Can a diamond be broken with a hammer?
Diamond is the hardest substance in the world, but even with that, it can still be vulnerable to being hit by a hammer.
As a rule, diamonds have different degrees of strength or hardness. The quality and perfection of the structure of the cubic lattice affect the level of strength. Therefore, diamonds have weak points in their structure that allow them to be broken with a hammer.
You can break a diamond with a hammer as follows:
- Choose a diamond with internal inclusions and flaws
- Place the diamond on a firm surface
- Hit hard to hit the weakest spot in the diamond lattice.
I'll cover more below.
Can a diamond be broken with a hammer?
Toughness refers to the ability of a material to resist fracture from impact or falls. But yes, you can break a diamond with a hammer. The following factors show the vulnerability of diamonds to breakage and why you can smash them violently with a hammer.
Diamond geometry
The diamond structure has perfect cleavage, which makes it easy to break if the blow is directed at the right place.
Macroscopic cleavage of a diamond shows its fragility. It should be noted that hardness and strength are different aspects. The diamond is hard, but the hammer is strong. However, it is still difficult to break a diamond with a hammer, but this may be the only way out if you do not have diamond cutters.
The internal structure consists of chemically bonded carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are arranged symmetrically or in lattice structures, and the carbon atoms are difficult to destroy.
Number of atoms per unit volume
The cubic structure of the diamond lattice is unique because it contains the largest number of atoms and bonds per unit volume. This forms the basis of the diamond's hardness. The cubic lattice increases the immobility of the carbon atoms.
How to break a diamond with a hammer
As mentioned above, breaking a diamond with an ordinary hammer or sledgehammer is not an easy task, but doable.
Use a lot of energy to create enough force to crack the diamond. Otherwise, the diamond will remain motionless. Let's break the diamond.
Step 1: Choose a diamond that is easy to break
There are different types of diamonds with varying degrees of hardness or hardness. Tenacity determines or ranks the stability of a diamond, which is a key factor in breaking a diamond with a hammer.
So, get a diamond with internal inclusions and flaws to make your job easier.
Step 2: Selecting a Surface
Judging by the force of the hammer and the toughness of the diamond, you need a hard surface to hit the diamond. I recommend setting the diamond on a thick metal sheet or stone. You are squeezing him.
Step 3: Aiming the hammer blow
To make your efforts productive, direct the blow so that maximum pressure is applied to the weakest point of the diamond's internal lattice.
Notes: Keep the diamond still even after being hit with a hammer. As expected, the hammer blow will weaken if the diamond slips from the hammer blow. Clamp the diamond as recommended, or use any other means at your disposal to ensure the stability of the diamond.
F.A.Q.
Do all diamonds have the same strength and hardness?
No. The quality and perfection of the structure of the cubic lattice of diamonds determine the hardness and strength. But the quality of carbon-carbon bonds varies due to climatic factors such as temperature. (1)
What is the difference between the hardness and toughness of diamonds?
Hardness reflects the susceptibility of a material to scratches. In contrast, strength or toughness measures the vulnerability of a substance to failure. So, diamonds are very hard (therefore they are used to scratch other materials without leaving bruises), but not very strong - so they can be broken with a hammer. (2)
Recommendations
(1) carbon-carbon bond - https://www.nature.com/articles/463435a
(2) tenacity - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/tenacity
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