My apologies all, After typing that in, I failed to read what I had typed - I guess my brain was on auto-complete. Here is the corrected quote:
"Strong decided to add not just a little hydrogen, but a huge amount in the form a chunk of polyethylene plastic, which averages two hydrogen atoms for every one of CARBON. At conditions of diamond formation, Strong was to learn, polyethylene breaks down to form carbon and hydrogen - lots of hydrogen." ... "The belt apparatus blew up during Strong's very first attempt. With a deafening detonation and impact that shook the entire knoll research complex ..." ... "Shrapnel sprayed out across the room and ricocheted off the walls and ceiling." On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 8:09 PM, Bob Higgins <rj.bob.higg...@gmail.com>wrote: > As I read about spectacular explosions in LENR experiments - that appear > to have explosive energy beyond available chemical means - I recall > something I read in a book that may be somewhat obscure to this forum. In > Robert Hazen's book, "the Diamond makers", he describes the history of high > temperature high pressure research and the quest to create synthetic > diamonds. The need for diamonds was primarily for machine cutting tools > and abrasives. In the later stages of diamond making equipment > development, a high temperature (1000C) and high pressure (100,000-150,000 > atmospheres) press was developed called "the belt" (Tracy Hall, ~1954). > This machine consists of a toroidal "belt" having a parabolic > cross-section and tungsten carbide anvils pressing into the middle. This > machine would ultimately go on to become the primary means of producing > industrial diamond. > > During development of the process for transforming graphite into diamond, > it was suggested by George Kennedy that hydrogen would be a catalyst for > diamond crystal growth (it is). The book includes this recount from an > interview with Herbert Strong: > > "Strong decided to add not just a little hydrogen, but a huge amount in > the form a chunk of polyethylene plastic, which averages two hydrogen atoms > for every one of hydrogen. At conditions of diamond formation, Strong was > to learn, polyethylene breaks down to form carbon and hydrogen - lots of > hydrogen." ... "The belt apparatus blew up during Strong's very first > attempt. With a deafening detonation and impact that shook the entire > knoll research complex ..." ... "Shrapnel sprayed out across the room and > ricocheted off the walls and ceiling." > > To me, this sounds like more energy than could have been released by > chemical reaction from a small "chunk of polyethylene". Could this have > been a LENR explosion? > > Interestingly, the successful diamond making process included compressing > the graphite in molten nickel at high pressure. > -- Regards, Bob Higgins
