What is diamond and its properties?
When we hear the word “diamond,” most of us imagine a highly durable transparent mineral or jewelry with diamonds, the brilliance and play of light of which cannot be confused with any known stone. But is this really the scope of application of the mineral? What else are made from diamonds?
Where is diamond used?
It turns out that the scope of the mineral is enormous. Diamonds are processed to produce not only stones of different shapes and sizes, but also chips and diamond dust. There is practically no area of industrial production or science in which the use of diamond would be excluded. It is impossible to examine in detail all aspects of the use of the mineral, but it is quite possible to get an overall picture and understand for what purposes a diamond is used.
Medicine
The main target direction is the production of high-precision surgical equipment with diamond coating. Thin and sharp abdominal incisions allow surgeons to most effectively perform complex operations in the heart and other vital organs. The surgical instrument has good wear resistance and practically does not become dull. Diamond is a good conductor, and this property allows the mineral to be used as part of a medical laser. The finest diamond coating makes it possible to use this equipment in various areas of medicine. The use of diamond dermabrasion in cosmetology allows for facial resurfacing. Diamond correction delicately removes the stratum corneum of the skin, eliminates age spots and acne. Then polishing brings the epidermis to an almost ideal state. The procedure is so gentle and delicate that it allows you to work on the skin around the eyes and lips. How does a person use diamond in innovative technologies of modern medicine? The developments of scientists from St. Petersburg have opened a new page in medical diamond diagnostics. Synthetic ultrafine diamonds (UDDs) are used in the latest test systems for diagnosing infectious diseases. Antigen markers are attached to special nanocarriers, which include UDA. For example, UDA, the patient’s blood serum and the causative agent of syphilis are mixed on glass, after 15 minutes the consequences of the agglutination reaction are clearly visible. The sensitivity of the technique reaches 95%, and the specificity is 100%. American specialists use synthetic nanodiamonds in dentistry to protect root canals after removal of the nerve and pulp. The rate of recovery of patients in this case increases significantly. With the production of new structures based on diamonds, the boundaries of the use of the mineral in medicine are expanding.
Industrials
The use of diamonds in industry is quite multifaceted. And their special properties played a big role in this: hardness, thermal conductivity, etc.
Instrumentation and industrial equipment
When creating particularly complex parts for any equipment, milling, turning and other machines are used. Metal knives, cutters, and grinding equipment are also produced with diamond coating. Long service life and high precision of the work performed are the main features of diamond-coated nozzles and blocks. Until recently, drill bits and bits were made using only diamond. Now they are being replaced by other, cheaper materials or synthetic single crystals. The high hardness of diamond determines its use in nozzles of waterjet cutting machines and dies for the production of polymer fibers. Diamond anvils make it possible to study the behavior of various compounds at high pressures (up to 100 GPa). Diamond is used in aircraft manufacturing and the space industry to create ultra-durable coatings for air and spacecraft that can withstand high temperatures and loads.
Electronics and optics
The use of diamonds in industry is closely related to such areas as optics and electronics. These are diamond transistors, ionizing radiation detectors on diamond, matrix UV photodetectors, polycrystalline diamond films. Complex, highly specialized equipment helps a person in various areas of life.
Construction and finishing works
Anyone who has been involved in renovation or construction at least once knows that drilling a hole in concrete or cutting porcelain tiles with conventional tools is problematic. This is long, monotonous work, with a lot of physical effort and not always good results. But as soon as the so-called diamond drills and discs come into play, the job is done in a matter of minutes. The holes are neat, of the required depth and size, and the cut is smooth, without chips. And it doesn’t matter where the work is performed: within an apartment or a huge building under construction, diamond coating in grinding tools is a guarantee of high quality of work performed. The mineral can work with any materials: concrete, granite, marble, etc.
Jewelcrafting
- Cullinan (South Africa) – 3106 carats;
- Sewelo (Botswana) – 1758 carats;
- Lesedi la Rona (Botswana) – 1109 carats.
The further fate of these gifts of nature is quite standard: they are split into smaller parts and cut to produce diamonds. The high value of the refractive index and dispersion determine the play of edges with all the colors of the rainbow. You should also know that the surface of diamonds is not scratched and retains its characteristic shine.
Large diamonds in the form of a separate stone or as part of jewelry are a good financial investment and the pride of any collector:
- The Golden Scarab is golden yellow in color, weighing 545 carats, and belongs to the King of Thailand. The cutting of the stone took 2 years.
- The Pink Star, the most expensive diamond, weighing 59,9 carats, was sold to an unknown buyer at auction for $71,2 million.
- The purest Russian diamond was obtained from a Yakut diamond and weighs 51,38 carats.
Diamond is used to create exclusive jewelry. Beauty in every detail, combination with other precious stones and fabulous value are the features inherent in a unique stone.
- Ring with blue (9 carats) and two white diamonds in white gold from Chopard worth $16,26 million.
- The “Heart of the Ocean” pendant with a 15-carat blue diamond is an exact imitation of the necklace from the movie “Titanic.” True, the cost of the product is also “titanic” – $20 million.
- Bikini made of diamonds weighing a total of 150 carats and worth $30 million. An exclusive swimsuit, clearly not intended for relaxing on the beach.
Chemical and physical industries
The importance of diamond in these areas is no less important. The creation of new promising materials, for example, ultradispersed diamond, has made it possible to use it as a carbon carrier in electrolysis.
