- #1
Lifegazer
Why can't we manufacture 'diamond'?
Why can't we manufacture 'diamond'?
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In summary, diamonds can be manufactured using a carbon source, such as cremation ashes, and a lot of pressure over a few weeks or months. However, these synthetic diamonds are not generally as high quality as natural diamonds used in jewelry. They also have impurities that can change the color of the stone. Synthetic diamond is not ideal for industrial use either, as it tends to decompose under extreme circumstances and cannot cut steel. Synthetic diamonds made from cremation ashes are not of high value and cannot be passed off as natural diamonds.
- #2
(Q)
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Diamonds are only a reality conjured up by the Mind.
- #3
Njorl
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We can and do. They are not generally as nice as jewelry quality natural diamonds.
You can even have your loved ones ashes from cremation used as the carbon source for the manufactured diamonds.
Njorl
You can even have your loved ones ashes from cremation used as the carbon source for the manufactured diamonds.
Njorl
- #4
Lifegazer
How? Is it easy to do?
Why? And does it have the same properties/attributes as 'natural diamond'?
If we can manufacture diamond, why's it still so expensive?
I know this is going-off at a tangent, but why don't we coat our military vehicles with diamond, to give them more protection? Dollars I presume. But in theory, is a diamond tank indestructable? How strong/hard is diamond?
- #5
Raavin
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I'm pretty sure that industrial diamonds are deposited on a surface using some sort of condensation method so they are tiny. I imagine that it would be ok for abrasion resistance but as far as structural strength I think diamond is fairly brittle. You can still smash a diamond with a hammer, you're just not likely to scratch it with another material.
Raavin
Raavin
- #6
Monique
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True, Njorl, diamonds are grown in factories and dead people are made into jewelry, all you need is some carbon and just apply a LOT of pressure to that, over weeks (or months) this diamond will grow.
The major problems with these diamonds were that they had impurities, like oxygen and nitrogen, changing the color of the stone. I think they have mainly overcome this problem now and they are coming to the point that these synthetic diamonds are almost indistinguishable from natural diamonds. The only way to tell at this point is to irradiate the stone, synthetic and natural diamonds react differently to this.
To reply about your question about industrial use: synthetic diamond is not the ideal all-purpose hard material. When heated up by friction in the presence of air, the diamond tends to decompose into carbon dioxide. And hot diamond dissolves in iron, so it can't be used to cut steel. There is actually a material better fit for this purpose Cubic boron nitride (cBN), first made in 1956, half as hard as diamond but more stable under those extreme circomstances.
Here an article about the dead-person-made-into-a-diamond:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/WolfFiles/wolffiles253.html
The major problems with these diamonds were that they had impurities, like oxygen and nitrogen, changing the color of the stone. I think they have mainly overcome this problem now and they are coming to the point that these synthetic diamonds are almost indistinguishable from natural diamonds. The only way to tell at this point is to irradiate the stone, synthetic and natural diamonds react differently to this.
To reply about your question about industrial use: synthetic diamond is not the ideal all-purpose hard material. When heated up by friction in the presence of air, the diamond tends to decompose into carbon dioxide. And hot diamond dissolves in iron, so it can't be used to cut steel. There is actually a material better fit for this purpose Cubic boron nitride (cBN), first made in 1956, half as hard as diamond but more stable under those extreme circomstances.
Here an article about the dead-person-made-into-a-diamond:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/WolfFiles/wolffiles253.html
- #7
enigma
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That sounds absolutely morbid...
Would you really want to wear your relatives and loved ones?
Can you imagine how you would feel if you lost the gem, or if it was stolen?
Gives me the heebeegeebees, I say!
Would you really want to wear your relatives and loved ones?
Can you imagine how you would feel if you lost the gem, or if it was stolen?
Gives me the heebeegeebees, I say!
- #8
climbhi
Even worse yet, what if you found out that the diamond you stole, or even worse: bought, was somones dead grandpa! Oh boy, that's a freaky thought.
- #9
LURCH
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Of course not; I'd want to SELL them!
- #10
Lifegazer
What sort of value-diamond are we talking about?
- #11
russ_watters
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As in can you pass it off as a gem quality natural diamond? You can't. The quality is pretty low.
- #12
Monique
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Well, what I heard last year is that they were able to make perfect con-diamonds where the only characteristic distinguising them from the real ones was the reaction to radiation (the fake one glows or something).
But this might have been at a top-notch experimental factory.
But this might have been at a top-notch experimental factory.
FAQ: Why can't we manufacture 'diamond'?
Why is it difficult to manufacture diamonds?
Manufacturing diamonds is difficult because diamonds are made of pure carbon, which is the most stable form of carbon. To create diamonds, immense heat and pressure are required, which cannot be easily replicated in a laboratory setting. Additionally, the process of creating diamonds is time-consuming and expensive, making it a challenging task for manufacturers.
Can diamonds be created in a laboratory?
Yes, diamonds can be created in a laboratory through a process called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). However, these methods require specialized equipment and expertise, making it a costly and time-consuming process.
Why are lab-grown diamonds not considered real diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds, but they are created in a controlled environment rather than being formed naturally over millions of years. Some people do not consider them to be "real" diamonds because they were not formed in nature.
How are natural diamonds different from lab-grown diamonds?
Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth's mantle under intense heat and pressure, while lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory setting. Additionally, natural diamonds may have unique inclusions or imperfections, while lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment and are generally more flawless.
Is it possible to mass-produce diamonds?
Currently, it is not possible to mass-produce diamonds on a large scale due to the high cost and complexity of the manufacturing process. However, advancements in technology and research may make it more feasible in the future.