Abstract:
Broadly, the present invention is directed to polycrystalline diamond of improved thermal conductivity. The novel polycrystalline diamond consists essentially of at least 99.5 wt-% isotopically-pure carbon-12 or carbon-13. The inventive polycrystalline diamond is formed from at least 99.5 wt-% isotopically-pure carbon-12 or carbon-13. Single-crystal isotopically-pure carbon-12 and carbon-13 diamond are known to possess improved thermal conductivity. Polycrystalline diamond, however, possesses lower thermal conductivity patterns deleteriously impacted by, for example, impurities, isotopic effects, and grain boundary scattering. In fact, grain boundary scattering would lead the skilled artisan to believe that the thermal conductivity of polycrystalline diamond would be substantially unaffected by the isotopic nature of the diamond itself. Unexpectedly, however, isotopic effects were discovered to predominate in impacting the thermal conductivity of polycrystalline diamond consisting essentially of isotopically-pure carbon-12 or carbon-13. This is true whether the isotopically-pure polycrystalline diamond is grown directly or whether individual isotopically-pure carbon-12 or carbon 13 diamond crystals are subjected to sintering for forming a polycrystalline structure, e.g. layer or compact, thereof.
Abstract:
A method of synthesizing single diamond crystals using a carbon source containing at least 99.9 atomic % carbon-12. This is accomplished by graphitizing carbon-12 to form a highly crystalline material which can be used as a carbon source in an ultra high pressure creating apparatus to produce single diamond crystals by means of a temperature difference process.
Abstract:
Diamond abrasive grains are produced by a process which comprises steps of: regularly arranging a plurality of diamond crystal seeds on a first metal solvent plate, stacking a second solvent metal plate on the first solvent metal plate so that the diamond crystal seeds are sandwiched by the first solvent metal plate and the second solvent metal plate, and stacking a graphite raw plate on the second solvent metal plate to construct a production system for the diamond abrasive grains, heating the system or heating the system with pressurizing to a temperature above a solvent metal-graphite eutectic point through a temperature and pressure condition in which diamond is thermodynamically unstable to establish a temperature and pressure condition in which diamond is thermodynamically unstable, and heating the system or heating the system with pressurizing to establish a temperature and pressure condition in which diamond is thermodynamically stable and maintaining said condition.
Abstract:
A method for producing crystals of materials is described. The method comprises providing a pressure-resistant body having a nucleus of a starting material being crystallized in the inside thereof. The nucleus is applied with an energy which is capable of passing through the pressure-resistant body and being absorbed by the starting material, by which the nucleus is heated and melts. The melt is then gradually cooled under pressure to form crystals of the material. A laser beam or high frequency induction heating technique is used for heating the nucleus.
Abstract:
An improvement in the manufacture of diamond compacts is disclosed in which a cylindrical mass of polycrystalline diamond is surrounded by and bonded to an outer mass of metal which provides support for the diamond. The improvement comprises the use of seed diamond to grow the polycrystalline mass under high pressure-high temperature (HP/HT) conditions from non-diamond carbon, utilizing a catalyst metal contained in the outer metal annulus. Preferably, this improved process is carried out using a cup-shaped metal mass having a stable carbide content of at least 10% and a coefficient of thermal expansion slightly higher than diamond. It is also preferred to heat the sample (the outer metal mass and the inner graphite mass) directly by passing an electric current through the outer metal mass in the HP/HT process during which the polycrystalline compact is formed.
Abstract:
The synthesis of diamonds from salts of iron, manganese, calcium and magnesium is disclosed. Specifically, such synthesis, in a closed system, has involved carbonate and oxylate salts of the indicated metals. The reaction occurs at temperatures between 550.degree. and 1600.degree. C., higher temperatures requiring higher reaction pressures; specifically, the production of synthetic diamonds from ferrous carbonate is disclosed. The ferrous carbonate was packed into a platinum capsule which was sealed gas-tight, packed in unfired pyrophyllite, and heated for two hours at 900.degree. C. while in a solid media press which applied a pressure of 40 kb (subsequently defined).
Abstract:
A material consisting of grains varying in size from 0.1 to a few microns intergrown so as to form regular aggregates. The geometric shape of the material is preset by a pattern made from a carbon-bearing non-diamond material and corresponds to the shape of the required finished article. The material can be made in any desired number of identical shapes.
Abstract:
The invention provides elongate synthetic RD diamond particles, each particle having a long axis and a short transverse axis, the ratio of the long axis to the short axis being at least 3 to 1. Each particle generally has a rib bed structure down its long axis, the ribs of the structure being traces of {111} crystallographic planes and the long axis providing a backbone for the structure and being in the direction crystallographic direction. The invention further provides a resin bond grinding wheel in which these particles are radially oriented. The particles may be made by providing a body of solvent metal in contact with a body of carbonaceous material in a reaction zone, producing zones of the weakness in the carbonaceous body and subjecting the contents of the zone to conditions of pressure and temperature suitable for RD diamond growth so causing the solvent metal to penetrate the zones of weakness and produce the particles.
Abstract:
A process for producing synthetic diamonds which comprises the synthesis of diamonds from a charge consisting of graphite or a carbonaceous material capable of being graphitized and a catalyst; as the latter use is made of a metalgraphite laminar compound of a transition metal, wherein said metal is interposed between the graphite layers and chemically bonded therewith.Said catalyst makes it possible to shorten the duration of the synthesis down to several seconds and carry-out the synthesis at a temperature of below 1,200.degree. C. The resulting diamond crystals are colorless and transparent.
Abstract:
Ultrasharp diamond edges and points which are usable as cutting instruments and as high intensity point sources for the emission of electrons, ions, x-rays, coherent and incoherent light and high frequency electromagnetic radiation are produced by preparing and classifying ultrafine diamond powder having a particle size of 10 to 100 angstroms placing the powder in a diamond mold defining the ultrasharp edge or point to be produced and applying a pressure of the order of 80 to 90 kb while heating the powder to a temperature of the order of 2440.degree. to 2500.degree. K in an ultrahigh vacuum or inert atmosphere after degasing to avoid oxidation of the diamond powder.