In this article, I will briefly cover the three basic processes used to create diamonds. They are High-pressure HPHT process, Low-pressure CVD process, and Human ashes. Let’s see how each of these processes works and why the latter is better than the others. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to make diamonds. Until then, enjoy this article!
Synthetic diamonds
The process of growing synthetic diamonds has been around for many years, but the question remains, how to make synthetic diamonds? The process involves several steps, including preparing the substrate, feeding varying gases into the growth chamber, and ionizing the gases. There are several ways to ionize the gases in the CVD growth chamber, including microwave power, a hot filament, or a laser. The following steps describe the procedure.
The first successful synthetic diamond was produced in Sweden in the 1950s by researchers at the Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget Laboratory. The team had to make small diamonds at high temperatures and pressures in order to produce gemstone-quality material. However, the experiments had limited success. These experiments did not lead to the production of any commercial diamonds. But the discovery of diamond synthesis made synthetic diamond production possible.
Today, scientists have created processes that produce synthetic diamonds at a fraction of the cost and time of real diamonds. Synthetic diamonds have a similar appearance to natural diamonds. For example, Pandora’s newest collection of lab-grown diamond jewellery will be made by using a process known as chemical-vapour deposition (CVD). This method involves attaching atomised gases to a diamond seed crystal.
The process of making synthetic diamonds can be broken down into two parts – the chemical part involves gaining carbon from the cremation ashes, and the physical part is the process of imitating nature by creating high temperatures and pressure. In the long run, the longer the process, the larger the rough diamond. However, this process may not lead to commercially available diamonds, which is why the goal of synthetic diamonds is still far from being achieved.
To synthesize a large synthetic diamond crystal, high temperatures and high pressures are used. However, the pressing time increases exponentially with the size of the diamond. The largest saw grade synthetic diamonds are usually #30/40. Large-scale production of large synthetic diamonds is still too expensive to compete with natural diamond. However, needle diamond rods can be manufactured by slicing the large synthetic diamonds. In the future, the technology can be applied to making large diamonds.
Low-pressure CVD process
The Low-pressure CVD process to make diamond is a highly efficient method for preparing large-area diamonds. The process is schematically illustrated in Figure 1.7.1.16. The hydrogen gas is activated by hot filaments and plasma, and various species are deposited and dispersed on the surface. As the carbon species pile up on the surface of the carbon substrate, a reaction between the hydrogen and hydrocarbons occurs and reactants and products are transported. The carbon atoms are also suppressed by the other species.
The CVD method produces diamonds through gas-phase nonequilibrium. This means that there is high atomic hydrogen and various hydrocarbon radicals in the gas. The typical process conditions include a source gas that contains about one percent methane and a deposition temperature between 700 and 1000 degrees Celsius. The gas pressures used are typically in the range of 30 to 300 Torr. These conditions are very favorable for creating diamond films, which are of high quality.
Although the CVD process does not require high pressures, it can also produce diamonds with a colorless appearance. CVD diamonds may contain small inclusions of silicon. This is due to etching of silica windows in the growth chamber. However, it is difficult to produce colorless diamonds by HPHT methods. However, CVD diamonds and HPHT diamonds both have unusual fluorescence properties, which can help identify them as lab-grown.
The temperature and ratio of C/H in the source gas mixture determine the surface morphology of the diamond film. The surface has 111 triangular facets, and low-pressure CVD processes produce diamond films with many twin grain boundaries. Typically, the film has many crystal defects, including twinning. In some cases, a cross-section of the diamond film on Si reveals columns of growth up from the surface.
The process parameters interact to create varying degrees of diamond coating. The temperature must be low enough to form large amounts of at.H, but high enough to achieve reasonable growth rates. The substrate surface temperature should be below 1000 degrees Celsius, because below that, diamond will be converted to graphite. Below that, the process becomes slow. Oxygen does not have a negative impact on the growth of diamonds, so acetone is an excellent precursor. CO is an ideal gas source.
High-pressure HPHT process
The High-pressure HPHT process to make diamond is a highly effective method that mimics the natural formation of diamond. It involves placing a tiny diamond seed in a piece of carbon, then applying high pressure and heat to it. This process produces a diamond around the diamond seed in a matter of weeks, whereas natural diamonds take 150 million years to form. The diamond is then sent to an industry expert for cutting and treatment.
The High-pressure HPHT process begins with a seed of diamond material, a layer of highly refined graphite, and a catalyst mixture made up of metals and powders. This mixture is placed in the center of the HPHT chamber, where constant temperatures of 1,300 degrees Celsius are applied. Once the catalysts inside the growth cell have reacted with the heat, they begin to turn from solid to molten.
The HPHT process is used to transform yellowish or brownish diamonds into colorless diamonds. It works by dissolving nitrogen in the diamond’s growth medium, a process similar to what occurs naturally. The HPHT process also creates diamonds with a yellowish color. The nitrogen in the diamond crystal is a result of nitrogen dissociation in the transition metals in the Fe group. The most common source of nitrogen is air.
HPHT is only suitable for some types of diamonds. It is not recommended for rough diamonds with inclusions or fractures. HPHT can be used for very high-clarity diamonds. For example, a diamond that has a high karat number can be treated with HPHT. This method has the advantage of being more efficient and faster than other methods. Its benefits make HPHT an attractive option for consumers.
The HPHT process is also considered a more natural way to create diamonds. It replicates the conditions that natural diamonds undergo when they are growing under the Earth’s crust. This process generates pressures of nearly 60,000 atmospheres and temperatures of up to 2,500 degrees Celsius. The process can create diamonds that look much whiter and are less expensive than natural diamonds. This method is not only less expensive, but it also produces higher-quality diamonds.
Human ashes
Cremation diamonds are made from a person’s ashes. Ashes are almost entirely composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, and are a good source of boron. Using a machine that replicates the conditions under which a diamond grows naturally, the ashes can be processed to produce a single-element building block, carbon. When heated to extremely high temperatures, the carbon will be compressed between two plates, forming a diamond fragment.
To make a diamond, a sample of human ashes is sent to a diamond-creating company. The ashes contain 99.9% carbon, which is the main element of diamonds. Once the ashes are collected, they are placed into a diamond press, where they are put under extreme heat and pressure. After several weeks, the carbon forms a rough crystal and is then cut to desired specifications.
The process of turning human ashes into diamonds is simple and can help families remember their loved ones. A typical adult cremation produces five pounds of ash, which can be separated for its carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are then placed under extreme pressure, where they unite in an organized pattern to form a diamond. In this way, the process can mimic the natural process of diamond making and can create an Algordanza diamond with the same physical properties as an ordinary diamond.
Cremation rings and necklaces are the most common form of memorial jewelry, but you can also choose other types of jewelry. Often, the ashes are scattered wherever they are important. A diamond necklace, pendant, or ring can be made from the ashes. In this way, you can remember your loved one while wearing the jewelry and remember them wherever you go. You can also choose cremation earrings. A solitaire or dangle style can be a beautiful way to remember your loved one.
In the early days of the Eterneva company, Adella Archer, a scientist and diamond maker, discovered that it was possible to create a diamond from a person’s ashes. Archer, who has an MBA in entrepreneurship, was looking for a meaningful way to memorialize her friend. While working on her startup, Archer met with a diamond scientist, who suggested the idea. The two women have a vision of how to make diamonds from human ashes, and the business will help grieving families process their loss.