Application of Nano-Polycrystalline Diamond (NPD) to DAC

Abstract

  Nano-polycrystalline diamond (NPD), consisting of nano-sized diamond grains oriented in random directions without containing any secondary phases, can be produced by direct conversion sintering from graphite under high pressure and high temperature. NPD is characterized by high hardness surpassing that of single crystal diamond, and exhibits no cleavage features and has isotropy of mechanical properties. These characteristics of NPD suggest potential applications of this novel material as anvils for diamond anvil cells. In this article, some properties of NPD and results of high-pressure generation tests using NPD anvils are reviewed, and its potentiality as a new anvil material is discussed.