Descripción del proyecto
Tecnología avanzada para diamantes artificiales
Los diamantes son un producto escaso, lujoso y caro que se emplea tanto en alta tecnología como la industria de la joyería. Estas piedras preciosas se descubren bajo tierra en minas profundas, lechos de ríos y el fondo oceánico. Sin embargo, las condiciones de esta actividad minera suscitan preocupaciones éticas y medioambientales que repercuten en la producción. Por consiguiente, la industria del diamante sufre escasez de materia prima. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos HEPHAESTUS propone un método único, respetuoso con el medio ambiente y rentable para cultivar diamantes en el laboratorio. Este método innovador consiste en colocar semillas de diamante en deposición química de vapor por plasma que transforma las semillas con carbono en diamantes. Esta tecnología avanzada se basa en procesos de reacción química activados por plasma que permiten cultivar diamantes de gran calidad destinados al mercado de la joyería más fina.
Objetivo
Diamonds form deep inside the Earth and they require extensive resources and time to discover. Naturally occurring diamonds can be found through open-pit or underground deep-earth mining or in riverbeds and ocean floor. Diamonds have fantastic properties allowing various tech and high-tech applications in the industry. They can also be used in the luxury business for their beauty, quality, cut and colours. But mined diamonds are a finite resource considering the extreme and rare occurrence of natural surroundings in which it can be formed so that the whole diamond industry now faces depletion of raw materials.
DIAM CONCEPT leverages 30 years of research in the fields of plasma physics at CNRS LSPM related to diamond growth in laboratory. Growing diamonds in lab consists in placing small diamond seeds in highly controlled environment where the diamonds grow layer-by-layer. Plasma enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition is based on high temperature and low-pressure whereby the plasma, generated by excitation of the gases through microwaves activation, leads to transformation of carbon containing species into diamond. DIAM CONCEPT is pushing forward the state of the art so as to be able to grow thick diamonds of the purest form known to man. The technology is based on a non-equilibrium microwave plasma-activated chemical reaction process in a large resonant cavity operating at 915 MHz. This process allows to grow colourless >VS1 Type IIA diamonds and adresses the finest jewellery market. Our diamond will be branded as symbol of modern love by representing the incredible progression of technology.
DIAM CONCEPT ambitions to become a leading manufacturer of lab-grown diamonds for jewelry and we have already settled partnerships with 6 top jewellers that are to be enlarge to 10 top jewellers. On the opposite to mined diamonds, our lab-grown diamonds are ethical, respective of environment, have a low carbon impact (around 80 kg/carat), guarantee of origin and cost-efficient.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1
Régimen de financiación
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinador
75116 PARIS
Francia
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.