Dimensional analysis of the impact toughness test for synthetic diamond grits

The method,in which a few carats of diamond grits are placed inside a capsule together with a steel ball,shaken for a number of times,and the unbroken ratio of the grits is then used to evaluate the quality of the diamond,has been well established for many years.However,the unbroken percentage,in an equivalent view,represents the impact toughness of the grits and cannot reflect the value of the crushing energy.Most of the previous empirical formulas obtained from experiments by scholars cannot be applied to practical tests.In this paper,a dimensional analysis was applied to investigate the impact toughness experiment,and the dimensionless relationship has been built among those variables such as the toughness index,the impact time,the impact frequency and the crushing energy per unit area.According to the results of a large number of experiments with synthetic diamond grits of mesh size 45/50,the percentage of the broken grits H is proportional to the impact time T^（1.14） when the impact frequency is 2400 r/min,and the impact frequency f^（2.576） when the number of impacts is 2000.

Measurement of third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of synthetic diamonds

Diamonds are wide-gap semiconductors possessing excellent physical and chemical properties; thus, they are regarded as very appropriate materials for optoelectronic devices. Based on the Kerr effect, we introduce a simple and feasible method for measuring the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of synthetic diamonds. In the experiments, synthetic type I diamond samples and transverse electro-optic modulation systems are utilized. As for the laser with the wavelength of 650 nm, the third-order susceptibility and Kerr coefficient of the diamond samples are obtained at X1212（3） = 2.17 × 10^-23 m2/V2 and S44 = 1.93 ×12^-23 m2/V2, respectively.

Grey relationship analysis and grey forecasting modeling on thermal stability of synthetic single diamond

Through analyzing 7 Ib-type samples of synthetic single diamonds by their DTA and TG in air, we ascertained the extrapolated onset temperature on the curves of DTA as the characteristic temperature of their thermal stabilities. Based on the grey system theory, we analyzed 4 factors influential in the thermal stability by the grey relationship analysis, a quantitative method, and derived the grey relationship sequence, that is, the rank of the influence extent of 4 factors on the thermal stability. Furthermore, we established the grey forecasting model, namely GM(1,5), for predicting the thermal stability of single diamonds with their intrinsic properties, which was then examined by a deviation-probability examination. The results illustrate that it is reasonable to take the Extrapolated Onset Temperature in DTA as the characteristic temperature for thermal stability (TS) of Ib-type synthetic single diamonds. The nitrogen content and grain shape regularity of diamonds are dominating factors. Likewise, grain size and compressive strength are minor factors. In addition, GM(1,5) can be used to predict the thermal stability of Ib-type synthetic single diamonds available. The precision rank of GM(1,5) is ‘GOOD’.

Grow Large High-Quality Diamonds with Different Seed Surfaces

Large high-quality type Ib diamond crystals have been grown with different seed surfaces by temperature gradient method at 5.5 CPa, 1500-1600K, with NiMnCo alloy as the metal solvent. Compared with {100} as the growth surface, the growth region of large high-quality diamond crystals with {111} as the growth surface at a higher growth rate shifts markedly from lower temperatures （suitable for {100}-facet growth） to higher temperatures （suitable for {111}-facet growth）. However, regardless of different growth surfaces, {100} or {111}, the grown crystals of sheet-shaped shape are most difflcult for metal inclusions to be trapped into, and whether or not matched growth between the seed surfaces and the growth temperatures determines the crystal shapes. In view of the growth rates, large high-quality diamond crystals of sheet-shaped shapes can be grown at a growth rate of above 2.5 mg/h, while the growth rate of large high-quality diamond crystals should not be beyond 1.5 mg/h for tower-shaped crystals.

AFM Study on Interface of HTHP As-grown Diamond Single Crystal and Metallic Film

The study for the interface of as-grown diamond and metallic film surrounding diamond is an attractive way for understanding diamond growth mechanism at high temperature and high pressure (HTHP), because it is that through the interface carbon atom groups from the molten film are transported to growing diamond surface. It is of great interest to perform atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiment; which provides a unique technique different from that of normal optical and electron microscopy studies, to observe the interface morphology. In the present paper, we report first that the morphologies obtained by AFM on the film are similar to those of corresponding diamond surface, and they are the remaining traces after the carbon groups moving from the film to growing diamond. The fine particles and a terrace structure with homogeneous average step height are respectively found on the diamond (100) and (111) surface. Diamond growth conditions show that its growth rates and the temperature gradients in the boundary layer of the molten film at HTHP result in the differences of surface morphologies on diamond planes, being rough on (100) plane and even on the (111) plane. The diamond growth on the (100) surface at HPHT could be considered as a process of unification of these diamond fine particles or of carbon atom groups recombination on the growing diamond crystal surface. Successive growth layer steps directly suggest the layer growth mechanism of the diamond (111) plane. The sources of the layer steps might be two-dimensional nuclei and dislocations.

Fabrication and thermal stability of Ni-P coated diamond powder using electroless plating

Ni-P coated diamond powder was fabricated successfully by using electroless plating.Effects of active solutions,plating time,reaction temperature,and the components of the plating bath on the Ni-P coating were investigated systematically.Moreover,a study on the thermal stability of Ni-P coated diamond under various atmospheres was performed.The results indicate that Pd atoms absorbed on the diamond surface as active sites can consequently enhance the deposition rate of Ni effectively.The optimized plating bath and reaction conditions improve both the plating speed and the coverage rate of Ni-P electroless plating on the diamond surface.Compared to the diamond substrate,the diamond coated with Ni-P films exhibits very high thermal stability and can be processed up to 900°C in air and 1300°C in protective atmosphere such as H2.

