Sunday, June 12, 2011

How do diamonds respond to extreme conditions?

Diamonds belong to the hardest substances on our planet, this is the fact that many people are already know. Most people also know that diamonds are capable to cut glass, heck they can even cut steel. According to this data most people would conclude that diamonds have gigantic strength, but strength can be only truly measured once we test this strength to extreme conditions.

The recent scientific studies showed that diamond respond quite well to extreme conditions, in fact diamond becomes even stronger during rapid compression. Using the laser technology the scientists have showed that when shock waves are applied to diamond with powerful lasers, it can support almost a million times atmospheric pressure before being crushed.

This basically means that the diamond shows considerable strength right up to the point of melting. Diamond's melting point is at around 6 million atmospheres of pressure and the required temperature is around 14,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Extremely high temperatures and extremely high pressure is also needed for diamond to be created in the Earth's mantle so it is really no surprise that diamonds need extreme conditions to be melted. The amazing part in the whole story is that diamond will have more than respectable strength all the way to the point of melting.

This conclusion could give some new insights into some new technological uses of diamond, like for instance in currently very popular fusion-energy experiments.

Materials such as diamonds that respond remarkably well when faced with extreme conditions are always welcome for further technological development of many industries.

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