The problem of receiving artificial gemstones, on the properties not conceding natural, occupied people long ago. Perhaps, ever since, as they learned to do a jewelry. The way of cultivation of artificial rubies and some other gemstones was offered by the French scientist August Verneyl at the end of the 19th century. The equipment developed by it allows to receive rubies in industrial and laboratory conditions.
It is required to you
- - aluminum oxide;
- - chrome;
- - gas burner;
- - oxygen;
- - hydrogen;
- - muffle.
Instruction
1. The form of a crystal of a ruby is called corundum. Also sapphire has similar crystal structure, these two minerals grow up in the identical ways. Corundum in itself which is called still white sapphire has no coloring. A ruby becomes red thanks to chrome. Sapphire can be not only blue, but also pink, yellow or orange.
2. For receiving crystals of a ruby in laboratory you need the device Verneylya. It represents a vertical torch in which hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio 2:3 moves. It is necessary to work with this gas extremely carefully. It is necessary to avoid oxygen leak what the gas-tight sealing gland is used to.
3. For preparation of powder use ammonium alum as it was done also by Verneyl. In addition, there is a chrome impurity, and in the necessary concentration.
4. Unlike many crystals which can just grow from solution without any additional conditions, corundum is formed of fusion of powdery alumina with impurity. Carefully prepare powder. It has to pour easily. However alumina does not need to be frayed to such an extent that it began to evaporate at the slightest heating. The optimum size of particles - thousand shares of millimeter.
5. Place a torch in the ceramic muffle which will protect the growing crystal from cooling. The inventor of the device did the muffle with the window closed by mica. In modern installations fire-resistant glass is more often applied.
6. In the top part of the device there is a capacity from chemical glass to which 2 tubes are brought. On that that it is located above, oxygen, and in lower – hydrogen moves. The layer of alumina is between them. Powder has to be very small. In the top part there is a hammer which easily stirs up capacity. In a middle part of the device, in a cold part of a flame, there is a ceramic pin on which the fusion drop gets. The crystal also has to grow from it.
7. Very important point – cooling. The inventor of artificial synthesis of rubies applied water to this purpose. The experiment was successful therefore it can be repeated. The lower part already is in ceramic "shirt". Over a tube in which lower part there is a torch usually have the coil filled with flowing water.
8. Process of receiving a crystal looks so. Powder from the top tank pours through a tube in fire where it melts and gets on a pin. There it becomes firm again. It is formed Boole – a particle of a cone-shaped form. It grows, its top gets again to a hot part of a flame where there is a secondary melting. There is a group of kristallik, one of which is directed by top towards bigger growth rate. It is the strongest kristallik, and it will suppress the others. The operator can choose a "perspective" crystal.
9. Giving of a flame and powder can be regulated. For example, to increase diameter of Boulia, it is necessary that powder began to fall quicker. Temperature of a flame can be increased if to give oxygen quicker. Parameters depend on that, size what crystal is necessary to you.