Scientists were already for a long time set by the ideas of receiving diamonds from graphite like the alchemists of the past who were looking for various ways of creation of gold from various materials.
Diamond and graphite
Extraction of diamonds, undoubtedly, rather profitable business which can support economy of any country. But nevertheless, for certain many businessmen would like to lower costs of receiving these gemstones and this most still to increase income of the diamond-mining industry. And what if it is possible to receive diamonds in the synthetic way from graphite?
To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the nature of two materials – diamond and graphite. Many from lessons of chemistry remember that this two, apparently, such different material entirely consist of carbon.
Diamond represents usually transparent crystal, but maybe blue, both blue, and red, and even black. This most solid and strong substance on Earth. Such hardness is caused by the special structure of a crystal lattice. It has the tetrahedron form, and all atoms of carbon are at one distance from each other. Graphite dark gray with a metal outflow, soft and absolutely opaque. The crystal lattice of graphite is located layers, in each of which molecules are collected in strong hexagons, however between layers communication of molecules rather weak. That is, in fact, the difference between diamond and graphite consists in various structure of a crystal lattice.
Receiving diamond from graphite
Transformation of graphite per se into diamond is possible. It was proved still by the scientific XX centuries. In 1955 the report of the General Electric company was submitted and the first diamonds, however, very small are synthesized. The first the researcher of the T. Hall company carried out synthesis. The equipment allowing to create pressure in 120 thousand atmospheres and temperature in 1800 °C was used to achievement of such progress. The group of scientists of Allied Chemical Corporation carried out direct transformation of graphite into diamond. More extreme conditions in comparison with the previous methods were for this purpose used. Explosive of huge power was applied to creation on 1 microsecond of extreme pressure in 300 thousand atmospheres and temperature in 1200 °C. As a result in a sample of graphite several small parts of diamond were found. Data on result of an experiment were published in 1961. However it were not all ways of receiving diamonds from graphite. In 1967 Wentorf grew up the first diamond on a priming. Growth rate was rather low. The largest synthetic diamond of R. Wentorf made by this method reached the size in 6 mm and weight in 1 carat (about 0.2 g).
Modern methods of synthesis of diamonds from graphite
Modern technologies allow to receive diamonds from graphite by several methods. Diamonds are synthesized in the conditions as close as possible to natural and also with use of catalysts. Building of crystals of diamond in the methane environment is made, and fine diamond dust for production of various abrasives is received by method of explosion of explosives or a wire a big impulse of current.