Sustainable diamond sourcing

Towards a Sustainable Future: The Use of Renewable Energy in Laboratory Diamond Production Techniques.

In the lab-grown diamond sector, HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) techniques have revolutionized the way diamonds are created, offering controlled and sustainable production. However, what makes this process even more innovative is the adoption of renewable energy sources to power these cutting-edge techniques.

HPHT and CVD technologies require a high amount of energy to produce the conditions necessary for the formation of laboratory diamonds,
However, the lab-grown diamond industry is now embracing a more sustainable approach, integrating renewable energy sources into production processes. Solar, wind and hydroelectric energy are emerging as ideal solutions to power HPHT and CVD technologies, reducing environmental impact and contributing to the creation of a more eco-friendly production cycle.

Furthermore, the use of renewable energy can help ensure the stability and security of supplies, reducing dependence on non-renewable energy resources subject to price and availability fluctuations. This evolution not only reduces overall environmental impact, but also promotes innovation and social responsibility, offering a significant competitive advantage in addressing global challenges related to climate change and sustainability.

The HPHT technique

The process of producing laboratory diamonds using the high pressure, high temperature, high pressure, high temperature technique involves creating conditions similar to those found in nature to grow diamonds.

The process begins with selecting a high-quality diamond seed. This seed can be a small fragment of natural diamond or a previously produced laboratory diamond.

The diamond seed is placed inside a high-pressure, high-temperature growth chamber. This chamber generally consists of a pressure cell with a series of heated resistors and a hydraulic system to generate high pressures.

The growth chamber is then subjected to high pressures, typically in the range of 5-6 GPa (gigapascals), and high temperatures, in the range of 1200-1600°C. These conditions mimic the environment in which natural diamonds form in the Earth's mantle.

Under these extreme conditions, carbon gas is introduced into the growth chamber. The diamond seed acts as a catalyst for diamond growth and the carbon is deposited on the seed, layer by layer, creating a diamond crystal. This process can take several days or weeks depending on the desired size of the diamond.

Once the diamond growth is complete, the chamber is gradually cooled to allow the diamond to solidify completely. Once cooled, the growth cell is opened and the diamond is extracted, ready to be cut, polished and used for commercial purposes.

The CVD technique

The chemical vapor deposition manufacturing process is a method in which diamonds are grown from a carbon gas in a reaction chamber.

The process begins with the preparation of a substrate on which the diamond will be grown. The substrate can be made of various materials, such as silicon, tungsten or diamond itself.

The substrate is placed inside a vacuum reaction chamber, which usually consists of a high-temperature oven. The chamber is filled with a gas containing carbon atoms, usually a mixture of hydrogen and methane.

The carbon gas is activated using an energy source, typically a microwave beam or a laser beam. This process breaks the bonds between carbon atoms in the gas, producing free carbon atoms.
The freed carbon atoms are then deposited onto the substrate, where they join together to form layers of diamond.