Physical–chemical model of processes at detonation synthesis of nanodiamonds

Abstract This article presents a principally new physical–chemical model of nanodiamond formation at explosion, which describes adequately all the existing experimental data on detonation synthesis of diamonds. According to this model, the detonation wave performs activation rapidly; then the reaction mixture composition keeps varying. In the diagram C – H – O this process results in continual motion of the point imaging the reaction mixture composition. The ratio of the diamond phase amount to the condensed carbon quantity in the explosion products is defined by the width of the section this point passes over in the diamond formation zone. Motion of the point in the area below the line H – CO results in decrease of the condensed carbon (CC) amount. Diamonds are formed by the free-radical mechanism in the unloading wave.