In diamond, carbon is sp3 hybridized. Each carbon atom is bonded to 4 other carbon atoms with the help of strong covalent bonds. ... It is very difficult to break this extended covalent bonding and for this reason, diamond is the hardest substance known. Thus, it is used as an abrasive and for cutting tools.
Can diamond be used as an abrasive?
Diamonds are used for many industrial settings due to the fact that they are the hardest substance known. Diamonds are a crystalline form of carbon, capable of assuming a variety of shapes, sizes and qualities and are used for grinding, cutting, drilling, polishing and as an abrasive in industrial applications.
Why is graphite used as a lubricant and diamond as an abrasive?
The graphite is made up of layers or sheets and with a solvent absorbed in between these layers they can slip over each other, thus creating the lubricant effect. The diamond is amongst one of the hardest materials we know because the carbon is bound very well to each other. Thus it can cut other things and be a drill.
