Dynamic healing process of two fractured surfaces with DO protrusions.
Diamonds, often regarded as the hardest naturally occurring material on Earth, have long captured the interest of scientists and industry experts.
Their extraordinary qualities have led to a wide range of applications, from precision cutting tools to high-tech electronics. One persistent problem has been the tendency to crack.
Phys.org tells us that a recent breakthrough study undertaken by a team of Beihang University chemists, materials scientists, and aeronautical engineers revealed a groundbreaking discovery: synthetic diamonds can now heal themselves at room temperature.
This incredible discovery, published in the journal Nature Materials, has the potential to transform the diamond industry and open up new avenues for manufacturing extremely durable materials for a wide range of uses.
Improving the Synthetic Diamond
Diamonds, whether they are grown in a lab or mined from the Earth, have been susceptible to cracking, limiting their utility in various fields.
Scientists have strived for decades to find ways to enhance the resilience of diamonds, and while some progress has been made by introducing hierarchical internal structures, the problem of cracking remains.
Previous research hinted at the possibility of creating nanotwinned diamond composites (ntDC) with self-healing capabilities. However, these observations were conducted under extreme conditions of high pressure and high temperatures, making them impractical for most real-world applications.
Self-Healing Diamonds at Room Temperature
The research team embarked on a mission to tackle this challenge by exploring whether self-healing properties could be achieved at normal pressure and room temperature.
To do this, they created ntDC samples using onion carbon compressed at very high temperatures. Then, using an ion beam technique, they induced controlled cracks in the samples.
The most astonishing part of their findings was that these diamond samples displayed a remarkable ability to self-heal at room temperature.
Tests revealed that the healed samples regained an impressive 34% of their tensile strength, a game-changing advancement in the world of materials science.
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Understanding the Self-Healing Mechanism
The key to this remarkable discovery lies in the behavior of carbon atoms on the surfaces of the cracks.
The researchers identified the presence of sp2 and sp3-hybridized carbon atoms on opposite sides of the cracks, which they aptly termed "osteoblasts."
These osteoblasts bonded with each other, triggering C-C re-bonding across gaps and facilitating the healing process.
In simpler terms, as the cracked diamond material started to come back together, the atoms on the surfaces began to act differently, as if they were attracted to each other instead of pushing each other away.
This phenomenon was likened to the body's natural healing process when it repairs a cut or a bruise.
Potential Applications: Stronger, Tougher Materials
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. The ability to create self-healing diamonds at room temperature could lead to the development of exceptionally robust materials.
This breakthrough could be especially significant for traditionally brittle materials like ceramics, which could become more resilient and durable.
Imagine ceramics in electronics, vehicles, and structural components that could withstand impact and stress without shattering.
The potential applications for self-healing materials extend across various industries, from aerospace to healthcare, where resilient materials are highly sought after.
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