Is Norbide Tougher Than Diamond? Exploring Superhard Materials

Lonsdaleite is an intriguing allotrope of carbon that possesses exceptional hardness, surpassing even that of diamonds. This remarkable hardness, approximately 58% greater than that of diamonds, is attributed to the enhanced bone density per unit area within its hexagonal crystal structure. In addition to Lonsdaleite, boron nitride and silicon carbide are two other synthetically produced materials known for their outstanding hardness properties.

Is diamond the hardest element? While diamonds are indeed renowned as one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, it’s important to note that they are not the absolute hardest materials available. In fact, there are two substances that surpass diamonds in terms of hardness. One of these is a laboratory-synthesized nanomaterial known as wurtzite boron nitride, which has been created under controlled conditions to exhibit extraordinary hardness. Additionally, a naturally occurring substance called lonsdaleite, found in meteorites, also boasts a higher level of hardness compared to diamonds. So, while diamonds are impressively hard, they are not the ultimate pinnacle of hardness in the realm of materials. This information was last updated on December 18, 2015.