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Lead becomes stronger than steel under extreme pressures

The metal is typically soft and easily scratched

lead

Lead is normally a soft metal, but squeeze it to extreme pressures and it becomes hard and strong.

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By Emily Conover

- More than 2 years ago

Lead performs under pressure.

Under normal conditions, the metal is relatively soft, easily scratched with a fingernail. But when compressed under extreme pressures, lead becomes hard and strong — even stronger than steel, scientists report November 11 in Physical Review Letters.