Researchers from Texas A&M University and Rice University, supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, forged a diamond composite and fired aluminum projectiles at it. The projectiles traveled at more than eight times the speed of sound.
The team reported that within microseconds of impact, portions of the diamond composite had transformed into graphite, a softer form of carbon that absorbed shock. The study was published in Materials Today. It was led by Aniket Mote, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, and Thomas Lacy, a mechanical engineering professor.
Lacy said the phase change happens almost instantly and could help guide the design of materials that better withstand extreme environments. Mote said the team wanted to study how materials behave under extreme conditions in a controlled setting.