There is no question that diamonds are the hardest known substance on the planet. Because of this diamonds are oftentimes used to cut difficult, hard materials. Unfortunately, diamonds can oxidize when cutting metals, such as iron or nickel. A replacement substance that is commonly used is cubic boron nitride (cBN) – a chemically and mechanically robust chemical compound that can stand up to the high temperatures necessary to work with these types of metals, but is only about half as hard as a diamond. It is the properties of both of these materials that lead scientists to develop a diamond-cBN alloy that can be used as “a universal cutting material.”
Scientists at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China combined a mixture of diamond and cBN powder and dried it in a vacuum furnace at 1300 degress Kelvin for 2 hours. The material was then compressed into 3.5 millimeter pellets under extreme heat and pressure. When the cutting performance of the diamond-cBN alloy was compared to currently available commercial options, it was determined to be more preferable when cutting both granite and hardened steel. While the outcomes of initial tests are promising, more work will need to be done before this product could potentially be commercialized.
Related Posts
A chimps intelligence is affected by Genes
A recent analysis discovered that the cognitive abilities of chimpanzees are determined by genetic factors playing a significant role. Researchers... read more
Researchers Discover Bees Are Disappearing Faster Than We Thought
According to a new study out of the University of Ottawa, within just one human generation, the odds for bumblebee... read more
Scientist’s daughter sparks idea for a cure for cancer
A new study about how common side effects from antibiotics can attack mitochondria in cancer stem cells was inspired by... read more
A Brief History of Cell Counting
Understanding the population of cells or concentration of particles in a fluid can be a useful diagnostic tool. For nearly... read more
A Treatable Autoimmune Disease May Be Misdiagnosed as Psychosis
A new study led by scientist at the University of Oxford found that up to one in 11 cases of psychosis... read more
Euphoria vs. Paranoia – Scientists Explore Differences in Effects of Marijuana
Why smoking marijuana elicits vastly different reactions between smokers has never been fully understood, but researchers at Western University Canada’sSchulich... read more
Seniors use of technology may decrease their mental age
Getting grandma to learn how to text may be beneficial in more ways than one. A study published in Intelligence found... read more
Student-Athletes May Be at Risk For Same Injuries as Professional Athletes
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, has been receiving an increased amount of attention over the years, unfortunately primarily due to... read more
Closing Down A Laboratory
The decision to close down a laboratory is never an easy one. While the procedures for relocating a laboratory and... read more
Treatment for Peanut allergies
A new treatment for those with peanut allergies has been tested on a group of children in Australia, and the... read more