Compacting particles to add density

[Interested user]

TL;DR Summary

Can you create a denser material then you already have by compacting particles?

Hi, I was wondering if compacting a particle p, you could create an even more dense one. In my theory, you would have a particle of any material, (for example: copper) and you combine it with another copper particle, if you compacted it enough, would the density of the two particles be added up? If so, then what amount of pressure would be required to combine the two. If not and my theory is completely ridiculous, please let me know.

 

[Drakkith]

Metals are composed of atoms arranged in a specific pattern at a specific distance from each other via metallic bonds and it takes an incredible amount of force to change their density by any appreciable amount. And once that force is removed the material simply expands back to its original density.

Other materials react in different ways. One example is the transition from the sheet-like structure of graphite to the diamond-cubic structure found in diamonds.

In general, no, you can't create a more dense particle by combining it with another. You typically need a constant external force which isn't provided by just combining particles.

if you compacted it enough, would the density of the two particles be added up?

This would only be true for a single density value that's twice the original density of the original particles.

 

[Interested user]

Ok, thanks for letting me know.

 

[hutchphd]

A common situation where the density of a substance changes dramatically is changing from liquid to a gas. Adding a little bit of energy to water when it is near the boiling point makes its density change by a factor of a thousand. The molecules of water don't really change but they suddenly need to be very much farther apart. Such phase changes are very interesting indeed