Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-04

of a concave mirror. The diamond first
split, then emitted sparks, and finally dis
appeared. Since that time Il great num-
per ot diamonds have been nurn NJ un tEii,
varying conditions, and the fact that TINS
stone Is composed wholly ana solely oil
pure carbon is as well authenticated as
any fact in science
The composition of diamonds being thus
well known, it might at first appear
comparatively easy matter TO prepare
them artiticially. The problem was TO
convert carbon of the non-crA Sta!llne
form lamp black. for instance) into the
crystalline form tdiamond). But IN order
to obtain crystal Of any substance IT IS
necessary 10 get that substance into sou.
ton, and no liquid is known winch Will
dissolve carbon as such at the Ordinary
temperatures and deposit it on evapora-
ton. There is, however, a liquid which
will dissolve carbon at white neat
namely. molten iron The carbon sepa-
rates out on solicitation, but uh1ortun-
ately. not i'll the fom Of diamond. com
mon cast iron contains carbon. Whlch mas
separated out on casting. but IL is carbon
in the form of graphite or black lead.
One Of the first Of the eNperlnenters
was J. Il. llannay, of GLASGOW. VINO com
menccd his attempts to make diamonds IN
| 1875, and some years later NJ Moisson. Il
Partisan chemist, attacked the problem
ana w the all of an electric furnace
| and 4 much sinplcr method of obtaining
durin" carbon cINsialS that differed in n"
respect from the diamond. Into 4 cruel
bic containing molten iron M. Moissoh
dropped Il cylinder Of soft iron cont aiming
| Il small quantity of pure sugar charcoal !:
the rrucirle WAS nj once WITHDRAWN ana
plunged into water. Now, iron, like wat
er, expands when it solidifies and the
solid crust first formed on the outside OF
the mass eXerts an enormous pressure
| on the interior portion during the cry stall
liZation of the latter The mass was then
treated with acids to dissolve out the
iron. and the residue subjected to treat
ment resembling that employed in isolat-
ing the crystals of caroon from the blue
earth at the Kimberly mines. The result
consisted of carbon. carhonadO or black
diamond. and transparent. colorcss dia-
| mond. The diamonds thus produced eN-
hibt all the physical peculiarities of the
natural stone. including occasional spon-
taneous disruption. NJ. Mosson afterward
discovered that the size and transparency
of the resulting diamond depended upon
the rapidty of the cooling process, and
since whom water is used a badly conduct
ing layer of steam is formed round the
crucible he was able very much to i'm
prove his results by cooling the crucible
1t is perfectly evident. however. that
though NJ Moisson has demonstrated that
it is possible to manufacture diamonds
by artificial means. the size of the crys
tails he produced was. too tiny. and the
process. in proportion to the results OBJ
tanned. too expensive to he of any prac-
teal Importance: the problem still re-
manned to manufacture diamonds of suf
ficient size to he of commercial value.
With this object in view C. v. Burton de-
vised method by which he hoped to ar
rive at this result. There are theoretical
reasons for beliving that if the crystali-
cation of carbon could be conducted at
comparatively low temperature high pres
sure might not he essential to the produc-
ton Of diamonds rather than graphite.
Reasoning on these lines. Mr.. Burton en-
ployed an 2llv of the metal calcium and
lead as solvent for carbon. Mr. Burton
succeeded in making diamonds, but again
the result was microscopic. Still its DrO-
cess seerled much moro capable OF de-
veiopment since it can be conducted
without the difficult condition of very
high pressure. Again and again the claim
has been set w by this that inventor
that lie has succeeded in making dia-
mOnds of marketable size. hut so far
none of these claims has borne invnsti-
cation. within the last few years, how
ever. artificial rubies of considerable size
have been reproduced. and there is no
reason 70 suppose that success will rot
eventually crown the efforts of the ex-
Ieflmenters who are attacking the prob
lem of diamond making.