On Fri, October 5, 2007 12:06 pm, Gregory K. Ruiz-Ade wrote: > On Oct 5, 2007, at 11:45 AM, James G. Sack (jim) wrote: > >>> A sample k value for steel (AISI 1020) is 65, aluminum (alloy >>> 1100) is >>> 220 and copper is 380. Diamond (type IIa) is 1850. You can see >>> this is >>> why heat sinks are made mostly of aluminum and copper until diamond >>> becomes more affordable. >> >> <heh> >> >> But that makes me wonder: is diamond actually used anywhere for its >> thermal conductivity advantages? > > Diamond will become affordable only when DeBeers decides it should be. > > It's worse than the oil cartels. > > Gregory
I've read in authoritive sources that current synthetic diamond processes can now make gem quality stones to remarkable sizes. Also, that the process is in no way controlled by the diamond cartel. So this is not a good time to be "investing" in diamonds, or indeed, in gem stones in general. (I bought a "Chatham emerald" for my first wife's engagement ring over 30 years ago. The jeweler said a pro could spot a Chatham as synthetic because it has _fewer_ flaws than a natural stone. It was a glorious stone and I could have cared less that it was pressed in a factory and not a mountain in India.) And maybe when diamonds inevitably collapse in price, we'll get those heat sinks. -- Lan Barnes SCM Analyst Linux Guy Tcl/Tk Enthusiast Biodiesel Brewer -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
