Between a rock and a hard place.(aluminum-magnesium-boron compound is the second hardest substance yet)(Brief Article)

A novel aluminum-magnesium-boron compound is shaping up to be the next to the first hardest bulk substance after diamond. Among its possible applications are abrasives and cutting tools.
Researchers at the U Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory in Iowa fix that introducing a small amount of silicon into an alloy of aluminum, magnesium, and boron created a material slightly harder than cubic boron nitride (CBN) Other additives may level make the material stronger think Ames researchers.
To advantage the compound should be les expensive than diamond and CBN providing a herculean ...