24 Feb 10
Do any of you think it would be possible to make a machine that fuses atoms to create denser atoms, collects the neutrons, shoots electrons into the denser atoms and collects the leftover power?
This would, essentially, be a powerful machine, and it would fuse atoms to make the radioactive material, split the atoms, collecting ALL the power. Did I mention that it would fuse the waste till it wasn't radioactive?
24 Feb 10
Originally posted by EvillittleweirdguyProbably not. The most stable elements are iron and those similar to it. Fusion reactions will not make small atoms into atoms larger than iron so the fission can take place.
Do any of you think it would be possible to make a machine that fuses atoms to create denser atoms, collects the neutrons, shoots electrons into the denser atoms and collects the leftover power?
This would, essentially, be a powerful machine, and it would fuse atoms to make the radioactive material, split the atoms, collecting ALL the power. Did I mention that it would fuse the waste till it wasn't radioactive?
24 Feb 10
Originally posted by EvillittleweirdguyThe only bad part of that design is you need to get to about 1 trillion degrees to force fusion up to iron, of course at that point iron would not be radioactive. Except for Iron 55 which radiates like a bitch. I know about that isotope, we use it to deduce the thickness of a titanium layer in an optical component we used to build.
Do any of you think it would be possible to make a machine that fuses atoms to create denser atoms, collects the neutrons, shoots electrons into the denser atoms and collects the leftover power?
This would, essentially, be a powerful machine, and it would fuse atoms to make the radioactive material, split the atoms, collecting ALL the power. Did I mention that it would fuse the waste till it wasn't radioactive?
25 Feb 10
Originally posted by AThousandYoungI believe that all elements in existence today come from stars in which such fusion and fission reactions do take place - atoms larger than Iron can be created by fusion but at an energy cost.
Probably not. The most stable elements are iron and those similar to it. Fusion reactions will not make small atoms into atoms larger than iron so the fission can take place.
From wikipedia:
If two light nuclei fuse, they will generally form a single nucleus with a slightly smaller mass than the sum of their original masses. The difference in mass is released as energy according to Albert Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2. If the input atoms are sufficiently massive, the resulting fusion product will be heavier than the reactants, in which case the reaction requires an external source of energy. The dividing line between "light" and "heavy" is iron-56. Above this atomic mass, energy will generally be released by nuclear fission reactions; below it, by fusion.
What I don't know much about is the conversion of Protons to Neutrons and vice versa.
25 Feb 10
Originally posted by KazetNagorraOh, but it's 'easy' to fuse atoms. It's just not economicly possible yet.
Well, a machine that fuses atoms is a fusion reactor - it's easiest to fuse the lightest atoms because they give the biggest energy gain and we can't even do that properly yet.
It simply cost more to do it than the energy gained is worth.
27 Feb 10
Originally posted by FabianFnasActually not true for diamonds, they are now manufacturable in large sizes way cheaper than natural ones. That said, you cannot pass them off as natural, they can be detected as man-made.
You mean properly as economicly properly?
I thought you meant technologicly properly.
Hence my posting.
Technologically we can create gold. Economicly we cannot.
Same goes for diamonds.
27 Feb 10
Originally posted by sonhouseDoes that mean that industrial diamonds are now mostly man made?
Actually not true for diamonds, they are now manufacturable in large sizes way cheaper than natural ones. That said, you cannot pass them off as natural, they can be detected as man-made.
If man made diamonds could be passed off as real ones, would anyone tell us?
28 Feb 10
Originally posted by FabianFnasYes, I mean "properly" as in economically viable, I thought that was obvious.
You mean properly as economicly properly?
I thought you meant technologicly properly.
Hence my posting.
Technologically we can create gold. Economicly we cannot.
Same goes for diamonds.
02 Mar 10
Originally posted by twhiteheadThere are a lot of man made industrial diamonds, for diamond paste on drills and such, it is pretty easy to make sub millimeter sized diamonds on an industrial scale.
Does that mean that industrial diamonds are now mostly man made?
If man made diamonds could be passed off as real ones, would anyone tell us?
If large diamonds could be made cheaply enough, someone would try to get away with selling them as natural, you can take that to the bank, detectable or not. If they sold some of those diamonds to a diamond merchant for cash, how long do you think they would hang around town?
02 Mar 10
1 edit
Originally posted by twhiteheadThe DeBeers company is very powerful and has managed to politically shut down the artificial decorative diamond trade by forcing diamond manufacturers to put impurities in them to make them ugly I think.
Does that mean that industrial diamonds are now mostly man made?
If man made diamonds could be passed off as real ones, would anyone tell us?
EDIT - I am unable to find any sources that support this statement though DeBeers has gotten in trouble for monopolistic practices. If you bought a diamond in the last two decades you might be able to get some money back.
05 Mar 10
Originally posted by AThousandYoungi read an article about a father/son diamond manufacturer.
The DeBeers company is very powerful and has managed to politically shut down the artificial decorative diamond trade by forcing diamond manufacturers to put impurities in them to make them ugly I think.
EDIT - I am unable to find any sources that support this statement though DeBeers has gotten in trouble for monopolistic practices. If you bought a diamond in the last two decades you might be able to get some money back.
one time someone came up behind one of them, stuck a gun to the back of his head, and warned him not to pursue the business.