Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The market for industrial-grade diamonds operates very much differently from its gem-grade counterpart. Industrial diamonds are mostly valued for their hardness and heat conductivity, making many of the gemological characteristics of diamonds, such as clarity and color, irrelevant for most applications. This helps explain why 80% of mined diamonds are unsuitable for use as gemstones, are destined for industrial use. In addition to mined diamonds, synthetic diamonds found industrial applications almost immediately after their invention in the 1950s; another 570 million carats (114 tons) of synthetic diamond is produced annually for the industrial purpose. Approximately 90% of diamond grinding grit is basically of synthetic origin.
The boundary between gem-quality diamonds and industrial diamonds is partly defined and partly depends on market conditions. Within the category of industrial diamonds, there is a sub-category comprising the lowest-quality, mostly opaque stones, which are called as bort.
Industrial use of diamonds has been historically associated with their hardness; this property makes diamond the ideal material for cutting and grinding tools. As the hardest known naturally occurring material, diamond can be used to polish, cut, or wear away any material, including the other diamonds. Common industrial adaptations of this typical ability include diamond-tipped drill bits and saws, and the use of diamond powder as an abrasive. Less expensive industrial-grade diamonds, known as bort, with more flaws and poorer color than other gems, are used for such purposes. Diamond is not suitable for machining ferrous alloys at high speeds, as carbon is soluble in iron at the higher temperatures created by high-speed machining, leading to largely increased wear on diamond tools when compared to other alternatives.
Specialized applications involve use in laboratories as containment for high pressure experiments, high-performance bearings, and limited use in specialized windows. With the continuing advances being made in the production of synthetic diamonds, future applications have become feasible. Garnering much excitement is the main use of diamond as a semiconductor suitable to build microchips, or the use of diamond as a heat sink in electronics.Labels: Industrial uses of Diamond
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