Synthetic diamond is diamond produced in a technological process, as
opposed to natural diamond which is created in geological processes.
Numerous claims of diamond synthesis were documented between 1879 and
1928; every attempt has been carefully analyzed and none has been
confirmed. In the 1940s, systematic research began in the United
States, Sweden and the Soviet Union to grow diamond using chemical
vapor deposition (CVD) and high-pressure high-temperature synthesis
(HPHT) processes. The first reproducible synthesis was reported around
1953. Those two processes still dominate the production of synthetic
diamond. The properties of synthetic diamond depend on the details of
the manufacturing processes, and can be inferior or superior to those
of natural diamond; the hardness, thermal conductivity and electron
mobility are superior in some synthetic diamonds. Consequently,
synthetic diamond is widely used in abrasives, cutting and polishing
tools and in heat sinks. Electronic applications of synthetic diamond
are being developed, including high-power switches at power stations,
high-frequency field-effect transistors and light-emitting diodes. Both
CVD and HPHT diamonds can be cut into gems and various colors can be
produced: clear white, yellow, brown, blue, green and orange.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_diamond>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1708:
Having burned down in the 1666 Great Fire of London, the rebuilt St
Paul's Cathedral was completed on the 76th birthday of its architect,
Christopher Wren.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral>
1740:
Per the terms of the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, Maria Theresa assumed
the throne of the Habsburg Monarchy in Austria.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Theresa_of_Austria>
1818:
The United Kingdom and the United States signed the Treaty of 1818,
which settled the Canada – United States border on the 49th parallel
for most of its length.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_1818>
1827:
An allied British, French, and Russian naval force destroyed a combined
Turkish and Egyptian fleet at the Battle of Navarino, a decisive moment
in the Greek War of Independence.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Navarino>
1967:
Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin filmed an unidentified subject at Six
Rivers National Forest in California who they claimed was a bigfoot.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterson-Gimlin_film>
1973:
Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, formally opened
the Sydney Opera House on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
stage whisper (n):
(theater) A line that is performed on stage as if it were whispered,
but is spoken loud enough that the audience can hear
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stage_whisper>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
We're overdue for a dream come true.
Long time nothing new.
We're overdue for a dream come true.
--Tom Petty
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Tom_Petty>