Death to Diamonds: the amazing journey!

1
Death to Diamonds the amazing journey!

• Michelle Adlong and Kelsey Childress
• CH 226H Spring 007

2
What???

• The LifeGem company will create diamonds out of
  your dead (or even live) relatives
• One human body has enough carbon to form 100 gems
  at 1 carat each
• !
• Person can have been dead for
• hundreds of years, i.e. Beethoven

3
Allotropes of Carbon
Amorphous
Graphite
Diamond
Fullerenes
4
Graphite vs. Diamond

• Graphite
• One of the softest materials known
• Good conductor
• Lubricant
• Opaque
• Hexagonal crystal structure (sheetlike)

• Diamond
• Hardest material known
• Electrical insulator
• Abrasive
• Transparent
• Isometric crystal structure (3-D)

5
Synthetic vs. Natural Diamonds

• Molecularly identical to each other
• Synthetics available in more colors
• 80 of natural diamonds are used in industry
• Natural industry dominated by De Beers company
  watch out where they come from. Prices result of
  capitalism.
• Synthetic made by HPHT, CVD
• Distinguishing electron microscope, UV
  spectrometers, x-ray diffraction

6
The Life Gem Process

• 1) Cremated remains graphite
• Purification at very high temps
• 2) Graphite Diamond
• Thermal gradient method
• Pressures 50,000 atm
• 1,600 2,000 C
• The longer the time in the diamond press, the
  larger the diamond
• The entire process takes 6 - 9 months
• Companies are closed-mouthed about exact recipe

7
The End

• So next time a dearly beloved becomes deceased,
  consider diamond-ation with LifeGem, and
• Always remember a diamond is forever!