Strain
Properties of Matter

Strained and plastic diamonds

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Whilst macroscopic diamonds cannot undergo large strains without breaking, researchers have manufactured diamond nanoneedles that can experience strains of up to 9% without shattering. This property allows the nanoneedles to be bent at right angles, a deformation that would be impossible with macroscopic diamonds.

In the high temperatures and pressures within the Earth, diamonds can undergo plastic deformation, causing vacancy clusters within the crystal lattice. Such dislocations can give rise to brown and pink coloured diamonds.

References

Strain
appears in the relation ε=Δx/x E=σ/ε
can be represented by Stress-Strain Graphs
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