Reaction-Diffusion Pathways for a Programmable Nanoscale Texture of the Diamond-SiC Composite.

The diamond-SiC composite has a low density and the highest possible speed of sound among existing materials except for diamond. The composite is synthesized by a complex exothermic chemical reaction between diamond powder and liquid Si. This makes it an ideal material for protection against impact loading. Experiments show that a system of patterns is formed at the diamond-SiC interface. Modeling of reaction-diffusion processes of composite synthesis proves a formation of ceramic materials with a regular (periodic) interconnected microstructure in a given system. The composite material with interconnected structures at the interface has very high mechanical properties and resistance to impact since its fractioning is intercrystallite.