Diamond is a good semiconductor, and its high photosensitivity allows the mineral to be used in optical devices.
Chemical scientists have developed technologies that allow the use of synthetic diamonds as an electroplating coating based on silver, gold, chromium, etc. Nanodiamonds are also used to create polymer composites and solid lubricants.
Minerals, along with synthetic rubies and sapphires, are used in watch stones in quartz watches to enhance wear resistance and durability.
Basic properties of diamond
Diamond is a solid allotropic modification of carbon, which has:
- the highest hardness on the Mohs scale (10 out of 10);
- high thermal conductivity – 900-2300 W/m K;
- low friction coefficient – 0,1;
- high modulus of elasticity and low compression ratio;
- melting point 3700-4000 °C.
The presence of luminescence allows the mineral to glow in different colors in the sun, which is especially noticeable when cut into a diamond.
Most natural diamonds are colorless or yellow in color, but pink, blue and brown colored minerals are found.
Synthetic diamonds
In recent years, artificial (CVD or HPHT) diamonds have become especially important and widespread. Although the term “synthetic” in this case is not entirely correct. The physical properties of a diamond, as well as its structure, correspond to its natural counterpart, but it is grown artificially, although it does not contain foreign synthetic materials. In industry, up to 97% (of the total mass of diamonds used) are artificial crystals.
Attempts to create crystals were made back in the 1953th century, but it was only in XNUMX that a special installation was constructed and the first crystals were obtained.
How to cut a diamond
If diamond-coated tools are used to cut other hard materials, how and with what can the diamond itself be cut?
Diamonds are cut with their help. For this purpose, the thinnest diamond-coated circular saw is used. The process proceeds in the direction of lower hardness for several hours. Cutting speed is minimal.
With the advent of innovative technologies, laser cutting is increasingly used.
A diamond, like the diamond based on it, is not only beautiful, but also a mineral with special properties. Therefore, the jewelry direction is only a small functional component of its capabilities. Medicine, electronics, instrument making, etc. are actively expanding the boundaries of application of this material.
Modern technologies for growing crystals and creating artificial nanomaterials make it possible to significantly expand the scope of use of a durable and optically active mineral.
Diamond is the hardest of minerals and the most expensive of gemstones. The most in demand are transparent ones, which do not have any color other than bluish. Diamonds are completely unique in their appearance – no two are exactly alike.
Types
- Jewelry (suitable for processing, without noticeable flaws).
- Technical (minerals with dozens of additives, damaged structure, which are not suitable for creating precious products).
There are several technical types of diamonds:
- Board. It consists of fragments of crystals with cracks; abrasive powder is most often created from it.
- Ballas. Stones with a dark coating, usually without additives.
- Carbonado. More popular than the rest of the technical ones. It withstands abrasion and has a high density, so it is suitable for the manufacture of drilling and grinding equipment, diamond discs and other elements for cutting and polishing.
Most of the stones mined and used in the world are technical. Precious ones are more difficult to obtain – their share among all minerals is about 20%.
Features
The main characteristic of diamond is its special hardness. On the Mohs scale, it has the highest score – 10. Despite its enormous hardness, the mineral quickly splits under the influence of a powerful blow. This physical property of diamond is used to give the stone the desired shape.
The melting point is from 3700 to 4000 degrees, and when heated to 2000 degrees without air, it becomes graphite.
Due to its increased strength, it is among the top most expensive precious stones. But in its natural form it is not considered beautiful. Cutting makes a unique diamond with spectacular light refractions.
Features and properties of diamond
Diamond can be colorless or colored in different tones of yellowish, chocolate, scarlet, heavenly, emerald, black, and silver.
The dispersion of the shade is usually uneven. Under the influence of ultraviolet and other rays, many types are illuminated in different colors.
To measure mass, a metric carat is used – 0,2 grams. Specimens weighing over 15 carats are unique, while those weighing hundreds of carats are rare.
Small crystals are grown in huge batches in laboratory conditions. Synthetic varieties are created from carbon-containing compounds (usually graphite) in special chambers. Such minerals are suitable only for technical work.
Application of diamond in construction and other fields[5]
Jewelry crystals are cut and used in jewelry making. After the procedure, a diamond comes out, which is given the desired shape, brilliant cut, which perfectly emphasizes such qualities of the stone as spectacular radiance and color dispersion.
Small types, unsuitable for cutting, are suitable as abrasives for diamond tools. This equipment is used for cutting hard materials (for example, porcelain stoneware).
Up to 80% of minerals mined by the world community are used for industrial needs. Diamonds are needed in construction, electrical engineering, radio electronics and instrument making industries. They are also applicable in space research and in studying the structure of the Earth.
Advice of professionals
If diamond-coated tools are used to cut most hard materials, how and with what will you be able to cut diamonds directly? They are cut by themselves. To do this, take a thin circular saw coated with diamond.
The chemical properties of diamond allow this to be done at a very low speed. With the development of modern technologies, laser cutting is increasingly used.
The possibilities of growing crystals and synthesizing non-natural materials can greatly increase the scope of diamond applications and make it more accessible in the future.
Literature sources:
- http://www.mining-portal.ru/topics/mineralogiya/almaz–opisanie–svoystva–proishojdenie-i-primenenie-kamnya/
- https://lubikamni.ru/almaz/vidy.html
- https://sunlight.net/wiki/primenenie-almaza-kak-lyudi-ispolzuyut-dragotsennyj-kamen.html
