Submicron cubic boron nitride as hard as diamond

Journal Article · Mon Mar 23 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4915253· OSTI ID:22398767

Liu, Guoduan; Kou, Zili; Lei, Li; Peng, Fang; Wang, Qiming; Wang, Kaixue; Wang, Pei; Li, Liang; Li, Yong; Wang, Yonghua ^[1]; Yan, Xiaozhi; Li, Wentao ^[1]; Bi, Yan ^[2]; Leng, Yang ^[3]; He, Duanwei ^[1]

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1. Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065 (China)
2. Institute of Fluid Physics and National Key Laboratory of Shockwave and Detonation Physic, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900 (China)
3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong (China)

Here, we report the sintering of aggregated submicron cubic boron nitride (sm-cBN) at a pressure of 8 GPa. The sintered cBN compacts exhibit hardness values comparable to that of single crystal diamond, fracture toughness about 5-fold that of cBN single crystal, in combination with a high oxidization temperature. Thus, another way has been demonstrated to improve the mechanical properties of cBN besides reducing the grain size to nano scale. In contrast to other ultrahard compacts with similar hardness, the sm-cBN aggregates are better placed for potential industrial application, as their relative low pressure manufacturing perhaps be easier and cheaper.

• OSTI ID: 22398767
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 106; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BORON NITRIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CUBIC LATTICES
DIAMONDS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
GRAIN SIZE
HARDNESS
MONOCRYSTALS
POTENTIALS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
SINTERING
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE