CVD Diamond

The chemical vapor disposition (CVD) diamond evolved out of decades old techniques developed during the 1950s. It is interesting note that a concept that is in fact decades old is somewhat still utilized in a modern day process of manufacturing CVD diamonds.

Much of the synthetic diamond industry depends upon a process known as HPHT or high pressure high temperature process. Although this method is considered the dominant process for growing diamonds in today's industry and still remains the primary manufacturing process, a decades old process is still present in the industry for creating a product of outstanding variety of shapes and films which address the needs of an endless array of industries. The process is known as the chemical vapor disposition which grows diamonds through the process of low pressure, a direct opposite method in contrast with HPHT. The low pressure process was developed in the 1950s and still used in present day amidst many other modern technologies that are evolving around this age old concept. The process of growing diamonds through a low pressure process of decomposing carbon provides new opportunities for creating diamond units in different shapes and other qualities that thoroughly make use of a diamond's capabilities.



The importance of CVD process is that it can create the results of HPHT without the high pressures that are required of the HPHT process. The CVD process results in producing a vast array of diamond products which are necessary for many engineering applications through a low pressure process. Although the diamond growing concept dates back to the beginning of the 1900s, the primary advancement in this technology happened during the 1950s and was carried out by scientists in the United States, Russia, and Japan. The company, Union Carbide, was first to complete the successful growth of the diamond back in the 1950s via the CVD process. An interesting fact about the CVD diamond is that at the same time the low pressure method was being used, General Electric was developing the HPHT method successfully. This company made several attempts at producing the CVD diamond via the low pressure method. After several unsuccessful attempts, they abandoned the idea and continued to grow diamonds through the HPHT method.
General Electric's attempts at the low pressure method were being conducted prior to Union Carbide successfully completing their attempt at low pressure production. Following the successful result by Union Carbide, Japanese scientists discovered a method for growing diamonds at a rapid pace through low pressure techniques. This resulted in a major breakthrough in mass producing the CVD diamond and represented a notable milestone for many businesses and industries.
Initially it caused many industries to set unrealistic goals for the diamond electronic products, however, the idea caught on and other commercial agencies began producing the CVD diamond. The increased availability helped grow the diamond electronics industry and the interest in the CVD diamond continued to grow as well.