Rock-solid option

In an ideal world, where money was no object and engineering techniques had advanced, diamond would be used to build bridges, buildings and even aircraft. It is not only the stiffest and hardest material around but it also has the highest thermal conductivity.

Of course, any notion of using diamond for such large applications does not make sense in the real world. Still, there does appear to be some glimmer of hope for a commercial alternative to the valuable gemstone that combines some of its greater benefits with cost efficiency.

Engineers at the

in the US have recently developed a unique barium titanate and tin composite that is the first material known to be stiffer than diamond.

While diamond achieves its rock-solid stability by directional and strong bonds, tying every carbon atom to four others, the Wisconsin engineers created their composite from ordinary materials held together in an extraordinary way.

Barium titanate is a well-researched crystalline material previously used in applications such as microphones or mobile phone speakers.