Because it is thought to be 60 percent harder than the common cubic diamond,
hexagonal diamond could have many potential uses in industry if it could be successfully recovered after shock compression.»
«The transformation to
hexagonal diamond occurs at a significantly lower stress than previously believed,» said WSU Regents Professor Yogendra Gupta, director of the Institute for Shock Physics and a co-author of the study.
«Transformation of graphite into
hexagonal diamond documented.»
Turneaure and Gupta said the next step in the research will be to investigate under what conditions pure
hexagonal diamond can be recovered after shock compression.
Hexagonal diamond or lonsdaleite is harder than the type of diamond typically worn on an engagement ring and is thought to be naturally made when large, graphite - bearing meteorites slam into Earth.
Now, a team of WSU researchers has for the first time observed and recorded the creation of
hexagonal diamond in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite under shock compression, revealing crucial details about how it is formed.
Scientists have puzzled over the exact pressure and other conditions needed to make
hexagonal diamond since its discovery in an Arizona meteorite fragment half a century ago.
Using its unique capabilities, the WSU team was able to take x-ray snap shots of the transformation of graphite to
hexagonal diamond in real - time.
Not exact matches
The experts also found that a few layers of
hexagonal boron nitride (h - BN) are as strong as
diamond but are more flexible, cheaper and lighter.
Using
diamond anvil cells (DAC), the team applied 2.5 GPa of pressure (25 thousand atmospheres) to pre-compress water into the room - temperature ice VII, a cubic crystalline form that is different from «ice - cube»
hexagonal ice, in addition to being 60 percent denser than water at ambient pressure and temperature.
Their work clearly showed the graphite sample transformed into the
hexagonal form of
diamond before being obliterated into dust.
Scientists reported that a large meteorite, called Canyon Diablo after the crater it formed on impact in northern Arizona, contained a new form of
diamond with a
hexagonal structure.
Adding to the CLS - Class» exterior appeal is a prominent
diamond - block grille that features a series of
hexagonal pins that add to the coupe's aesthetics and enhance airflow.