Modern man has created a lot of things: technology, fabrics, and products. It is not at all necessary to call the artificial bad. Often, the quality of such samples is no worse than the originals. This is especially true of precious stones.
The epithets "natural" and "eco-friendly" often become decisive arguments when choosing. In jewelry, synthesized crystals are in great demand. They have found application in other areas as well.
A bit of history
Synthetic stones correspond to natural counterparts in appearance, properties, and chemical composition. The main difference remains the origin, although even the creation process duplicates the growth of crystals in nature. Imitation does not repeat either composition or properties. Its task is to repeat only the appearance. Usually, such creations are used for jewelry.
Since the Renaissance, alchemists have tried to create expensive materials using cheaper ones. It was not possible to become a serious science of alchemy, but modern chemistry and physics were developed on its basis.
By the end of the 19th century, synthetic minerals were obtained. They even surpassed their natural counterparts in some characteristics. Synthetic rubies were presented in Paris in 1885. In 1892 Auguste Verneuil proposed his method of growing artificial jewelry. Verneuil's method provided the industry with other gems as well. In addition, the Czochralski method and the hydrothermal method were widely used.
Main techniques
According to the technology proposed by the French chemist, hydrogen was supplied to the burner directed by the nozzle downwards by means of an external pipe. A crystal carrier, baked corundum, was placed under the nozzle. Oxygen flowed to it through the inner tube with the addition of aluminum oxide powder. The latter was heated and melted. The molten mixture poured onto the corundum, forming a ball. The technique became widespread in Europe and the USA.
According to the Czochralski method, the melts were heated by a high-frequency inductor in a refractory crucible. The future crystal was grown to the desired size on a tension roller, rotating to evenly distribute the material and equalize the temperature. This method has found application in technology.
In autoclaves with a solution of the desired mineral, the growth was carried out by the hydrothermal method. A higher temperature from below ensured that the solution was lifted upward, followed by precipitation.
Areas of use
All stones grown in the laboratory are divided into:
- analogues of natural;
- having no analogues in nature.
The former include artificial sapphire, hydrothermal emerald, chromium-containing chrysoberyl, synthetic moissanite and ruby, and synthesized diamond. The second group is represented by Swarovski crystals, fabulite, alpinite, yttrium-aluminum and gadolinium-gallium garnet, sital, sapphire glass. Interestingly, in nature, an analogue of cubic zirconia, tazheranite, was discovered after the crystal was synthesized.
It is almost impossible to find the difference between synthesized and natural jewelry without special equipment. Artificial stones are distinguished by high color saturation, multi-colored stripes or "flags" in growth zones, absence of impurities and cracks, small bubbles.
In jewelry, crystals of medium quality are used: craftsmen remove defects during processing. Laboratory-grown jewelry is used for cutting tools, high-precision optics, laser technology and electronics.
