BARS apparatus

{{Short description|Machine for generating synthetic minerals and diamonds}}

File:BARS4.svg

File:bars3.jpg

File:bars2.jpg

BARS (or "split sphere", transliteration from {{Langx|ru|БАРС}} abbreviation of {{Langx|ru|Беспрессовая Аппаратура Высокого Давления «РАЗРЕЗНАЯ СФЕРА»}}, (bespressovaya apparatura vysokogo davleniya «razreznaya sfera»), "press-free high-pressure setup «split sphere»") a high-pressure high-temperature apparatus usually used for growing or processing minerals, especially diamond and boron nitride.{{Cite web|url=http://www.igm.nsc.ru/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1232:%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D1%81%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%81&Itemid=554&lang=ru|title=Беспрессовая аппаратура высокого давления "РАЗРЕЗНАЯ СФЕРА" (БАРС)|website=www.igm.nsc.ru|language=ru-ru|access-date=2018-05-16}} Typical pressures and temperatures achievable with BARS are {{Convert|10|GPa|atm|abbr=on}} and {{Convert|2500|C|F K|abbr=on}}.

The BARS technology was invented around 1989–1991 by the scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.{{cite journal| author = N. Pal'yanov | title = Fluid-bearing alkaline carbonate melts as the medium for the formation of diamonds in the Earth's mantle: an experimental study| doi = 10.1016/S0024-4937(01)00079-2 | journal = Lithos | volume = 60 | issue = 3–4| year = 2002| page = 145 | bibcode=2002Litho..60..145P|display-authors=etal}} In the center of the device, there is a ceramic cylindrical reaction cell of about 2 cm³ in size. The cell is placed into a cubic-shaped pressure-transmitting material, which is pressed by elements made from cemented carbide (VK10 hard alloy).{{cite journal| author =M. G. Loshak and L. I. Alexandrova | title = Rise in the efficiency of the use of cemented carbides as a matrix of diamond-containing studs of rock destruction tool| doi =10.1016/S0263-4368(00)00039-1 | journal = Int. J. Refractory Metals and Hard Materials | volume = 19 | year = 2001| page = 5}} The outer octahedral cavity is pressed by 8 steel sectors. After mounting, the whole assembly is locked in a disc-type barrel with a diameter ~1 meter. The barrel is filled with oil, which pressurizes upon heating; the oil pressure is transferred to the central cell. The central cell is heated up by a coaxial graphite heater. Temperature is measured with a thermocouple. The exterior size is 2.2 х 1.0 х 1.2 meters. Weight of the sphere is {{Convert|2.8|tonne|lb}}. Claimed energy consumption is in between 1.5 - 2 kWh.{{Cite web|url=http://www.igm.nsc.ru/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1232:%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D1%81%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%81&Itemid=554&lang=ru|title=Беспрессовая аппаратура высокого давления "РАЗРЕЗНАЯ СФЕРА" (БАРС)|last=|first=|date=|website=www.igm.nsc.ru|publisher=|language=ru-ru|access-date=2018-05-16|quote=оптимальные габариты (2,2 х 1,0 х 1,2 м) и масса установки (2,8 т); высокая экологичность и безопасность; низкая энергоемкость (1,5 - 2 квт/час); заменяемость многопуансонного блока в зависимости от задач}}

The growth rate for {{convert|5|carat|g}} type Ib (yellow, nitrogen-rich) crystals using Fe–Ni catalyst reaches as high as ~20 mg/h towards the end of 100 h growth cycle, i.e. crystals of {{convert|5|carat|g}} to {{convert|6|carat|g}} can be grown in less than 100 h.{{cite journal| author = R. Abbaschian | title = High pressure–high temperature growth of diamond crystals using split sphere apparatus| doi = 10.1016/j.diamond.2005.09.007 | journal = Diam. Relat. Mater. | volume = 14 | issue = 11–12| year = 2005| page = 1916|bibcode = 2005DRM....14.1916A |display-authors=etal}}