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Material Tougher Than Diamond Developed

Posted by Zonk on from the diamond-is-so-20th-century dept.

sporkme has handed us a link to a New Scientist article. The piece outlines the development of a new substance reported to be stiffer than diamond. A team of scientists from Washington, Wisconsin, and Germany combined the ceramic barium titanate and white-hot molten tin with an ultrasonic probe. The new material was, in some tests, almost 10x more resistant to bending than diamond. Composite materials researcher Mark Spearing of Southampton University comments on the result: "The material's stiffness results from the properties of the barium titanate pieces, Spearing says. As the material cools, its crystal structure changes, causing its volume to expand. 'Because they are held inside the tin matrix, strain builds up inside the barium titanate,' Spearing explains, 'at a particular temperature that energy is released to oppose a bending force.'"

22 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Wait a minute by BenjiTheGreat98 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Stronger than adamantium?!?!?

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    :wq
    1. Re:Wait a minute by Nicholas+Evans · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's the hardest metal known to man. Duh.

      (Note to mods: Yes, this is an old joke.)

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      The Yasashii Syndicate ||
    2. Re:Wait a minute by Ltar · · Score: 2, Funny

      if they could make a car out of this.... and run it into a wall of it... what would happen?

    3. Re:Wait a minute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      no, Slayer is the hardest metal known to man

  2. Better than... by Thirdsin · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!" What are they going name this new SuperMaterial??
    Sorry, I couldn't resist

    --
    No words of wisedom here.
    1. Re:Better than... by macadamia_harold · · Score: 4, Funny

      What are they going name this new SuperMaterial?

      Unobtainium?

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      Push Button, Receive Bacon
  3. That's impossible! by Bobdoer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Diamond is the hardest metal known the man!

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    EVERYDAY IS CATURDAY
    1. Re:That's impossible! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Whoosh?

    2. Re:That's impossible! by karnal · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, because it's incredibly fucking nerdy. And annoying.

      News for ______. Fill in the blank, and welcome.

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      Karnal
    3. Re:That's impossible! by nebaz · · Score: 2, Funny

      I heard that there is a non-trivial correlation.

      --
      Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
    4. Re:That's impossible! by mrgavins · · Score: 4, Funny

      Stop being a nerdy geek, would you?

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      Gavin Sharp
  4. Stiffer than diamond? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't wait to get that spam...

  5. Re:And cue... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They'll call it Viagranite!

  6. Re:Stiffer?? by tverbeek · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm still waiting for a material stiffer than my middle-aged spine.

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  7. Nope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Try again. Chuck Norris is the toughest material on earth, and he just snapped it in two using a karate chop.

    1. Re:Nope by TempeTerra · · Score: 3, Funny

      True, but Chuck Norris was forged in an immense burst of energy at the very creation of the universe. This material can be produced in a lab, unlike Chuck Norris.

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      .evom ton seod gis eht
  8. Re:Obligatory... by c6gunner · · Score: 4, Funny

    What's that thing, like 2 karats? Doesn't look like you could do much with it....

  9. Re:Got to wonder about other properties? by bmo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Obligatory movie quote:

    Sol: No, it's a moissanite.
    Lincoln: A what?
    Sol: A moissanite is an artificial diamond, Lincoln.
    Sol: It's Mickey Mouse.
            Spurious.
            Not genuine.
            And it's worth... ...fuck-all.

    from "Snatch"

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    BMO

  10. Re:Stronger than...? by Anomolous+Cowturd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Looks pretty soft actually.

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    Software patents delenda est.
  11. Re:Hardness != toughness, get it right by RealGrouchy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Good ol' rock. Nothing beats that! /simpsons

    - RG>

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    Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
  12. Xmen or Superman by OldHawk777 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is it as hard (obviously not as large) as Lois's excited Superman prick? Yep, that's right Sup is a pussy-whipped man in tights.

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    Unaccountable leaders are masters, and unrepresented people are slaves. How do US and EU fare?
  13. Crumple Zones by dexter+riley · · Score: 3, Funny

    My old Geo Metro had three crumple zones! Between the front and rear bumpers, between the left and right doors, and between the roof and tires.