Hypersonic impact rapidly transforms diamond into graphite, revealing energy-absorbing mechanism
Rice University researchers have developed a way to stabilize diamond during high-temperature and low-pressure processing, creating a strong bulk composite and discovering that high-speed collisions can rapidly transform diamond into graphite. Their study is published in Materials Today.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to stabilize diamond particles during high-temperature and low-pressure processing, resulting in a strong composite material. This process, known as spark plasma sintering, allows for the creation of a tough and non-machinable composite with diamond particles embedded in a cubic boron nitride matrix.
The composite remained intact even when subjected to high-speed collisions at hypersonic speeds. When hit by projectiles moving faster than seven times the speed of sound, most of the diamonds within the composite transformed into graphite within microseconds. This rapid transformation to graphite occurred due to the energy from the shock and structural rearrangements, which helped absorb some of the impact energy and contributed to the overall toughness of the material.
The study, published in Materials Today, sheds light on how diamond behaves under extreme mechanical conditions and could guide the design of future protective materials for aerospace, defense, and other demanding environments.
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