Abstract: The production of ultra-hard particles composed substantially of carbon as the dominant element is taught. The ultra-hard particle comprises a covalently bonded lattice structure produced by reacting a carbide selected from the group consisting of acetylide carbides, interstitial carbides and metal carbides with a polyhalide selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.n X.sub.A Y.sub.(4-n)-A, C.sub.2 H.sub.n' X.sub.A' Y.sub.(6-n')-A', C.sub.2 H.sub.n" X.sub.A" Y.sub.(4-n")-A", BX.sub.3, C.sub.6 X.sub.6, C.sub.5 X.sub.5 N, SX.sub.2 and X.sub.2 wherein X and Y are different halogens selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine and fluorine, and wherein A is an integer from 0 to 4, A' is an integer from 0 to 6, and A" is an integer from 0 to 4, and wherein n is an integer from 0 to 4, n' is an integer from 0 to 6, and n" is an integer from 0 to 4, wherein A, A', A", n, n' or n" is the same integer in any particular member selected and wherein n+A=4, n'+A'=6 and n"+A"=4.