanium alloys do not melt easily, the metal is highly susceptible to chemical reactions at high temperatures.

Choosing the Right Tool

The hardness of the tool you choose will affect whether or not it can complete the machining task. You should also understand the melting point of metals so that you can make better decisions.

When machining low melting point materials(such as carbon steel), you can choose to use TiN or TiCN coated carbide tools. When machining high melting point materials (such as stainless steel), you need to choose high-temperature red hard-coated tools or PCBN tools because they can withstand extreme cutting temperatures of more than 1000°C.

Cooling Strategies

Coolant is needed for cooling and preventing adhesion during machining. With low melting point and stick materials on the tool, you can select high-flow emulsions or minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) methods to rapidly move heat away. With high melting points and severe materials to machine, high-pressure internal cooling (TSC) > 70 bar is often needed.

Prerequisites for Various Machining Processes

In fact, in addition to cutting machining, the melting point of metal is also a core parameter of other manufacturing processes.  Metals are easier to shape in their liquid state, so many different manufacturing processes require heating the metal to its melting temperature.

Smelting: Smelting is the process of extracting metals from natural ores.

Welding: Welding is a process that fuses two pieces of metal together by applying localized heat.

Brazing: When braze welding, you heat up the filler metal with a welding torch and join two metals together with the capillary action of the liquid brazing metal.

Fusion: This process involves melting metals to fuse them together.

Casting: Casting is a process in which liquid metal is injected into a cavity of a specific shape, and the part blank is obtained after cooling and solidification.

Comprehensive Metal Melting Point Chart

Below, I will list all the melting points of metals for you, so you can understand all the melting point data at a glance.

Core Engineering & Structural Metals

This is the most common substrate in CNC workshops.

Refractory Metals & Tooling Materials

These refractory metals are known for their heat resistance and wear resistance.

Precious Metals

These precious metals have extremely strong corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance.

Low-Melting-Point & Specialty Metals

These metals melt at relatively low temperatures. They are often added as alloying elements to improve the cutting properties of alloys.

* Here, DSR provides you with the most comprehensive and practical pdf files for you to read and download: Melting Points of Metals Chart.pdf

Conclusion

Okay, I have compiled most of the metal melting point tables for you, I hope it can be helpful to you. In addition, our DSR company is a machining manufacturer focused on providing high-quality metal machining service and casting service to global customers. We support machining various types of metals to manufacture various types of metal parts. Therefore, if you have any metal machining needs, you can rest assured to leave your order to us!

FAQ

Q1: What metal has the highest melting point?

A: Tungsten. Its melting point is as high as 3422℃.

Q2: What is the easiest metal to melt?

A: Among all solid metals at room temperature, gallium is recognized as the most easily meltable metal, with a melting point of only 29.76°C.

Q3: Which metal has the lowest melting?

A: Among all metallic elements, mercury has the lowest melting point, only −38.8°C.

Q4: Which metal does not melt in fire?

A: Tungsten and Osmium.

Q5: What is the most difficult metal to melt?

A: There is no doubt that tungsten is the most difficult pure gold to melt in the industry.

Q6: What is the rarest metal on Earth?

 A: Francium is the rarest natural metal on Earth.

Q7: What are the melting points of common industrial metals?

A: The melting point of aluminum is about 660℃; the melting point of copper is 1085℃; the melting point of iron is as high as 1538℃; the melting point of titanium is as high as 1668℃.

Q8: What metal can withstand 3000 degrees?

 A: Tungsten, Rhenium, Osmium and Tantalum.

Q9: What is the top 5 hardest metal?

 A: Chromium, Tungsten, Osmium, Rhenium and Iridium.

Q10: What is the best metal to melt?

 A: Gallium, Tin and Bismuth.