Applications of Single Crystal Diamond

Natural diamond crystals were the original diamond tools used hundreds of years ago for cutting and engraving purposes, because the outstanding properties of 

Single diamond crystals are currently used in a wide variety of industrial applications, albeit some highly specialized, and these range from rock drilling to sophisticated applications in micro-surgery and electronics. 

One advantage of synthetic crystals is that they can be synthesized and processed to specific required sizes and also crystallographic orientations chosen according to the application (Fig. 85). 

Its crystal structure and extreme hardness also make it possible for diamond to accept and retain cutting edges which are flawless and unbroken over their entire length when viewed at high magnification. 

In the medical field, diamond blades are used in surgical scalpels (Fig. 88) and in microtome knives (Fig. 89) to prepare tissue samples for microscopic examination. Diamond knives are also used for cleaving fibre optics. 

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