• 👍Maximum Derek👍
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      91 month ago

      Defense contractors want to grow diamond computer processors. Because silicon breaks down at high temperatures.

            • Zorque
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              21 month ago

              Just like humans are basically just trees, because they’re both carbon based lifeforms, right?

            • 👍Maximum Derek👍
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              21 month ago

              Carbon, compressed hard enough it becomes diamond, forms a square crystal lattice that is so crazy stable that it’s very resistant to change (including from burning).

              • @threelonmusketeers
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                21 month ago

                Is diamond more resistant to burning than other forms of carbon? I thought even lowly graphite is pretty stable at high temperatures…

                • 👍Maximum Derek👍
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                  21 month ago

                  I don’t know specific temps, but graphite forms a hexagonal lattice that is highly stable on 2 dimensions. The bonds between layers of hexagons are weaker which lets it be brittle in all the ways we love graphite. I’m not sure how this specific geometry changes the affinity to bond to oxygen.

        • Zorque
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          41 month ago

          Yeah, but at about 400 degrees higher than silicon.