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/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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1056032 No.1056032 [Reply] [Original]

Has anyone tried to make a bismuth monocrystal ?
I'd like to make one during next holidays, but there is no website referencing how to get a single crystal.
What I did learn however was :
- Molten bismuth oxidizes quickly, so you have to keep a surface in contact with the air as small as possible
- You get a ~70% yield in crystal(s) because you have to pour the molten metal when the crystals have formed at the bottom.

>> No.1056048

>>1056032
Cool it as slowly as possible.
Use larger volume for bigger crystals (obvious)
Dont disturb it while it cools, vibrations cause small crystals to form.
Cover the crystals from oxygen when you pour the liquid off.
Use high purity bismuth, otherwise the crystals wont be colorful.

>> No.1056051

>>1056048
Why would I cover the crystals while pouring the molten metal off ? Wouldn't it cause the crystals to not become colorful ? Otherwise it would look like any other metal

>> No.1056238

>>1056032
Did this in highschool.

>melt elemental bismuth
>allow to cool down to 585f
>insulate container
>hang seed crystal of bismuth just below surface
>gradually lower as temperature draps or you see crystal formation protruding
>when temperature reads 581-2 hover a chunk of dry ice over the container and allow it to sublimate to fill the pocket with co2 gas.
>remove crystal
>keep it suspended in the co2 gas
>Wait for it to come to room temperature

The co2 will insulate against oxidation but will do so in a gradient so you get various levels of oxidation and sheen

The color of the crystal is directly related to the oxidation layers thickness and is a result of light waves interfering with itself just like titanium and niobium

>> No.1057418

>>1056238
You go to a pretty cool highschool.

>> No.1057784

>>1057418
Yeah no shit. Coolest thing we had was woodshop taught by an asshole

>> No.1057993

Hey Op

This may help you a bit

It's the section on single crystal formation in my manufacturing book

>> No.1057994
File: 3.11 MB, 3984x2988, 20160920_181137.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1057994

>>1057993
Crap

Forgot image

>> No.1057999
File: 3.10 MB, 3984x2988, 20160920_181204.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1057999

>>1057994

>> No.1058004
File: 2.99 MB, 3984x2988, 20160920_181732.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1058004

>>1057994
>>1057999
They made references to these figures in the page on Crystal growing

>> No.1058009

>Scrolling through /diy/
>See this post
>Out of fucking nowhere, it's motherfucking bismuth

>> No.1058259

>>1058009
No matter where you run, no matter where your hide, bismuth will find you

>> No.1058601

why is it so angular

is this alien tech

>> No.1058677

>>1057418
>>1057784
My school was awesome.

One of the best projects was done with the technology classes, engineering, shop, chemistry, and physics courses.

We designed and built a large rocket. Everything was designed and built by students from the rocket shape to the dry fuel engines and equipment on board.

The rocket was big enough, powerful enough, and would go high enough we needed to submit a flight plan with the faa.

>> No.1058694

>>1058677

...so he went to North Korea High. Rocket blew up on the launchpad, 90% of the class was executed for treason.

>> No.1058699

>>1056032
Those oxides are what makes bismuth colorful
>>1058601
You ain't seen nothing yet, some crystals look like little spike balls from videogames