The Technological Institute for Superhard and Novel Carbon Materials in Troitsk, along with the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), and Moscow State Univ. (MSU) have taken the first steps to develop a material harder than a diamond. The new method of developing the ultrahard material was published in an academic article in Carbon journal, where the synthesis of ultrahard fullerite is explained in detail. In fact, natural diamonds have a hardness of almost 150 GPa, whereas ultrahard fullerate ranges from 150 to 300 GPa.
There are several other materials that are harder than a diamond, called ultra hard materials. The newly discovered ultrahard fullerite has molecules interconnected by covalent bonfs in all directions, forming a three-dimensional polymer. The material is not yet up for production on an industrial level. CJ
Author: Canadian Jeweller Magazine Staff
Canadian Jeweller Magazine Staff is the shared byline for reporting filed by the magazine's editorial desk. Founded in 1879, Canadian Jeweller is the longest running jewellery business publication in Canada, covering market reporting, retail strategy, watches, diamonds, coloured gemstones and the commerce of the Canadian jewellery trade. Work published under this byline is edited and verified by the Canadian Jeweller editorial team in Toronto.
