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Aren't we already? Only utility i know is cutting glass.
by return0 12y ago
Aren't we already? Only utility i know is cutting glass.
- Danieru 12y agoDiamonds are also useful for cutting stones. Granted this was never much of a problem because one only needs to sprinkle the saw blade with tiny diamond fragments. Your local hardware store should have a shelf of diamond cutting blades.
- InclinedPlane 12y agoDiamond is used everywhere in tons of applications. It's especially useful in cutting and drilling of metal and stone. Although contra to the GP's point, industrial diamonds are in a completely separate market from gemstone diamonds and de beers' monopoly doesn't have much effect on that. You can find diamond tipped and coated tools at any local hardware store, for example, at quite reasonable prices.
- Tyr42 12y agoThere's also some quantum computing applications, but that requires synthetic diamonds doped with some other elements, and in very thin sheets. The energy levels of the electrons around the impurities are the different states it can be in, and can be controlled by lasers.
- Panoramix 12y agoIn addition to hardness, they have an exceptionally high thermal conductivity.
- wyager 12y agoHoly shit! No kidding! From wikipedia: "Monocrystalline synthetic diamond enriched in the isotope 12C (99.9%) has the highest thermal conductivity of any known solid at room temperature: 33.2 W/(cm·K)" Copper is about 4 W/(cm*K).
- bane 12y agoImagine if you could cover or just replace every fragile piece of anything with diamonds.
- alsocasey 12y agoDiamonds are hard in that they resist scratches very well, but can shatter rather easily from impact (not very tough).
- venomsnake 12y agoI am thinking about ... well steel in which ceramite/martenite nodes are replaced with small diamonds. You will have incredible edge taking ...
- Intermernet 12y agoApart from the thermal properties mentioned already, and other more esoteric uses, they also happen to be really strong, and if we can scale up our manufacturing processes, they should become quite cheap as well. Imagine all of the applications for a transparent material stronger than steel! We're a way off yet, but it's feasible.
- caf 12y agohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_anvil_cell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_anvil_cell
- venomsnake 12y agoSharpening. Almost anything that requires abrasion benefits awesomely when the abrasive is diamond.