Diamonds, in general, have aided many industries for hundreds of years. The shift in preference to synthetic diamonds is being noticed in the last few decades. Synthetic diamonds are cheaper and more durable than natural diamonds in most cases.

The industrial usage of diamonds isn’t limited to the jewelry industry. The major production of diamonds that aren’t gem quality is used in industries in various shapes and sizes. Here are the common industries in which diamonds are used for daily business operations.

Mining Industry

Mining drills employ diamond core bits. Bits are bars constructed of diamond-chip material that can cut through any surface-attached substance. In place of genuine diamonds, polycrystalline diamond compounds (PDC) are currently utilized in mining drills. Before diamond drills in 1863, physical manpower was required to manage the mining operations.

Lab grown diamonds are useful for a variety of industrial purposes due to their high strength and distinctive characteristics. 80 percent of all raw diamonds are used for industrial purposes, and the majority of mined diamonds are not of the grade needed to be jewels.

Diamonds have traditionally been used for cutting, sawing, and drilling because of their extreme hardness and durability. The mining sector and the military are two industries where they are particularly well-liked.

To improve the ability of saw blades, drill bits, and grinding wheels to cut difficult materials, very tiny diamond grains are included in these tools. For sanding or extremely fine grinding, diamond dust is turned into a diamond paste.

In the mining industry, diamonds are used in several ways. Such as:

• Diamond cutters
• Diamond grinding wheels
• Diamond saw
• Diamond drill bits

Jewelry Industry

Jewelry diamonds are the products of marketing. In 1947, the DeBeers’ famous “diamond is forever” campaign made what diamond jewelry is today. They targeted their forever promise to the wedding couples who were looking for engagement rings.

However, earrings and much other diamond jewelry also grew in demand following the campaigns. The demand is still intact or even increasing in 2022. But a careful market control strategy has prevented the supply from reaching equilibrium. Making diamond jewelry a rare and costly commodity.

But that market was disrupted by lab grown diamonds. Since gem-quality lab grown diamonds made their appearance, their cost-effectiveness and similarity to natural diamonds have made them a consumer choice product. Today, lab-grown diamonds enjoy annual growth of almost 10%. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings contribute to the diamond jewelry industry the most.

Diamonds are used in the jewelry industry as:

• Diamond Pendants
• Diamond necklaces
• Diamonds earrings
• Lab grown diamonds

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is particularly inclined towards using diamond as their polishing and grinding material because of the hardness of the material and the finish it offers. As cars are considered luxury items, it’s necessary to achieve a perfect finish.

Engine components need to be precise in terms of dimensions. Although laser-guided tools are used in assembly lines, diamond tip tools are used due to their high hardness, great wear resistance, and low affinity with non-ferrous materials. As the tooltip doesn’t accumulate chips easily, a better finish is achieved.

Diamonds are utilized in the manufacturing of automobiles and are a crucial component of the automotive industry. Diamond-coated grinding wheels are used to bevel and polish window glass, while diamond saws and drill bits are used to cut and finish automobile bodies and engine components.

In the automotive industry, diamonds contribute to the operations as:

• Diamond tooltips
• Diamond polishers
• Diamond saws
• Diamond drill bits

Healthcare Industry

Diamonds may be good for your health. According to a medical study, nanodiamonds, which are little diamond fragments, may be used as an indicator of a cancer treatment’s efficacy after a patient has received it, enabling doctors to keep track of the cells’ development.

Brain tumors are quite difficult to treat. Surgeries are often considered the last resort in case of brain tumors due to the risk associated with them. Most anti-cancer and chemotherapy drugs fail to penetrate the blood vessels surrounding the brain. The small number of drugs that penetrate the barrier is destroyed before they can make an impact.

But the vessels can’t prevent nanodiamonds from reaching the tumor cells. The drugs combined with nanodiamonds stay much longer in the tumor cells without affecting the surrounding tissues.

Additionally, scientists are exploring diamonds as a viable component for artificial eyes and eye implants, as well as employing them to assist the visually impaired.

To aid dentists in drilling with optimum efficiency and without concern about damaging equipment, many dentistry tools come with diamond points.

As mentioned above, diamonds are used in the healthcare industry as:

• Nanodiamonds
• Artificial eyes
• Eye surgeries
• Dentistry drilling equipment

Laser Windows and Glass Industry

Users can view laser activities using laser window fixtures.  Due to their excellent clarity, synthetic diamonds are utilized to make laser panes. However, there are other uses for laser windows than observation. It is used to allow people to work in spaces with powerful lasers.

Annealed glasses can easily be broken by diamond glass cutters. The “score line” is produced by a pointy diamond that is attached to the glass cutting instruments. By exerting pressure on each side of the split, workers are meant to break the glass. Because they are more likely to shatter than break, toughened glasses cannot be shaped using this procedure.

Audio Equipment

High-end speakers are thought to function better and provide better sound when covered in industrial-grade synthetic diamonds. Thin diamond domes vibrate quickly without breaking or losing their sound quality since diamond is an extremely strong material.

For comparison, aluminum domes break up at 30kHz frequency whereas diamonds can withstand up to 70 kHz. The difference between these frequencies may not seem much, but for professional audio equipment, it can make a huge difference.

The diamond domes, being rigid in property, aren’t deformed during professional performances. Diamond tweeter domes are stiff and light. Thus, the chances of equipment damage are reduced.

Cosmetic Industry

Some cosmetic businesses sell pricey diamond-based cosmetics, such as diamond-flecked spray, exfoliators, and blurring agents, which are said to make wrinkles look less prominent.

In order to obtain genuine cleanliness and consistency in skin tone, diamond exfoliation can even function in the deeper depths of the skin. As a consequence, the exfoliation process and skin rejuvenation are promoted. The high heat conductance of the diamond also enhances the microcirculation of the skin.

Diamond dust is used in cosmetic body treatment products to give the skin tremendous brilliance as well as profound relaxation and enjoyment.

Diamonds are used in the cosmetic industry in various ways. Such as:

• Diamond exfoliators
• Diamond blurring agents
• Diamond dust
• Diamond sprays

Electronics Industry

Diamonds can be heated and cooled down without significantly affecting performance and are excellent heat conductors. As a result, diamonds are employed as a medium for heat sinks. To keep hot equipment, such as a CPU, cool, a heat sink is used to dissipate the heat.

Silicon chips used in delicate electrical equipment are cooled using synthetic polycrystalline diamond heat sinks. In order to get the warmth out of the package, most heat-producing equipment, including laser diodes, are equipped with CVT diamonds.

The electronic industry is majorly reliant on diamonds. This includes:

• Diamond heat sinks
• Diamond semiconductors for high-power electronic devices
• Diamond tweeters
• Diamond quantum metrological sensors

The Bottom Line

The most consumer-centric market for diamonds is the jewelry industry. But natural diamonds are still very popular with synthetic diamonds. But in numerous other sectors like mining, automotive, and healthcare, synthetic diamonds are being considered.