After a crust was formed it was left to solidify
slowly. The sudden cooling of the iron on the outside subjected the
carbon, which was held in solution, to intense pressure and when the bit
of iron was dissolved in acid some of the carbon was found to be
crystallized as diamond, although most of it was graphite. To be sure,
the diamonds were hardly big enough to be seen with the naked eye, but
since Moissan's aim was to make diamonds, not big diamonds, he ceased
his efforts at this point.
To produce large diamonds the carbon would have to be liquefied in
considerable quantity and kept in that state while it slowly
crystallized. But that could only be accomplished at a temperature and
pressure and duration unattainable as yet. Under ordinary atmospheric
pressure carbon passes over from the solid to the gaseous phase without
passing through the liquid, just as snow on a cold, clear day will
evaporate without melting.
Probably some one in the future will take up the problem where Moissan
dropped it and find out how to make diamonds of any size.
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