A research instrument known as the diamond anvil cell produces pressures equivalent to those found in the Earth's core. In it, two diamonds face each other and, because of their hardness, the pressure in the space between them can be increased more than between any other substances. Scientists use this tool to duplicate the approximate pressure at the Earth's center--4,500,000 atmospheres--and study what happens to substances in that extreme environment. This device also enables researchers to study dense matter and the effect of high pressure on various materials, according to the American Museum of Natural History.
As the hardest mineral on earth, diamonds are ideal for use as abrasives when embedded in another material. Dentists use burs (steel drill bits) coated with diamonds for procedures such as grinding down the surface of teeth to prepare them to receive crowns. Diamond-embedded tools are used to cut and drill through concrete; they also grind, shape and polish metal to form precision tools and items such as pistons for engines. Products as diverse as drums for copying machines and computer chips are designed with diamonds as vital components.
Diamonds ground into powder form a paste often used for polishing. Because of their durability, transparency and heat resistance, a thin film made from diamond covers small openings in lasers, x-ray machines and vacuum chambers, according to Geology.com. A thin dome of diamond film enhances sound quality in speakers--unlike other materials, a diamond will not warp and interfere with sound transmission.
The first historic record of diamond synthesis dates back to 1893, however, in 1954, General Electric filed the first patent for a synthetic diamond, according to Element Six. Eighty percent of natural diamonds supplied by mining are used for industrial purposes while an additional 80 tons of synthetic diamonds, also known as CVD diamond, are required to keep up with industrial demand each year. Synthetic diamonds also do not have the size and shape limitations of natural diamonds. The wear-resistance of CVD diamonds, named for the technique used to grow them, chemical vapor deposition, enabled the manufacture of the "no wear" bearings used in space shuttles, according to DiamondJewel.com.