Diamond grains, method for making same and mixture comprising same

• Main Authors: Munday, Mark Gregory, Thomson, Dale Anthony, Nzama, Mhlonishwa Cyprian
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.08.2018
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUSPOLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; CRYSTAL GROWTH; DYES; GRINDING; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; PAINTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; POLISHES; POLISHING; PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITHDEFINED STRUCTURE; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL; SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITHDEFINED STRUCTURE; SINGLE-CRYSTAL-GROWTH; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING, OR SHARPENING; TRANSPORTING; UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL ORUNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL

A method of providing well-shaped diamond grains of at most about 100 microns in size. The method includes providing a synthesis assembly comprising a source of carbon material, a plurality of seed grains on which diamond material can crystallize, and solvent-catalyst material for promoting the crystallization of the diamond grains, and subjecting the synthesis assembly to a condition for growing the diamond grains. The synthesis condition is maintained long enough for at least about half of the carbon material to be converted into the diamond grains.