The search for novel, superhard materials

Vepřek, Stan

doi:doi:10.1116/1.581977

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Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A / Volume 17 / Issue 5 / REVIEW ARTICLE

J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 17, 2401 (1999); http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.581977 (20 pages)

The search for novel, superhard materials

Stan Vepřek

Institute for Chemistry of Inorganic Materials, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, D-85747 Garching b. Munich, Germany

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The recent development in the field of superhard materials with Vickers hardness of ⩾40 GPa is reviewed. Two basic approaches are outlined including the intrinsic superhard materials, such as diamond, cubic boron nitride, C₃N₄, carbonitrides, etc. and extrinsic, nanostructured materials for which superhardness is achieved by an appropriate design of their microstructure. The theoretically predicted high hardness of C₃N₄ has not been experimentally documented so far. Ceramics made of cubic boron nitride prepared at high pressure and temperature find many applications whereas thin films prepared by activated deposition from the gas phase are still in the stage of fundamental development. The greatest progress has been achieved in the field of nanostructured materials including superlattices and nanocomposites where superhardness of ⩾50 GPa was reported for several systems. More recently, nc-TiN/SiN_x nanocomposites with hardness of 105 GPa were prepared, reaching the hardness of diamond. The principles of design for these materials are summarized and some unresolved questions outlined. © 1999 American Vacuum Society.

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

Vickers hardness, nanostructured materials, hardness, ceramics

PACS

62.20.Qp

Friction, tribology, and hardness
81.40.Np

Fatigue, corrosion fatigue, embrittlement, cracking, fracture, and failure
61.46.-w

Structure of nanoscale materials
68.35.Gy

Mechanical properties; surface strains
81.05.Je

Ceramics and refractories (including borides, carbides, hydrides, nitrides, oxides, and silicides)
81.05.Mh

Cermets, ceramic and refractory composites