年产1200万克拉培育钻石，中国小城硬核材料闪耀全球

Core Insights - The city of Zhecheng, known as the "Diamond Capital of China," has gained prominence for its laboratory-grown diamonds, producing over 12 million carats annually, accounting for more than 60% of the national market share [1] Market Overview - The market price for lab-grown diamonds ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 yuan per carat, which is approximately 1/5 to 1/10 of the price of natural diamonds. The quality of lab-grown diamonds is determined by color, clarity, cut, and weight [3] - The demand for lab-grown diamonds is increasing, with the total import and export value of rough lab-grown diamonds in China projected to reach $122.96 million in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 82.11%. The total import and export value of finished lab-grown diamonds is expected to be $194.6 million, up 78.09% [12] Production Technology - The primary equipment for producing lab-grown diamonds includes the six-sided press, with around 600 machines operating simultaneously in the largest local production facility [5] - The six-sided press simulates the high-temperature and high-pressure environment necessary for diamond growth, allowing for the production of a carat-sized diamond in as little as one to two weeks [7] - In addition to high-pressure methods, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is also used to produce larger diamonds and diamond heat sinks, which are crucial in the electronics industry [15] Industry Development - Zhecheng is part of the "superhard materials industry base" in China, with a strong technical foundation for producing industrial diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are essentially "synthetic single crystals" of diamond quality [13] - The diamond micro-powder, produced from synthetic diamond single crystals, is used in various applications requiring high hardness and wear resistance. However, it faces challenges in achieving high added value [17] - The production capacity of diamond micro-powder in Zhecheng has reached 15 billion carats annually, accounting for 90% of the national total, with applications in precision tools and industrial processing [21] Product Applications - Diamond composite sheets, made from diamond micro-powder, offer advantages such as high-temperature resistance and thermal conductivity, making them suitable for oil drilling equipment and other industrial applications [19][24] - A company has developed a precision tool called an expandable reamer, which uses diamond micro-powder for precise machining of automotive components, enhancing efficiency [23] Conclusion - Through continuous technological innovation and industry collaboration, the Chinese diamond industry has established a dominant position in the global market, creating a robust pathway for "hardcore" manufacturing in the superhard materials sector [25]