Hierarchically structured diamond composite with exceptional toughness

Yonghai Yue, Yufei Gao, Wentao Hu, Bo Xu, Jing Wang, Xuejiao Zhang, Qi Zhang, Yanbin Wang, Binghui Ge, Zhenyu Yang, Zihe Li, Pan Ying, Xiaoxiao Liu, Dongli Yu, Bin Wei, Zhongchang Wang, Xiang-Feng Zhou (), Lin Guo () and Yongjun Tian ()
Additional contact information
Yonghai Yue: Yanshan University
Yufei Gao: Yanshan University
Wentao Hu: Yanshan University
Bo Xu: Yanshan University
Jing Wang: Beihang University
Xuejiao Zhang: Beihang University
Qi Zhang: Beihang University
Yanbin Wang: University of Chicago
Binghui Ge: Anhui University
Zhenyu Yang: Beihang University
Zihe Li: Yanshan University
Pan Ying: Yanshan University
Xiaoxiao Liu: Yanshan University
Dongli Yu: Yanshan University
Bin Wei: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
Zhongchang Wang: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
Xiang-Feng Zhou: Yanshan University
Lin Guo: Beihang University
Yongjun Tian: Yanshan University

Nature, 2020, vol. 582, issue 7812, 370-374

Abstract: Abstract The well known trade-off between hardness and toughness (resistance to fracture) makes simultaneous improvement of both properties challenging, especially in diamond. The hardness of diamond can be increased through nanostructuring strategies1,2, among which the formation of high-density nanoscale twins — crystalline regions related by symmetry — also toughens diamond2. In materials other than diamond, there are several other promising approaches to enhancing toughness in addition to nanotwinning3, such as bio-inspired laminated composite toughening4–7, transformation toughening8 and dual-phase toughening9, but there has been little research into such approaches in diamond. Here we report the structural characterization of a diamond composite hierarchically assembled with coherently interfaced diamond polytypes (different stacking sequences), interwoven nanotwins and interlocked nanograins. The architecture of the composite enhances toughness more than nanotwinning alone, without sacrificing hardness. Single-edge notched beam tests yield a toughness up to five times that of synthetic diamond10, even greater than that of magnesium alloys. When fracture occurs, a crack propagates through diamond nanotwins of the 3C (cubic) polytype along {111} planes, via a zigzag path. As the crack encounters regions of non-3C polytypes, its propagation is diffused into sinuous fractures, with local transformation into 3C diamond near the fracture surfaces. Both processes dissipate strain energy, thereby enhancing toughness. This work could prove useful in making superhard materials and engineering ceramics. By using structural architecture with synergetic effects of hardening and toughening, the trade-off between hardness and toughness may eventually be surmounted.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2361-2

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