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New Technique Produces 10-carat Diamond
National Science Foundation ^ | 5-16-05

Posted on 05/16/2005 3:19:04 PM PDT by STARWISE

Crystal-clear material is better for optics, scientific applications

May 16, 2005

Researchers at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D.C. have produced 10-carat, half-inch thick single-crystal diamonds at rapid growth rates (100 micrometers per hour) using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The 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.

Most HPHT synthetic diamond is yellow and most CVD diamond is brown, limiting their optical applications. Colorless diamonds are costly to produce and so far those reported are small. This limits general applications of these diamonds as gems, in optics, and in scientific research.

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

"High-quality crystals more than three carats are very difficult to produce using the conventional approach," said scientist Russell Hemley, who leads the diamond effort at Carnegie. "Several groups have begun to grow diamond single crystals by CVD, but large, colorless, and flawless ones remain a challenge. Our fabrication of 10-carat, half-inch, CVD diamonds is a major breakthrough."

The results were reported at the 10th International Conference on New Diamond Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan, on May 12, 2005, and will be reported at the Applied Diamond Congress in Argonne, Ill., May 18, 2005.

"The rapid synthesis of large, single-crystal diamond is a remarkable scientific achievement, and has implications for a wide range of scientific and commercial applications," said David Lambert, program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s earth sciences division, which funded the research.

To further increase the size of the crystals, the Carnegie researchers grew gem-quality diamonds sequentially on the six faces of a substrate diamond plate with the CVD process. By this method, three-dimensional growth of colorless single-crystal diamond in the inch-range is achievable.

Finally, new shapes have been fabricated with the blocks of the CVD single crystals.

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," said Hemley.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Technical
KEYWORDS: bigassrock; bigones; breakthrough; carnegie; colorless; cvd; diamond; diamonds; diamonique; manmadediamond; manufactured; singlecrystal
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To: Luke

There's alink somewhere here, also on yahoo,
there's a drug they are giving patients with MSD? and i guess it's a "blood disease" brought on by cancer, but the drug is actually taking care of the actual cancer. You may want to check out the news sources. I know there are different types of cancers, and it will be harder to find a cure-all.


21 posted on 05/16/2005 3:54:42 PM PDT by 1FASTGLOCK45 (FreeRepublic: More fun than watching Dem'Rats drown like Turkeys in the rain! ! !)
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To: STARWISE
Debeers, the diamond monopoly, has got to be worried
I've seen several stories about how they have been trying to make synthetic diamonds sound like an inferior product and lower in value, not the sort of thing you would put in an engagement ring.

Diamonds for $5 / caret anyone?
22 posted on 05/16/2005 3:55:48 PM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: bvw
Moore's law applies -- I bet -- we'll see diamond window panes in our lifetime.

Earlier than that we'll see diamond computer chips. 81 Ghz Diamond Semiconductor Created

23 posted on 05/16/2005 3:57:11 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (What does the wolf care how many sheep there be?)
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To: martin_fierro
"Option I Carat Size .20 - .29 $2,499"

Option IV carat size=.50 - .59 $6,699"

Add that to the cost of the funeral, etc. Hmmm. Wonder if they're really legit and really use the particular remains for their yellow stones.

My choice:


24 posted on 05/16/2005 4:04:28 PM PDT by STARWISE (Is your voice being heard in Washington? You get the govt. you deserve.U.S. CONGRESS: 1-877-762-8762)
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To: datura
We already can make gold. Better than 'traditional' gold.

What on Earth are you talking about???

25 posted on 05/16/2005 4:05:07 PM PDT by rkhampton
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To: 1FASTGLOCK45
If they get good at making these flawless diamonds, would they be considered the same value as a natural flawless diamond?

Carat for carat and color for color, I don't foresee created diamonds becoming more expensive than the *real* ones.

Flawless, lab created gemstones such as sapphire and ruby have been on the market for some time.

The problem with the diamonds was the ability to create them colorless, flawless and of a reasonable size.

FYI:Both Lab created and naturally occurring gemstones are currently (legally) described in advertisements as *genuine*, but only one of them is 'natural'.

26 posted on 05/16/2005 4:07:17 PM PDT by MamaTexan (I am not a legal entity, nor am I a *person* as defined and/or created by 'law'!!)
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To: DaGman

DeBeers is experiencing volcanic quaking and uncontrollable spasms as we speak.. the manufacturers using the other method which produces yellow stones are stuttering and getting hives;).


