Buy Online: The Properties of Diamond Supermaterials
The key to diamond’s extreme hardness is its molecular structure of diamonds. Diamonds are made of carbon atoms linked together in a lattice structure. Each carbon atom shares electrons with four other carbon atoms, forming a tetrahedral unit. It is this tetrahedral bonding of five carbon atoms that forms an incredibly strong molecule.
As well as being the hardest known material, diamond has many other extreme properties which make it very attractive to scientists and designers. Diamond’s extreme properties fall into six broad categories – optical, thermal, electronic, electrical, mechanical and chemical.
Optical Properties
- Broad optical transparency from ultra violet to infra red
Thermal Properties
- Low thermal expansion coefficient
- High thermal conductivity
- Highest resistance to thermal shock
Mechanical Properties
- Low coefficient of frictio
- Highest Young’s modulus
- Highest Knoop hardness
- High tensile strength
Electrical and Electronic Properties
- High electrical resistivity
- Good electrical insulator
- Good electrical conductor (doped)
- Low dielectric constant
- Low dielectric loss
- Wide electronic band gap
- High electronic mobility
Chemical Properties
- Resistant to chemical corrrosion
- Biologically compatible
- Radiation hard
In summary, diamond has a combination of properties that make it one of the most exciting supermaterial which is why so much research is currently underway on developing a raft of new applications in a wide range of industries based on a combination of two or more of these properties.