The formation process of natural diamonds takes billions of years under extreme pressure and temperature conditions underground.
Synthetic forms can be produced much faster by experts, but they often require intensive crushing for up to several weeks.
A new method based on mixing liquid metals has enabled the production of an artificial diamond in minutes without the need for high-powered compression.
Scientists created an artificial diamond in 150 minutes with high temperatures of around 1,025 degrees Celsius.
The team behind the innovative approach, led by researchers from the South Korean Institute of Basic Science, think the process will make a significant difference in the production of synthetic diamonds.
Melting carbon into liquid metal to produce diamonds is not a completely newly discovered method. However, these processes required very high pressures and “diamond seed” to hold the carbon.
As a result of their new study, researchers discovered “a method of growing diamonds at 1 atm pressure and medium temperature using a liquid metal alloy.”
“SYNTHETIC DIAMOND” PRODUCTION STEP BY STEP
The required reduction in pressure was achieved by using a carefully mixed mixture of liquid metals such as gallium, iron, nickel and silicon.
A custom-made vacuum system was built inside a graphite casing to very quickly heat and then cool the metal exposed to the combination of methane and hydrogen.
These conditions caused carbon atoms from the methane to diffuse into the molten metal and served as the seed for the diamond.
After just 15 minutes, small pieces of diamond crystals were formed, and after two and a half hours, diamond production was complete.
REVOLUTION IN DIAMOND MAKING
The process currently used in industrial processes to produce most synthetic diamonds, electronics and even quantum computers takes several days and requires much more pressure.
If this new technique fulfills its potential, diamond making will become much faster and much easier.
