Synthetic industrial diamond : a technological outlook

Synthetic diamonds are successfully substituting for natural diamonds in the area of industrial application. Synthetic diamonds increased their market share from 10% in 1960 to 50% in 1968 and to 90% in 1994. The success of synthetic diamonds may be ascribed largely to technological advance in the area of diamond manufacture. Two technologies in particular contributed to this advance: (i) High pressure and high temperature (HPHT) processes for crystallising carbon material and (ii) chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of these materials. The substitution of synthetic for natural diamond occurred in a systematic and predictable manner. Further technological advance could threaten the concept of diamond as a unique and desirable substance in the minds of the consumers and may require the repositioning of its image.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

GSB: Faculty

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Japp, Stephen Glen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Van Wyk, Rias J

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17170

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17170