Use of a Ti/C/N ceramic to promote sintering of nanoparticles of shock-synthesized superhard B/C/N with a diamond-like structure

Novel superhard sinters of shock-synthesized B/C/N heterodiamond that have both the high hardness of diamond and the excellent steel-cutting capabilit y of cubic BN have been investigated. The addition of special Ti/C/N cerami cs unexpectedly made sintering possible. Surprisingly, the heterodiamond pa rticles in the sinters showed a very unique nanoscale dispersion, meaning p erfect sintering had occurred. The nanostructure-controlled sintering of th e heterodiamond will open a new field of all-purpose cutting and zero-frict ion materials in the near future.