Mechanical, structural, and spectroscopic properties of C70 fullerite phases produced under high pressure and shear

X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectra, and the hardness of C70 fullerite subjected to a high pressure with shear are investigated. It is shown that these conditions favor the phase transformation of molecular fullerite into the hard amorphous phase. The hardness of a specimen removed from a diamond anvil cell loaded up to 26 GPa under shear deformation applied is found to be equal to 30 GPa.