Prospector

Diamonds Fast and Cheap

Very large diamonds produced very fast - Carnegie Institution News

Washington, D.C. Researchers at the Carnegie Institution’s Geophysical Laboratory have learned to produce 10-carat, half-inch thick single-crystal diamonds at rapid growth rates (100 micrometers per hour) using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. This size is approximately five times that of commercially available diamonds produced by the standard high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) method and other CVD techniques. In addition, the team has made colorless single-crystal diamonds, transparent from the ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths with their CVD process.

Figure 1. The variety of single crystal diamonds produced by the Carnegie high-growth rate CVD process.

Last year, the Carnegie researchers found that HPHT annealing enhances not only the optical properties of some CVD diamond, but also the hardness [1]. Using new techniques, the Carnegie scientists have now produced transparent diamond using a CVD method without HPHT annealing.

By this method, three-dimensional growth of colorless single-crystal diamond in the inch-range (~300 carat) is achievable.

Figure 3. 12 mm (1/2 inch) 5 carat diamond laser cut from a 10 carat single crystal produced by high-growth rate CVD. The diamond was laser cut (and inscribed) from a diamond block and only partially polished.

The standard growth rate is 100 micrometers per hour for the Carnegie process, but growth rates in excess of 300 micrometers per hour have been reached, and 1 millimeter per hour may be possible. With the colorless diamond produced at ever higher growth rate and low cost, large blocks of diamond should be available for a variety of applications. “The diamond age is upon us,” concluded Hemley.

Very large diamonds produced very fast - Carnegie Institution News

Wait until they start making their own in India!

posted by Prospector @ 9:18 AM