A team of Chinese researchers has developed a diamond composite material with fracture resistance approximately five times higher than that of monocrystalline diamond, while maintaining its hardness level, by using carbon nanotubes to reinforce its internal structure and limit cracking upon impact.
Details of the Scientific Innovation
A report published on Tuesday by the technology news website BGR stated that the innovation was achieved by researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beihang University, with results published in the scientific journal Nature Synthesis last July. It clarified that the technology relies on integrating carbon nanotubes with diamond powder to form an interconnected network that enhances its fracture resistance.
The researchers explained that the manufacturing process involves filling the voids between diamond grains with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, then exposing the mixture to a temperature of approximately 2000 degrees Celsius and a pressure reaching 15 gigapascals, which helps bind its components and form a more cohesive three-dimensional structure.
Test Results and Comparisons
Tests showed that the new material recorded a hardness of approximately 91.6 gigapascals, within the hardness range of monocrystalline diamond, while its fracture resistance reached an average of 31.9 megapascals, compared to approximately 25.6 megapascals for a tungsten alloy tested by the team.
Carbon nanotubes limit crack propagation within the material by altering their path and keeping both sides connected, which helps absorb energy generated by crack extension and increases its ability to resist fracture.
Future Industrial Applications
Researchers pointed out the potential to utilize the new material in manufacturing ultra-hard tools and shock-resistant materials, opening the door for industrial applications requiring a combination of high hardness and fracture resistance.
Diamond is considered one of the hardest known natural materials, but its hardness does not necessarily imply high fracture resistance; hardness measures a material's ability to resist scratching, while toughness measures its ability to withstand impacts and prevent cracking and breaking.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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