Superhard material comparable in hardness to diamond

Journal Article · Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.100528· OSTI ID:6670241

Badzian, A R

Superhard boron suboxides, with hardness close to that of diamond, were synthesized from boron/boron oxide mixtures. Such hardness is expected when a material's molar volume approaches the value characteristic for diamond. These materials consist of boron-rich phases belonging to the boron-oxygen system. The phase which contains 4 at. % oxygen and a crystal structure related to ..beta..rhombohedral boron can scratch diamond faces. During scratching of diamond the suboxide is worn also, and the wear debris is amorphized. Wear on the lt. slash/100/ diamond faces results from a cleavage mechanism which leaves a rough surface covered with cleaved lt. slash/111/ microfaces. The lt. slash/100/ faces are more easily abraded than the lt. slash/111/ diamond faces. Wear on lt. slash/111/ faces consumes much more energy and leaves grooves of plastically deformed diamond.

• Research Organization: Materials Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
• OSTI ID: 6670241
• Journal Information: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Vol. 53:25
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BORON OXIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
HARDNESS
SYNTHESIS
DIAMONDS
DEFORMATION
WEAR
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PLASTICITY
BORON COMPOUNDS
CARBON
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
INFORMATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MINERALS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
360203* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Mechanical Properties