hexagonal synthetic diamond hardness record

Hexagonal Synthetic Diamond Sets New Record for Hardness, Surpassing Natural Diamonds

Breakthrough in Diamond Synthesis by International Team

An international team of physicists, materials scientists and engineers, collaborating with Umeå University in Sweden, has successfully grown a synthetic diamond that surpasses natural diamonds in hardness. Their groundbreaking work, published in Nature Materials, involves a process that heats and compresses graphite to produce the advanced material.

Diamonds: From Aesthetic to Industrial Use

Renowned for their brilliance, diamonds have been highly valued throughout human history. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, their exceptional hardness has made them indispensable in industrial applications such as drilling. These unique properties sustain their high market value, prompting scientists to develop synthetic alternatives. Today, a wide range of lab-grown diamonds is commercially available.

The Quest for Harder Diamonds with Hexagonal Lattice Structures

Scientists have long sought to create harder diamonds by engineering hexagonal lattice structures instead of the conventional cubic formations found in both natural and synthetic diamonds. However, previous efforts have yielded hexagonal diamonds that were either too smaller or lacked the necessary purity for practical applications.

New Method for Growing Synthetic Hexagonal Diamonds

In an effort to refine diamond synthesis, the research team devised a process that subjected graphene to extreme heat within a high-pressure chamber. By optimizing the experimental settings, they successfully grew synthetic diamonds with a hexagonal lattice.

Extraordinary Properties of the New Hexagonal Diamond

Exceptional Durability and Thermal Stability

The group's initial synthesized diamond, measuring in the millimeter range, exhibited remarkable durability under 155 GPa of pressure and maintained thermal stability up to 1,100°C—significantly surpassing natural diamonds, which typically endure pressures between 70 and 100 GPa and temperatures up to 700°C.

Potential Industrial Applications for Hexagonal Synthetic Diamonds

According to the researchers, diamonds produced through this technique are not intended for ornamental use but rather for industrial applications such as drilling and machining. Additionally, they highlight potential uses in data storage and thermal regulation.

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Discover the Future of Ultra-Hard Materials!

A groundbreaking hexagonal synthetic diamond surpasses natural diamonds in hardness, revolutionizing industrial applications like drilling and thermal management. Want to learn more about cutting-edge scientific advancements?

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