Superhard Alloys: A Review of Empirical Modeling and Computational Strategies

Abstract

Superhard alloys has gained major research interest in recent past as it represents an effort to create man made alloys with hardness on par with the hardest substance available to us i.e. a naturally occurring diamond. They are virtually incompressible solids with high electron density and high bond covalency. Present paper aims to review the empirical methods and computational techniques developed by employing them using published literature, in order to attain a better understanding of complexities involved in synthesis of such compounds as a first step towards developing a new superhard metallurgical composition with similar mechanical attributes.