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Synthetic Diamonds
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Published: November 7, 2006
Though English chemist Sir Humphry Davy discovered diamonds were made of carbon in 1796, it took more than 150 years for the synthetic version to be produced.
The method for creating synthetic diamonds was not found until 1950, when Swedish and American researchers found the perfect formula almost simultaneously. Since then, the market for synthetic diamonds—including the popular diamond alternative cubic zirconia—has quickly developed. Today, more than 80 tons are annually produced around the world.
How Synthetic Diamonds are Made
The technology exists for synthetic diamonds to be reproduced in two different ways: chemical vapor deposition and high pressure technology.
In high pressure technology, there are two different methods capable of creating synthetic diamonds: a belt press or a cubic press. In the case of the belt press, both the upper and lower anvils supply a combination of pressure and heat, which is confined by a belt of steel bands. In terms of a cubic press, six anvils provide pressure onto a cube-shaped mass. This method is generally smaller and possesses the ability to create synthetic diamonds at a faster rate than the belt press.
Diamonds created by means of chemical vapor deposition are a recent addition to the synthetic diamond market, as the process remained either too expensive to implement or too difficult to make economical. This process typically occurs under low pressure and requires the precise combination of gases, an energy source and the proper conditions for diamond growth. Since this process is considered a recent addition to synthetic diamond technology, it currently remains under study particularly with cubic zirconia manufacturers. The major advantage to chemical vapor deposition over high pressure technologies is that it allows larger synthetic diamonds to grow, with growth areas greater than six inches.
Uses
Due to their extreme physical properties, the use of synthetic diamonds has largely remained industrial and, therefore, they have become known by many names: industrial, manufactured, artificial, or cultured diamonds. Industrial artificial diamonds account for three billion carats, or 600 metric tons. On the other hand, only 130 million carats, or 26 metric tons are annually mined for gem purposes.
Synthetic diamonds—with the exception of cubic zirconia—usually are too small and flawed to be gemstones, but they have proved extremely practical within industrial technologies and are promising additions to computer technology and electronics. Therein, they have been used within cutting tools, drill bits and machining tools.
In terms of synthetic diamond gemstones, producers have opted for special growing chambers in order to create sizable stones. Usually accomplished by means of high pressure technology, these synthetic diamonds normally range up to two carats in size and can be produced in a variety of colors (which is rare in natural diamonds) including yellow, red, blue and pink. In terms of price, synthetic diamonds are obviously more cost-efficient than natural stones, especially with colored diamonds (where prices for natural diamonds can be over 30 times the synthetic versions.)
Synthetic Diamond Jewelry
Cubic zirconia is the most popular form of synthetic diamond jewelry. Cubic zirconia is known for its hardness properties. In scientific terms, cubic zirconia is the cubic form of zirconium oxide, which is created in a laboratory (thus making it a synthetic stone.) Like rare diamonds, cubic zirconia can be made in a variety of colors (such as red and blue) and, visually, is a reasonable substitute for diamonds. Cubic zirconia is a significantly more cost-efficient alternative to the natural diamond.
Sources:
http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/stud ents/berg/cz.html (Date: 2006-11-06 18:21:24)
http://www.answers.com/topic/synthetic-diamondht tp://chemistry.about.com/cs/geochemistry/a/aa07180 (Date: 2006-10-30 18:49:59)
The method for creating synthetic diamonds was not found until 1950, when Swedish and American researchers found the perfect formula almost simultaneously. Since then, the market for synthetic diamonds—including the popular diamond alternative cubic zirconia—has quickly developed. Today, more than 80 tons are annually produced around the world.
How Synthetic Diamonds are Made
The technology exists for synthetic diamonds to be reproduced in two different ways: chemical vapor deposition and high pressure technology.
In high pressure technology, there are two different methods capable of creating synthetic diamonds: a belt press or a cubic press. In the case of the belt press, both the upper and lower anvils supply a combination of pressure and heat, which is confined by a belt of steel bands. In terms of a cubic press, six anvils provide pressure onto a cube-shaped mass. This method is generally smaller and possesses the ability to create synthetic diamonds at a faster rate than the belt press.
Diamonds created by means of chemical vapor deposition are a recent addition to the synthetic diamond market, as the process remained either too expensive to implement or too difficult to make economical. This process typically occurs under low pressure and requires the precise combination of gases, an energy source and the proper conditions for diamond growth. Since this process is considered a recent addition to synthetic diamond technology, it currently remains under study particularly with cubic zirconia manufacturers. The major advantage to chemical vapor deposition over high pressure technologies is that it allows larger synthetic diamonds to grow, with growth areas greater than six inches.
Uses
Due to their extreme physical properties, the use of synthetic diamonds has largely remained industrial and, therefore, they have become known by many names: industrial, manufactured, artificial, or cultured diamonds. Industrial artificial diamonds account for three billion carats, or 600 metric tons. On the other hand, only 130 million carats, or 26 metric tons are annually mined for gem purposes.
Synthetic diamonds—with the exception of cubic zirconia—usually are too small and flawed to be gemstones, but they have proved extremely practical within industrial technologies and are promising additions to computer technology and electronics. Therein, they have been used within cutting tools, drill bits and machining tools.
In terms of synthetic diamond gemstones, producers have opted for special growing chambers in order to create sizable stones. Usually accomplished by means of high pressure technology, these synthetic diamonds normally range up to two carats in size and can be produced in a variety of colors (which is rare in natural diamonds) including yellow, red, blue and pink. In terms of price, synthetic diamonds are obviously more cost-efficient than natural stones, especially with colored diamonds (where prices for natural diamonds can be over 30 times the synthetic versions.)
Synthetic Diamond Jewelry
Cubic zirconia is the most popular form of synthetic diamond jewelry. Cubic zirconia is known for its hardness properties. In scientific terms, cubic zirconia is the cubic form of zirconium oxide, which is created in a laboratory (thus making it a synthetic stone.) Like rare diamonds, cubic zirconia can be made in a variety of colors (such as red and blue) and, visually, is a reasonable substitute for diamonds. Cubic zirconia is a significantly more cost-efficient alternative to the natural diamond.
Sources:
http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/stud ents/berg/cz.html (Date: 2006-11-06 18:21:24)
http://www.answers.com/topic/synthetic-diamondht tp://chemistry.about.com/cs/geochemistry/a/aa07180 (Date: 2006-10-30 18:49:59)
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