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Applications for Superhard and Ultra-Hard Materials

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Microstructure-Property Correlations for Hard, Superhard, and Ultrahard Materials

Abstract

The highest performing abrasive materials are classified as either superhard or ultra-hard, based on their measured hardness. Synthetic diamond, in its various formats, is the only ultra-hard material currently used for industrial applications. The largest current application area for synthetic diamond is still in the abrasives markets which are expanding as new, ‘difficult-to-machine’ materials (such as CFC and MMC materials) become more widely used. The advent of CVD diamond technology has opened up a vast and diverse range of new applications beyond machining and wear parts. It is the unique combination of extreme properties available in diamond, beyond its exceptional hardness, that allows these applications to be realised, and CVD diamond is currently used in submarines (for sensors) to satellites (for windows and heat spreaders) and everywhere in between.

Cubic boron nitride (cBN), in its various formats, is a truly superhard material which currently compliments diamond in abrasive markets due to its ability to very effectively precision machine ferrous-based materials (unlike diamond). Currently, cBN and PCBN are only commercially produced by HPHT techniques for abrasive applications; however, it is likely that in the near future, CVD techniques to produce pure cBN layers and large monocrystals will be available. If this is the case, then cBN would find new applications beyond its use as an abrasive, such as in electronics and optical markets.

This chapter not only describes the major current applications for diamond and cBN but also gives details about potential novel and exciting industrial applications of the future, based around the unique combination of extreme properties available in diamond and cBN, beyond simply their exceptional hardness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Technology Manager, Element Six Limited, Oxfordshire, UK

    Dr. Christopher John Howard Wort

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  1. Dr. Christopher John Howard Wort
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Correspondence to Christopher John Howard Wort .

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  1. Element Six Ltd, Principal Research Scientist, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

    Valentine Kanyanta

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Wort, C.J.H. (2016). Applications for Superhard and Ultra-Hard Materials. In: Kanyanta, V. (eds) Microstructure-Property Correlations for Hard, Superhard, and Ultrahard Materials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29291-5_2

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