In the present work we have proposed the method that allows one to easilyestimate hardness and bulk modulus of known or hypothetical solid phases fromthe data on Gibbs energy of atomization of the elements and correspondingcovalent radii. It has been shown that hardness and bulk moduli of compoundsstrongly correlate with their thermodynamic and structural properties. Theproposed method may be used for a large number of compounds with various typesof chemical bonding and structures; moreover, the temperature dependence ofhardness may be calculated, that has been performed for diamond and cubic boronnitride. The correctness of this approach has been shown for the recentlysynthesized superhard diamond-like BC5. It has been predicted that thehypothetical forms of B2O3, diamond-like boron, BCx and COx, which could besynthesized at high pressures and temperatures, should have extreme hardness.
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