Shock Compression Synthesis of Diamond

Easily obtainable polycrystalline diamond would have many additional applications in industry. Of the synthesis techniques currently in use, shock compression is one of the most promising, crack formation being its major problem. The production of compacts from diamond powders (see Figure) is described and a technique introduced in which the exothermic chemical reaction of additives is used to control the temperature distribution in a compact and thus avoid cracks. magnified image