Blue Diamond
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Posted On :
Sep-19-2011
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Article Word Count :
532
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The different colored diamonds grow at different rates, which explains why the size availability varies based on the color.
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Creating Man Made Diamonds
There are two major methods through which man made diamonds are produced.
The high pressure, high temperature process recreates conditions found deep inside the earth, where diamonds occur naturally. A belt press was the initial successful design. This design has two anvils that press together which enable it to grow many diamonds in a single cycle. These presses are most commonly used for industrial diamonds and powder. A cubic press utilizes six different anvils pressing onto a cube. These presses are most often used to produce industrial diamond powder. The BARS press was developed by Russian scientists. It makes use of 6 inner anvils and 8 spherical outer anvils to apply hydraulic pressure to the growth cell. One cycle of the BARS machine creates one diamond crystal. These BARS presses are to-date, the best process to grow comparatively large gem-quality diamonds.
In the core of the HPHT machines is a growth cell. This cell contains all the elements and materials needed for growing the diamond. This includes a small diamond seed, highly refined and purified graphite (carbon) as well as a catalyst of mixed metals and powders that facilitates the diamond growth. The growth cell is placed in the center of the machine and is heated to over 1,300 degrees Celsius and over 50,000 atmospheres of pressure is applied. When the temperature and pressure increases, the catalyst turns into a molten metal solution. Once the perfect conditions are reached, the graphite dissolves into this solution. Through a controlled cooling process over the course of several days, the carbon atoms gradually build upon the crystal structure of the diamond seed. The diamond typically grows in a truncated octahedron or a hexa-cubic shape, based on parameters of the growth process. Once the machine runs its full cycle, the growth cell is removed. The brand new diamond is cleaned and ready to be cut and polished, similar to any rough diamond. In the course of the growth, the temperature and pressure have to be maintained within an extremely strict set of parameters. If there is any fluctuation, the diamond can either stop growing, or become so heavily included, the usable gem-quality size can be quite limited.
The different colored diamonds grow at different rates, which explains why the size availability varies based on the color.
Chemical vapor deposition is a very different process from high pressure, high temperature, though they both ultimately grow diamonds. The environment inside a CVD machine is a small percentage of 1 atmosphere of pressure. Carbon-based gasses, commonly methane, are introduced to the environment and are heated to many hundreds of degrees Celsius which will cause the gasses to break apart and release their carbon atoms. The carbon then "rains" down onto a diamond substrate, in which it slowly grows in layers (a couple of micrometers per hour) as a crystal. This technology is best suited for applications utilizing thin layers of diamonds, like optics and semiconductors. CVD is capable of creating gem-quality diamonds, though the size of the polished diamond is restricted by the thickness of the diamond wafer.
Visit d.neadiamonds.com to understand more about man made diamonds.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Blue Diamond_83071.aspx
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Author Resource :
blue diamond, man made diamonds
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Keywords :
blue diamond, man made diamonds,
Category :
Fashion
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Jewelry
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