Synthetic and Artificial Diamonds Flashcards
What crystal forms are synthetic diamonds form?
Single Crystal and Polycrystalline
What is artificial material?
Produced by human manufacturing.
Examples of artificial materials:
Glass, concrete, & metal alloys.
How are natural materials used for artificial gems?
As feed materials as a core for crystal growth.
Synthetic
Artificial materials that possess the same composition and structure as a mineral counterpart. The chemistry, structure, and physical properties must be similar to its natural counterpart.
YAG
Yttrium Aluminum Garnet - no natural counterpart
What are synthetics used for?
As a substitute or to imitate another species.
Synthetic diamond makers:
James B Hannay, Henri Moissan and Sir Charles Parsons
What year did synthetic diamonds become reality
1938
Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA)
1953 Swedish engineering company grew 40 synthetic crystals.
Synthetic diamond are grown by HPHT
Belt or BAR methods
Synthetic Diamond Formula
Carbon Source, 50-80 kb pressure, 1350-1600 Celsius, and metal solvent catalyst (iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys of these metals).
How does the synthesis takes place?
The carbon material is absorbed into the surrounding metal solvent until it reaches saturation point and crystallizes as a diamond.
What carbon source is best for gem quality synthetics?
Diamond powder
What’s the problem with using graphite as a carbon source?
Loss of volume when broken bonds between atoms reform as diamond, causing loss in pressure.
