METALS THAT ARE HARDER THAN DIAMOND

What is diamond?

Diamond is the hardest known natural material and it is also the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It is made entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure, which gives it its exceptional strength and durability. Diamonds are used in a wide variety of applications, including jewelry, industrial cutting and grinding tools, and high-temperature applications such as in heat sinks or electronic devices. They are also used in the field of science, such as in the production of diamond-based electronic devices, and in the field of medicine, such as in the production of diamond-coated surgical instruments.

There are several metals that are harder than diamond. These include:

Tungsten carbide: 

This is a composite material made of tungsten and carbon. It is extremely hard and durable, making it ideal for use in industrial cutting and drilling tools.

Tungsten carbide is a composite material made up of tungsten and carbon atoms. It is a very hard and durable material, making it ideal for use in a wide variety of industrial and technical applications.

The tungsten carbide is formed by a chemical reaction between tungsten powder and carbon at high temperatures, which creates a material that is extremely hard, with a hardness rating similar to that of diamond. The resulting tungsten carbide particles are then bound together with a metal binder, such as cobalt, nickel or titanium to create a material that can be shaped and formed into a variety of useful tools and components.

Tungsten carbide is commonly used in the manufacturing of cutting tools for metalworking, such as drill bits, end mills, and turning tools. It is also used to make dies and molds for metal stamping and forging, as well as in the production of abrasives and wear-resistant parts. Other common applications of tungsten carbide include the production of ballpoint pens, armor-piercing rounds, and various other industrial and technical applications where a very hard and durable material is required.

Titanium carbide: 

Another composite material made of titanium and carbon. It is also very hard and durable and is often used in cutting and drilling tools.

Titanium carbide (TiC) is a chemical compound made up of titanium and carbon atoms. It is a very hard and durable material, similar to tungsten carbide in its properties. It is usually made by reacting titanium and carbon at high temperatures.

Titanium carbide is used in a variety of industrial and technical applications, particularly those that require a very hard and wear-resistant material. It is commonly used in cutting tools, such as end mills and inserts, and in drilling tools, such as drill bits. It is also used as a coating material for various applications, such as engine parts, to increase their wear resistance and extend their service life.

Titanium carbide is also used in the production of abrasives, and as a material for armor plates and other protective equipment. It is also used as a hard facing material for high wear applications.

Additionally, titanium carbide can be used as a heat-resistance material in high-temperature applications, such as furnace linings and heat exchanger tubes, due to its high melting point and excellent thermal conductivity.

Boron carbide: 

A third composite material made of boron and carbon. It is even harder than tungsten carbide and titanium carbide, making it useful for applications such as body armor.

Boron carbide (B4C) is a chemical compound made up of boron and carbon atoms. It is a very hard, black crystalline powder that is similar to tungsten carbide and titanium carbide in its properties. It is one of the hardest known materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride.

Boron carbide is made by reacting boron and carbon at high temperatures and pressures. It can also be made by sintering boron powder and carbon black.

Boron carbide is widely used in industrial and technical applications due to its exceptional hardness, high melting point, and excellent thermal conductivity. It is used as an abrasive in cutting and grinding tools, as well as in the production of abrasive powders. It is also used as a structural material in high-pressure, high-temperature applications such as in nuclear reactors and gas turbine engines.

In addition, boron carbide is used in the production of body armor and ballistic plates, due to its ability to resist penetration by high-speed projectiles. Its high thermal conductivity and stability at high temperatures also make it useful in the production of heat sinks and electronic devices.

Boron carbide is also used in the field of nuclear engineering as a neutron absorber and in the field of metallurgy as a high-temperature lubricant.

Rhenium diboride (ReB2): 

This is a chemical compound of rhenium and boron. It is hard and has a high melting point, making it useful in high-temperature applications.

Rhenium diboride (ReB2) is a chemical compound made up of rhenium and boron atoms. It is a relatively new material and not as widely studied or utilized as some of the other materials mentioned earlier.

Rhenium diboride is a very hard material with a hardness comparable to that of tungsten carbide and boron carbide. It also has a very high melting point of around 4100 °C, making it useful in high-temperature applications.

Rhenium diboride is being researched for its potential use as a high-temperature structural material in aerospace and nuclear engineering applications. Due to its high melting point and excellent thermal stability, it could be used in the production of heat exchangers, furnace linings, and other high-temperature components.

It is also being researched for its potential use in high-temperature electronic applications such as in thermoelectric generators and high-temperature transistors. The high melting point and excellent thermal stability of rhenium diboride make it a promising material for use in high-temperature electronic devices.

It is also being studied as a potential abrasive material and as a high-temperature lubricant. However, as of my knowledge cut-off date, it is not yet widely used in industrial or commercial applications.

Chromium diboride (CrB2): 

This is also a chemical compound of Chromium and boron. It is also hard and has a high melting point, making it useful in high-temperature applications.

Chromium diboride (CrB2) is a chemical compound made up of chromium and boron atoms. It is a relatively new material and not as widely studied or utilized as some of the other materials mentioned earlier.

Chromium diboride is a very hard and brittle material, with a hardness comparable to that of tungsten carbide and boron carbide. It also has a very high melting point of around 3200 °C, making it useful in high-temperature applications.

Chromium diboride is being researched for its potential use as a high-temperature structural material in aerospace and nuclear engineering applications. Due to its high melting point and excellent thermal stability, it could be used in the production of heat exchangers, furnace linings, and other high-temperature components.

It is also being researched for its potential use in high-temperature electronic applications such as in thermoelectric generators and high-temperature transistors. The high melting point and excellent thermal stability of chromium diboride make it a promising material for use in high-temperature electronic devices.

It is also being studied as a potential abrasive material and as a high-temperature lubricant. However, as of my knowledge cut-off date, it is not yet widely used in industrial or commercial applications.