Patent · US Expired

Sintering process for diamond and diamond growth

US6270548A · kind A · utility

65Cited by
3References
27Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 1999
Grant dateAug 7, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 23, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/30
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of making a bonded, coherent material comprising a mass of diamond crystals in a matrix, which optionally contains another phase. The method includes the steps of providing a source of diamond crystals, providing a plurality of diamond centers defined by diamond crystals, producing a reaction mass by bringing the source and growth centers into contact with a solvent/catalyst, subjecting the reaction mass to conditions of elevated temperature and pressure suitable for crystal growth in the reaction zone of a high temperature/high pressure apparatus to produce the material, and removing the material from the reaction zone. The method is characterized by providing the necessary supersaturation of carbon in the solvent/catalyst, at least in part and preferably predominantly, by a selection of particle size difference between the source crystal and the growth centers. The mass of diamond crystals in the matrix of the bonded, coherent material of the invention has a high concentration of twinned diamonds.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.