Effect of the codoping of N-H-O on the growth characteristics and defects of diamonds under high temperature and high pressure

Diamond crystals were synthesized with different doping proportions of N-H-O at 5.5 GPa-7.1 GPa and 1370℃-1450℃. With the increase in the N-H-O doping ratio, the crystal growth rate decreased, the temperature and pressure conditions required for diamond nucleation became increasingly stringent, and the diamond crystallization process was affected. [111] became the dominant plane of diamonds;surface morphology became block-like;and growth texture,stacking faults, and etch pits increased. The diamond crystals had a two-dimensional growth habit. Increasing the doping concentration also increased the amount of N that entered the diamond crystals as confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. However, crystal quality gradually deteriorated as verified by the red-shifting of Raman peak positions and the widening of the Raman full width at half maximum. With the increase in the doping ratio, the photoluminescence property of the diamond crystals also drastically changed. The intensity of the N vacancy center of the diamond crystals changed, and several Ni-related defect centers, such as the NE1 and NE3 centers, appeared. Diamond synthesis in N-H-O-bearing fluid provides important information for deepening our understanding of the growth characteristics of diamonds in complex systems and the formation mechanism of natural diamonds, which are almost always N-rich and full of various defect centers. Meanwhile, this study proved that the type of defect centers in diamond crystals could be regulated by controlling the N-H-O impurity contents of the synthesis system.

Dependence of Limited Growth Rate of High-Quality Gem Diamond on Growth Conditions

The growth rate of diamond has been investigated for a long time and researchers have been attempting to enhance the growth rate of high-quality gem diamond infinitely. However, it has been found according to previous research results that the quality of diamond is debased with the increase of growth rate. Thus, under specific conditions, the growth rate of high-quality diamond cannot exceed a limited value that is called the limited growth rate of diamond. We synthesize a series of type Ib gem diamonds by temperature gradient method under high pressure and high temperature （HPHT） using the as-grown {100} face. The dependence of limited growth rate on growth conditions is studied. The results show that the limited growth rate increases when synthetic temperature decreases, also when growth time is prolonged.

Nitrogen-Doped Chemical Vapour Deposited Diamond： a New Material for Room-Temperature Solid State Maser

Electron spin resonance （ESR） in polycrystalline diamond films grown by dc arc-jet and microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition is studied. The films with nitrogen impurity concentration up to 8 × 10^18 cm^-3 are also characterized by Raman, cathodoluminescence and optical absorption spectra. The ESR signal from P1 centre with g-factor of 2.0024 （nitrogen impurity atom occupying C site in diamond lattice） is found to exhibit an inversion with increasing the microwave power in an H102 resonator. The spin inversion effect could be of interest for further consideration of N-doped diamonds as a medium for masers operated at room temperature.

Entrapment of Inclusions in Diamond Crystals Grown from Fe-Ni-C System

Diamond single crystals grown from Fe-Ni-C system at high temperature-high pressure (HPHT) usually contain inclusions related to the metallic catalyst. During the diamond growth, the metallic inclusions are trapped by the growth front or are formed through reaction between the contaminants trapped in the diamond. In the present paper, the metallic inclusions related to the catalyst were systematically examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The chemical composition and crystal structure of the metallic inclusions were for the first time determined by selected area electron diffraction pattern (SADP) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). It is shown that the inclusions are mainly composed of orthorhombic FeSi2, fcc (FeNi)23C6, and orthorhombic Fe3C, hexagonal Ni3C.

Growth mechanisms of interfacial carbides in solid-state reaction between single-crystal diamond and chromium

Interfacial bonding is one of the most challenging issues in the fabrication,and hence comprehensively influences the properties of diamond-based metal matrix composites(MMCs)materials.In this work,solid-state(S/S)interface reaction between single-crystal synthetic diamond and chromium(Cr)metal was critically examined with special attention given to unveil the role of crystal orientation in the for-mation and growth of interfacial products.It has been revealed that catalytically converted carbon(CCC)was formed prior to chromium carbides,which is counterintuitive to previous studies.Cr 7 C 3 was the first carbide formed in the S/S interface reaction,aided by the relaxation of diamond lattices that re-duces the interfacial mismatch.Interfacial Cr 7 C 3 and Cr 3 C 2 carbides were formed at 600 and 800℃,respectively,with the growth preferred on diamond(100)plane,because of its higher density of surface defects than(111)plane.Interfacial strain distribution was quasi-quantitively measured using windowed Fourier Transform-Geometric Phase Analysis(WFT-GPA)analysis and an ameliorated strain concentration was found after the ripening of interfacial carbides.Textured morphologies of Cr_(3)C_(2) grown on diamond(100)and(111)planes were perceived after S/S interface reaction at 1000℃,which is reported for the first time.The underlying mechanisms of Cr-induced phase transformation on diamond surface,as well as the crystal orientation dependent growth of interfacial carbides were unveiled using the first-principles calculation.The formation and growth mechanisms of Cr_(3)C_(2) were elucidated using SEM,TEM and XRD analyses.Finally,an approach for tailoring the interfacial microstructure between synthetic diamond and bonding metals was proposed.