Diamond Block?

[jsnyder49428]

Now I know it sounds crazy but hear me out. HYPOTHETICALLY, as in if diamonds were cheap and easily machined, wouldn't diamond be good for an engine block? or at least a coating for the cylinders?

I mean diamond has a low coefficient of friction and a high thermal conductivity, its also pretty strong. How heavy is diamond anyway? What about alternatives?

Tear my theory apart please, I always think of stuff like this and theres always a hole in it somewhere, I just want to know where so I can casually move on to the next half baked idea.

[marcush.]

DLC coatings anyone?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond-like_carbon

this has found entry in series production even at quasi mass produced cars ....sorry you are a bit late .
Admittedly the series applications are mainly valvetrain and turbochargers (variable turbine geometry parts)

[jsnyder49428]

Darn, and being the college freshman I am I thought I knew everything.

[Jersey Tom]

Darn, and being the college freshman I am I thought I knew everything.

When I got to college and knew people with junior standing their first year, triple majoring in molecular biology and other things... I realized pretty quickly that I was a dumbass!

[marcush.]

there is a load of cool people out htere in the world ..

Joe Schubeck introduced DLC to me 12 years ago....and even back then it seemed it was an old hat to him...

[Giblet]

I met a guy who went to MIT and even though he was incredibly intelligent, he said he was just a SPAMIT. Just a 'stupid person at MIT'.

[flynfrog]

Darn, and being the college freshman I am I thought I knew everything.

When I got to college and knew people with junior standing their first year, triple majoring in molecular biology and other things... I realized pretty quickly that I was a dumbass!

yes but I also met people majoring in exercise sports and communications and then I felt slightly better about my awesome level

[MIKEY_!]

Vibrations ... nuff said.

As kool as a diamond block would be any vibration would cause the diamond components to shatter. not great at 18,000 rpm.

[PhillipM]

^^Doubtful.

However, it would burn pretty damned well.

[MIKEY_!]

Burning... ha ha ha never thought of that, probably true. Also not great at 18,000 rpm

[flynfrog]

[nikkiwade]

I never thought of that. you got super wild ideas. haha!

[HampusA]

Now I know it sounds crazy but hear me out. HYPOTHETICALLY, as in if diamonds were cheap and easily machined, wouldn't diamond be good for an engine block? or at least a coating for the cylinders?

I mean diamond has a low coefficient of friction and a high thermal conductivity, its also pretty strong. How heavy is diamond anyway? What about alternatives?

Tear my theory apart please, I always think of stuff like this and theres always a hole in it somewhere, I just want to know where so I can casually move on to the next half baked idea.

Even if Diamonds is the hardest natural material we know of it´s still a fragile material.

they use it in cutters and when building tunnels etc but even there the diamonds cutters break and they have to replace them.

So for engine blocks doing 200.000km i´m not so sure it´s better then aluminium or whatever mixed metals the car industry uses today.

[xpensive]

Naah, I'm certain that an engine-block made from pure diamond would be durable enough for more than 200 000 km,
just make sure that the cylinder-heads are properly tightened.

Besides, a diamond-block would be so cool, imagine what it could do for combustion development, when you would
actually be able to see the process as it happens irl!

[MIKEY_!]

Aren't there some serious vibrations even when an engine is working as it should?