The Creation of Artificial Diamonds

1. The Making of Artificial Diamonds When you put enough pressure on a lump of coal, it will turn into a diamond. It is a strange notion that something we see to be as ‘black’ and ‘dirty’ as a lump of coal can be as beautiful as a diamond. Coal is not glamorous, but a diamond- well they are the epitome of brilliance. So we run after them, wanting to own them and bask in their allure. And with the demand of the esteemed stone rising, and the value of it being quite high, the cvd diamond was born. The chemical vapour disposition diamond, or the CVD diamond, is an artificially created one. But, it was not the first diamond to be artificially produced in laboratories. This method of producing the brilliant stones evolved out of decades of development. Crystallized Under Pressure The first of the synthetic diamonds to be produced was through a process called HPHT or high pressure high temperature process. This method was developed in the 1950s, and was used successfully by inventor H. Tracy Hall, who is credited with playing a big role in the pioneering scientific team at General Electric. This process involved using a powerful hydraulic press to exert tremendous pressure on carbon. The process led to the creation of the first sample of tiny glistening octahedral diamonds. Decades and decades of technological development saw the advancement of this process of creating lab grown diamonds. As the process developed, it was used to produce even bigger gems, with a greater chance of perfection in its look. The HPHT method is even today, the primary manufacturing process to make artificial diamonds. Chemistry Crystals But, then came the CVD- chemical vapour disposition- process. This more recent technique involves growing diamonds using a hydrocarbon gas mixture. A thin slice of a diamond seed, usually taken from a diamond grown in the HPHT process, is sealed in

2. a chamber and subjected to intense heat, around 800 degrees Celsius. The chamber is then filled with a gas rich in carbon, methane for example, along with some other gaseous compounds. Microwaves, lazars, or other similar techniques are used to ionize these gases into plasma. The molecular bonds of the gases break and pure carbon sticks to the diamond seed, and builds up into the diamond crystal. The cvd process is used to grow an endless array of diamonds, of a spectrum of shapes, sizes, and forms, to serve different purposes in several industries. The CVD method holds several advantages. It does not need the extreme pressures that the HPHT method does. One can also control the environment needed for the creation of the diamond, as well as the ultimate shape of the diamond as well to an extent. The beauty of diamonds, whether they are born naturally or artificially, cannot be denied. They are a thing to admire and covet. Research into developing man made diamonds continues till today, producing further advancement in the diamond manufacturing sector. It will no doubt produce objects of beautiful brilliance.