27 posted on 05/16/2005 4:07:32 PM PDT by STARWISE (Is your voice being heard in Washington? You get the govt. you deserve.U.S. CONGRESS: 1-877-762-8762)
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To: DaGman

Already falling out. Check eBay, but you have to be wise as a serpent to know if you're getting a good deal. I got a gorgeous ruby and diamond ring on eBay for $75, and I independently had it appraised at $995. However, (1) I knew it was real because I saw it beforehand, and (2) when I tried combing eBay for more good deals, all I saw were scams. You *have* to know a few things about jewelry to be able to discern a good jewelry buy on eBay from a scam.


28 posted on 05/16/2005 4:07:49 PM PDT by Nataku X (Last month's summary: GOP ^= Dem ^= GOP ^= Dem)
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To: RegulatorCountry

I think that means creating them in rectangles, cushion cuts,
marquise, pear, etc.


29 posted on 05/16/2005 4:08:54 PM PDT by STARWISE (Is your voice being heard in Washington? You get the govt. you deserve.U.S. CONGRESS: 1-877-762-8762)
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To: 1FASTGLOCK45
  If they get good at making these flawless diamonds, would they be considered the same value as a natural flawless diamond?

I would venture a "yes." After all, once they're cut, how would you tell the difference?

30 posted on 05/16/2005 4:09:11 PM PDT by Mike-o-Matic
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To: MamaTexan

Thank you Mama :P


31 posted on 05/16/2005 4:09:48 PM PDT by 1FASTGLOCK45 (FreeRepublic: More fun than watching Dem'Rats drown like Turkeys in the rain! ! !)
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To: DaGman
Depending on efficiency, the bottom could fall out of the diamond market.

The diamond cartels, like DeBeers are already fighting this, trying to get laws passed that distinguish a natural diamond from an artificial diamond, but ultimately they will fail and diamond will become almost worthless in the near future.

32 posted on 05/16/2005 4:11:02 PM PDT by rkhampton
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To: Mike-o-Matic

If the bottom falls out on diamond prices, i want to buy a barrel full just to keep around :)


33 posted on 05/16/2005 4:11:06 PM PDT by 1FASTGLOCK45 (FreeRepublic: More fun than watching Dem'Rats drown like Turkeys in the rain! ! !)
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To: Mike-o-Matic
After all, once they're cut, how would you tell the difference?

The good folks at DeBeers will teach jewelers to look for naturally occuring flaws to be able to tell the 'real' thing from shoddy man made stones.

34 posted on 05/16/2005 4:12:09 PM PDT by Dinsdale
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To: RegulatorCountry

New shapes? They're "growing" diamonds that are faceted already? Or am I misunderstanding something here?

The grown diamond grows in the same shape as the 'seed diamond'. You're not misunderstanding.

This photograph shows a synthetic brilliant cut single-crystal diamond grown by chemical vapor deposition, CVD. About 2.5 mm high, this crystal was grown in about 1 day at Carnegie. The very bottom (table) of the crystal is a type 1b seed: hence the yellow tint which is due to internal reflection (the CVD diamond is transparent...

More info here: Link

35 posted on 05/16/2005 4:16:01 PM PDT by elli1
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To: 1FASTGLOCK45
If they get good at making these flawless diamonds, would they be considered the same value as a natural flawless diamond?

Not if DeBeers has a say so in it. Remember that natural diamonds are quite common and their high value is due only to DeBeers' monopoly on sales and distribution.

36 posted on 05/16/2005 4:23:39 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: STARWISE

Diamonds are not forever.

GRAPHITE is forever. Unfortunately, women like shiny expensive things...

"Lab diamonds"? If the diamond mafia can get the "fake" meme in there, the allure of "real" diamonds will not diminish. But the science applications will gladly accept them. And there are plenty applications to drive demand.

But, I wonder how much the processing itself costs. There are some substrates that are tens of thousands of dollars per gram. Then again, this is something that hordes of researchers would gladly help find a way to scale up cost effectively.


37 posted on 05/16/2005 4:25:25 PM PDT by Atheist_Canadian_Conservative
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To: FreedomCalls

DeBeers, Coors, Budweiser, fosters, lets liquidate :)


38 posted on 05/16/2005 4:30:08 PM PDT by 1FASTGLOCK45 (FreeRepublic: More fun than watching Dem'Rats drown like Turkeys in the rain! ! !)
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To: datura
We already can make gold. Better than 'traditional' gold.
Out of what? Gold is an element. I am still curious (yellow)! ;-)
39 posted on 05/16/2005 4:30:35 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (What's this for ? ;-)
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To: 1FASTGLOCK45
If they get good at making these flawless diamonds, would they be considered the same value as a natural flawless diamond?

Probably not. They would stil be MAN MADE. Just like the man made emeralds. They are not real even though stores may tell you so. Just ask your insurance person. Some don't mind fake gems though and that's ok, too. :)

40 posted on 05/16/2005 4:38:57 PM PDT by Netizen
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