Lab diamonds have taken the diamond industry by storm because they are ethical and sustainable, unlike natural diamonds. Further intensifying their popularity and demand. These diamonds are produced using unique procedures that help reproduce the conditions of natural diamond formation. That occur deep within the Earth’s surface. Understanding the scientific processes behind lab-grown diamonds is important. Because it helps you know proper information about the diamonds you use daily. Find more information about Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings.
Top 2 Scientific Processes Behind Lab-Grown Diamonds
The following are the important scientific processes behind lab-grown diamonds to know about.
New Technologies And Better Advancements
The first factor is that two important scientific procedures are used for lab diamond formation.
- They are HPHT and CVD procedures responsible for making lab diamonds more budget-friendly and of high quality.
- Different innovations in plasma technology, pressure control, and temperature balancing equipment allow scientists to create diamonds. That are nearly the same as natural diamonds and difficult to differentiate between lab and natural diamonds.
- Different new research is being conducted on energy resources and deposition techniques to enhance. The quality and reliability of lab diamonds.
High-Pressure High Temperature Procedure
The second factor is that the HPHT technique is the first successful man-made diamond production procedure. That helped create high-quality diamonds that resemble natural diamonds.
- This procedure starts when a small silver seed of a natural or synthetic diamond is placed in a chamber. With a carbon source which is mostly graphite.
- The chamber is then set to high pressures and temperatures which resemble the temperature beneath the Earth’s surface. These conditions ensure that they can match the conditions of natural diamond formation procedures.
- The intense pressure and temperature help melt the carbon source and carbon atom starts depositing into the seed. Crystallizing for the formation of bigger diamonds.
- This procedure requires some days to weeks according to the specific quality and size scientists want to create.
- After the diamond has grown to a specific size, the chamber is cooled down. And diamonds are extracted and cleaned properly. Then cut according to the specific size and shape professionals want to give it.
Chemical Vapor Deposition Process
The third factor is that the CVD procedure is newly introduced but has great popularity. Because it can form high-quality diamonds with fewer blemishes and inclusions.
- This procedure starts when a small diamond seed is placed into the vacuum chamber. Which is full of a carbon-rich gas mixture mostly methane and hydrogen. This gas mixture is then subjected to microwave or hot filament plasma to maintain an intense and high-temperature environment.
- The energy of plasma breaks down the methane molecules and releases carbon atoms. These carbon atoms are transferred to diamond seeds, where they complete the crystalization procedure and form diamond layers.
- The notable thing is that this procedure is conducted at a balanced temperature as compared with the HPHT method. Which forms diamonds at extreme temperatures. The diamond grows layer by layer and can take days to weeks according to the size and quality manufacturers require.
- The growth rate can be adjusted and impurities can be minimized which helps form high-quality and transparent diamonds.
- When the diamond has reached the specific thickness level, it is removed from the vacuum chamber. Cooled down, and cleaned to cut into a specific size and shape.
Differences Between HPHT And CVD Methods
The fourth factor is that both procedures are important and can produce high-quality diamonds. But they have differences you should know about.
- HPHT procedure can form high-quality diamonds quicker than the CVD procedure. They can replicate natural diamond formation conditions efficiently.
- They are also used for diamond formation for industrial purposes.
- On the other hand, the CVD procedure is famous for forming diamonds with fewer inclusions and blemishes.
- This method allows scientists to have better control over diamonds and increase their quality. The CVD method is used for forming diamonds for the jewelry industry.
- This method saves energy resources and maintains environmental friendliness.