A parametric relationship for synthesized diamond powder

Diamond powders synthesized in different solvent/catalyst systems at high pressure and high temperature conditions contain crystals that could be separated into groups of distinct size and defect morphology. These groups differ by their mechanical compressive resistance, given by the fracture load, which could be used to classify them for potential industrial applications. In the present work a parametric relationship between the defect morphological aspects, the granulometry and the compressive resistance of diamond powders synthesized in a concave anvil high-pressure device at 4.7 GPa and 1250 °C was established. Results were obtained by measuring the fracture load, using the single grit test of individual crystals, and comparing the average value for crystals with different defect morphology and corresponding grain sizes. The parametric relationship permitted to classify each diamond crystal by its size and defect morphology in association with its compressive resistance. It is therefore suggested that this parametric relationship be used as a new method to evaluate a diamond powder in terms of crystal size, defect morphological aspects and mechanical resistance.