Japanese scientists create ‘world’s hardest artificial diamond’
By ANITuesday, December 21, 2010
LONDON - Japanese scientists have successfully synthesised what is believed to be the world’s hardest artificial diamond.
It was created by a team of researchers at Ehime University.
The cylindrical-shaped diamond - called the Hime, Japanese for princess - was developed as part of a collaboration between scientists and Sumitomo Electric Industries, which hopes to start selling the diamonds as early as next year.
According to its creator Tetsuo Irifune, it is significantly stronger than normal diamonds enabling it to be used in an array of industrial activities,.
“A large Hime diamond is useful for experiments to study the high- pressure deep interior of the Earth,” the Telegraph quoted Irifune as telling Kyodo News.
“Also, as a product for industrial use its lifetime is several times longer than that of an ordinary diamond,” Irifune added.
The newly unveiled diamond is a more sophisticated and bigger version of a similar diamond the same scientists first synthesised in 2003.
Following a series of experiments conducted since March last year using ultra-high pressure synthesising machinery, scientists have been able to craft the Hime, which measures 1cm in length and diameter. (ANI)
