Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Film

Posted by timothy on from the recognition-at-last dept.

buzzlightyear writes: "The Sept. 12 Chicago Tribune has an article headlined "Sparkling discovery for science" , about the development of ultrananocrystalline diamond film. The scientist who developed this, Dieter Gruen, started by experimenting with fragmented buckyballs, and had proven its properties in 1994, but he is only now receiving recognition and an award from the Materials Research Society. Preliminary tests show that ultrananodiamonds are 1,000 more wear-resistant than silicon, and 1 million times denser than conventional crystals. This makes them a practical base material for micromachines and other devices that had only been theoretically possible before. Maybe this will mark the real beginning of Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age."

3 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Important uses. by Matt2000 · · Score: 5


    "Preliminary tests show that ultrananodiamonds are 1,000 more wear-resistant than silicon, and 1 million times denser than conventional crystals." The new material will immediately go into use as packaging for products such as cassette tapes, finally fulfilling science's dream of "the most irritating fuckin' thing to open of all time."

    --

  2. a million times desnser? by Demi-Guod! · · Score: 5

    ultrananodiamonds are 1,000 more wear-resistant than silicon, and 1 million times denser than conventional crystals.

    A million times denser would give one cubic centimeter of the stuff a mass of several metric tons. What the article actually says is:

    1 million crystals in Gruen's diamond film can fit inside the crystal produced by conventional methods

    Which means that the crystals are a million times SMALLER, not denser.

    D

  3. hmmm... by Vorro · · Score: 5
    "This makes them a practical base material for micro machines..."

    What was wrong with good old die-cast metal?

    Besides, I don't really see how some useless upgrade to miniature cars actually affects science. After all, all Micro Machines are nowadays are a crappy standover of the 80's, somehow still alive today... though I'm glad we don't have to listen to that dude in the Micro Machines commercials talk at 300 kilometres per hour anymore...

    The Micro Machines Nintendo game was pretty fun, though... I enjoyed racing around on a pool table.

    Ah well.

    -Vorro
    ---------------------------
    A wise man speaks because he has something to say.
    A foolish man speaks because he has to say something.

    --
    ____________________________
    What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?

    "Make me one with everything."