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Diamond-coated Steel

Posted by michael on from the girl's-best-friend dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A Dutch chemist has successfully coated steel with a layer of diamond, opening the possibility for insanely strong tools that almost never wear out -- not to mention armor tough as, well, diamond-coated nails. From Science Blog."

7 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Tools? by PD · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How about engine parts? They might make an engine that would run for a half million miles with normal oil changes.

    --
    If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
  2. Fuel cell application? by spumoni_fettuccini · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I know one of the issues was storage. Store it cold/under extreme pressure [while allowing more hydrogen] a very thick walled tank is needed which adds serious weight. If it was stored in a thinner walled tank the amount of hydrogen capacity was cut down to a point of not really being feasible as a fuel alternative. Seems like this might help.

    --
    -- Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
    1. Re:Fuel cell application? by Old+Wolf · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I saw a thing on 20/20 with a clever solution to this problem. A GM prototype car uses the chassis as the fuel cell: the chassis looks like a big skateboard (with a wheel near each corner), the skateboard is strong and the hydrogen is stored inside it. Then you can bolt seats on top of it, put a bodyshell over the top, etc.

  3. Aerospace: shuttle tiles, NASP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    IIRC, the "national aerospace plane" was being held up mainly because of insufficiently heat-tolerant materials. They could make the nose of the plane of any ordinary material and it would just melt. It would be interesting if this is the breakthrough that makes it possible.

    If so, Looks like the shuttle tiles could use a coating of it as well.

    1. Re:Aerospace: shuttle tiles, NASP by anubi · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Yes, it may melt at these exhorbitantly high temperatures, but does it burn?

      Diamond is carbon. So is charcoal.

      I betcha it takes a helluva temperature to melt charcoal briquettes too. But they really don't get all that hot in the barbeque.

      --
      "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]

  4. Something more useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    How about diamond coated razor blades?

    I'd happily pay for a lifetime of shaving from one blade. Just make sure those lubricant strips are refillable - we don't want a lifetime a razor-burn now do we?

  5. since when is this new? by Magius_AR · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Many of the nastier japanese swords that I've seen had diamond coats or something to make them sharper.