Diamond Properties: What Makes A Diamond Hard?

Diamonds are the hardest natural material known today. Diamonds have a hardness of 10 on Mohs scale. The hardest diamonds in the world come form the New England area in New South Wales, Australia. This diamonds are typically small and are often used to polish other diamonds. It is believed that the hardness of diamond properties comes from the crystal growth form. The diamonds from Australia have only one stage growth crystal while other diamonds show multiple growth stages which results in inclusions, flaws and defect planes in the lattice. All of these effects will change the hardness of a diamond and thus change its diamond properties.

It is the hardness of diamonds that help them become suitable as gemstones. Since diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds it is easy to maintain the polish on a diamond. Because of its resistance to scratching, the diamond is well suited to daily wear unlike other gemstones. This likely adds to its popularity as a gem on engagement and wedding rings since these are worn every day.

Diamonds have also been used industrially due to their hardness. The hardness of a diamond makes them ideal for cutting and grinding tools. Diamonds can be used to polish, cut or wear away any type of material including other diamonds due to their natural occurring hard material.

However, diamonds can't be used for machining ferrous alloys at high speeds. High speed machining creates high temperatures. This results in carbon which is soluble in iron. This increases the wear on diamond tools when compared to other methods. Some industrial applications for diamonds in this role include diamond-tipped drill bits and saws or using diamond powder as an abrasive. Often industrial grade diamonds are not suitable to be used as gemstones for jewelry. Knowing this information at diamonds can help make your choice easier next time you are considering a piece of jewelry.

For more information about diamond properties please visit, www.doverjewelry.com.