Hardest Substance

[Mercedes Benzene]

What is the hardest substance known to man?

Is it indeed diamond? Or is there some synthetic substance that's harder?
If the latter is true, what makes it so hard?

Also, another thing to ponder: What's the most resilient substance known to man? I don't so much mean hardness but the ability to resist damage.

[Nitack]

Aggregate Diamond Nano-rods are harder, and synthetic. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance. However, their hardness also makes them the most resilient/damage resistant. Diamonds make a good gemstone because they can only be scratched by another diamond and therefore keep their luster longer.

Diamond - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[tmaromine]

And with why they're the hardest: it's because the atoms are in a consistent structure of some form. Right ? (I think that's right...)

[ronthepon]

I think we had a similar discussion sometime earlier. Some carbides (Eg that of tungsten) Tungsten halfnium carbide got some prize for something about it...

[freeztar]

According to the wiki on hardness:

The hardest substance known today is aggregated diamond nanorods, with a hardness 1.11 times diamond. Estimates from proposed molecular structure indicate the hardness of beta carbon nitride should also be greater than diamond (but less than ultrahard fullerite). This material has not yet been successfully synthesized.

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by tmaromine

And with why they're the hardest: it's because the atoms are in a consistent structure of some form. Right ? (I think that's right...)

Yes, but it would be more accurate to say crystal structure.

The hardest diamonds in the world are from the New England area in New South Wales, Australia. These diamonds are generally small, perfect to semiperfect octahedra, and are used to polish other diamonds. Their hardness is considered to be a product of the crystal growth form, which is single stage growth crystal. Most other diamonds show more evidence of multiple growth stages, which produce inclusions, flaws, and defect planes in the crystal lattice all of which affect their hardness.[8]

Diamond - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Nitack

Aggregate Diamond Nano-rods are harder, and synthetic. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance. However, their hardness also makes them the most resilient/damage resistant. Diamonds make a good gemstone because they can only be scratched by another diamond and therefore keep their luster longer.

Diamond - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I would have to disagree with part of your statement, while diamonds are the hardest natural substnace know they are not very resilient. a diamond can be crushed very easily, they break when hit. Most really hard substances are quite brittle when struck. Or were you not refering to that property?

[mynah]

Originally Posted by Mercedes Benzene

Also, another thing to ponder: What's the most resilient substance known to man? I don't so much mean hardness but the ability to resist damage.

Many insecticides and a good nuking by a pest control company later, I have to conclude that nothing beats the cockroach.

[liger]

i'm not sure about name of substance but i heard that scientist can make a new synthetic substance that harder that diamond.

[Isomotopes]

Synthetic diamonds are indeed extraordinarily hard and this is why they are used in drills (be it very expensive drills) but the downside is the cost and power needed to produce it is immense.