To determine which material is the hardest known, we examine the options given: Cemented carbide, Ceramic, Diamond, and Alloy steel.
- Cemented Carbide: This material is extremely hard and is used in cutting tools and abrasives. However, it is not the hardest known material.
- Ceramic: Ceramics are known for their hardness, especially in forms such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride. Nonetheless, they are not the hardest materials.
- Diamond: A naturally occurring form of carbon, diamond is renowned for its unparalleled hardness and is often used in cutting and grinding tools for this reason. It has a Mohs hardness of 10, the highest value on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
- Alloy Steel: While alloy steel is strong and widely used in construction and machinery, it does not reach the same level of hardness as a diamond.
Based on this analysis, the correct answer is Diamond. It is widely recognized as the hardest known natural material, making it suitable for applications requiring high abrasion resistance.
Important Questions from Classification of Materials
Pure graphite contains
Which statement about Curie point is correct?
Arrange the following in ascending order of their dielectric constant:
(A) Si 3N 4
(B) Ge
(C) GaAs
(D) SiO 2
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Arrange the following in terms of their dielectric strength in ascending order:
(A) Bakelite
(B) Mica
(C) Paper (impregnated)
(D) Teflon
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
What type of magnetic behaviour is observed in a type I superconductor?
