NASA Tech Briefs Insider Blog

Ultra-Hard Material 

Posted April 24th, 2007 by admin

NASA Tech Briefs INSIDER 04/24/2007

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) have made rhenium diboride, an “ultra-hard material” in a process that does not require applying pressure. Ultra-hard materials are used in the construction of new roads, for drills that bore for oil, and for
scratch-resistant coatings. While diamond is the hardest known natural substance, it cannot drill though certain materials; a chemical reaction with iron causes a diamond blade to fail.

At low applied forces, the hardness of rhenium diboride is equivalent to cubic boron nitride, the second-hardest material known. At higher applied forces, rhenium diboride is a little bit below that.

For more information, click here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 at 9:21 am and is filed under Materials. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.

Dedicated to helping you design better products in a digital world... your guide to the latest tools & techniques for digital prototyping, simulation, and analysis of the real-world performance of your ideas.

Visit the Digital Design Center

>> Insider Blog

CategoriesArchives

>> Most Popular

>> Most Searched

adaptive camouflage antenna artificial hair cell composites emerging technology fuel cell gps laser optical contacting product of the year sensors shape memory alloys thermoelectric ultracapacitor wireless power

>> Newsletter

Subscribe today to receive the INSIDER, a FREE e-mail newsletter from NASA Tech Briefs featuring exclusive previews of upcoming articles, late breaking NASA and industry news, hot products and design ideas, links to online resources, and much more.

Your name:

Your email:

Please Subscribe me to the Insider