All articles tagged with #hardness
Chinese researchers synthesized millimetre-sized, phase-pure hexagonal diamond in the lab by compressing highly ordered graphite between tungsten-carbide anvils at 20 gigapascals and heating to 1,300–1,900°C, yielding a material with about 114 gigapascals hardness—slightly tougher than natural cubic diamond—which could enable new technologies and settles long‑standing debates about the phase’s existence.
Chinese researchers created small, pure hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) samples and demonstrated that it is stiffer and harder than cubic diamond and more oxidation-resistant; the 1.5 mm samples were formed by compressing organized graphite at about 20 GPa for 10 hours and heating to roughly 1,300–1,900°C, with the work published in Nature, indicating a feasible bulk production method and potential industrial applications in drilling, cutting, and thermal management.
Hiroshima University researchers used additive manufacturing to produce tungsten carbide–cobalt cemented carbide via 3D printing, achieving hardness above 1,400 HV—far harder than common steels. The method softens alloy elements rather than fully melting them, delivering a tougher, more wear-resistant metal with less waste, with potential uses in repairing cracks and strengthening construction; the research will be published in the April 2026 issue of the International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials.
Scientists have successfully created a sizable meteorite diamond, known as hexagonal or lonsdaleite, which is predicted to be 50% harder than traditional Earth diamonds, potentially revolutionizing industrial applications like drilling and electronics.
Chinese scientists have successfully recreated rare hexagonal meteorite diamonds, known as lonsdaleite, in the laboratory, demonstrating their superior hardness and potential applications in industry and electronics, thus settling a long-standing scientific debate about their existence and stability.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with experts from Germany and Sweden, have discovered a new material called carbon nitrides that surpasses the hardness of diamonds. Carbon nitrides exhibit high resistance to heat and possess the necessary components for super-hardness. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize material science and open up new possibilities for various applications.
Diamond is still considered the hardest material for most practical purposes, but there are ways to create diamonds that are even harder. Lonsdaleite, a hexagonal crystal structure made of carbon atoms, is a prime contender for a material harder than diamond. However, it is still being studied and is not yet widely available. Scientists are also exploring the creation of superhard materials that are cheaper and easier to make in the lab, such as nanotwinned diamonds and superhard metals. While diamond remains the reigning champion in terms of hardness, it may face challenges in the future as new materials are developed.