CVD is the short version of Chemical Vapor Deposition. As the name suggests, this process has to do with Gas (vapour) and chemical processes. CVD deals with deposition of Carbon molecule which is overall a chemical reaction.
CVD or Chemical Vapor deposition is a collective term used for processes like chemical deposition and Carbon vaporisation that eventually results in the formation of a world-class, high-quality, reliable material.
CVD diamonds are also known as lab-grown diamonds and Synthetic diamonds. As the name suggests, these diamonds are an economical alternative to the costly naturally occurring diamonds, with all the features and qualities intact.
The term CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is suggestive of chemical and vaporisation processes taking place. When methane gas is subjected to high pressure and high temperature under ideal catalyst in a laboratory, the carbon atoms of this gas start to break off and vaporise.
Since the process is carried out in a closed chamber, all the vaporised atoms eventually start settling down, which also looks like snowflakes falling during a snowfall. Due to circumstances under which a CVD or lab-grown diamond is made, it is also known as High-Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) diamond.
People often confuse the term Synthetic with artificial. When Lab-grown diamonds are called Synthetic diamonds, it is not suggestive of its artificial nature. Synthetic diamond is to signify its development in man-made laboratories rather than under the earth's crust. Lab-grown diamonds have all the properties similar to naturally occurring diamonds, including its optical angle and other chemical and physical properties.
Lab-grown diamonds are identical to naturally occurring diamonds, and so is it's resale value. However, it is interesting to note that the resale value of natural diamonds has fallen in the recent times due to several market factors.
The Federal Trade Commission or FTC has recently included the mention of Lab-grown diamonds in its description of diamonds. Apart from that, the supply of naturally occurring diamond is much more than its actual demand leading to a drastic drop in its resale value.
In this situation, all the advantages seem to be shifting in favor of lab-grown diamonds, and its resale value is also noticeably going up.
Diamonds and graphite are two naturally occurring allotropes of carbon. Although since the composition of graphite is more stable than the structure of diamonds, it is more commonly found in the nature.
Diamonds are formed under the earth's crust over millions of years of high pressure and temperature and replicating this extreme environment in a laboratory is indeed a difficult procedure. However, with the advancement in technology available to CVD diamond manufacturers, fabricating these conditions is becoming more favourable.
Production of CVD diamonds initially started with the help of methane gas. When methane gas was brought in an activated vacuum chamber, under a suitable catalyst, the atoms of carbon in the methane broke down and accumulated at the bottom. This buildup of carbon molecules was also compared to snowflakes during a snowfall.
To produce lab-grown diamonds, methane gas and hydrogen plasma is widely used.
The ideal temperature to obtain one of the finest quality CVD diamonds is 600-800 degrees of Celsius.
The process of development of this precious gemstone is quiet slow, but it is definitely worth the wait. The deposition rate of carbon atoms is ranged somewhere between 0.1 to 10 microns hourly.
The basic requirement of a CVD substrate material is that it should be able to withstand extreme temperature and pressure, it shouldn't be carbon absorbing and it shouldn't breakdown under the pressure of bombardment with activated atoms. The idea choices of substrates for CVD are diamonds pieces, silicon carbide, silicon oxynitride, silicon dioxide, titanium nitride, carbon fibre, nanofibers, nanotubes and filaments.
When they mention ‘grain size’, it is usually referring to sizes in the sub-micron range.
Nano-crystalline diamond as the name suggests is the nano or small versions of diamonds which are mostly used in micro-mechanics, tribology and biochemical sensing. During the process of making a diamond in the lab, if re-nucleation is done, the grain of diamond is restricted in size and is kept very tiny.
When a diamond is freshly made, it's surface roughness is pretty high, almost comparable to sandpaper. To give the diamonds its desired smoothness, polishing must be done. After finely polishing the diamonds, its surface roughness is reduced to merely a few nanometers.
As CVD diamond manufacturers, our company has been leading the diamond industry for quite some time now, and we are worthy of trust. You can be assured that you will get your value for money when you purchase CVD diamonds from us.
DLC is the short form for Diamond-like Carbon. Instead of using a crystal as a lattice as in the CVD process, DLC includes the deposition of atoms in a haphazard network. This amorphous solid is no diamond and the term ‘like' says it all in the word DLC.
Naturally occurring diamond is undoubtedly one of the finest work by nature. Its clarity, colour, shine and strength are worth applause. However, the lab-grown diamonds also possess the same chemical, physical and optical properties as the natural diamonds. The only point of a difference these two diamonds is its point of origin.
CVD diamonds from CVD diamond suppliers are an efficient, pocket-friendly alternative to a naturally occurring diamond. These do not include the cost of mining that goes in the extraction of natural diamond, and thus, there is a noticeable difference in the price as well.
CVD diamonds have just started gaining popularity and judging by its growth; it will surely be a billion dollar market someday along the line. Its demand is increasing as people are becoming more aware of their pocket extent and making eco-friendly choices as well.
