Hi, everybody. Please, are there any difference between annealing and HPHT treatments in gemological context? Which are them, eventually? Many thanks, Marco
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:01 pm Posts: 1902 Location: Pine City, NY and Dothan, AL
Annealing is indeed used in metal working, but actually applies to any material heated and then slowly cooled. The only gem-related thing I know of is annealing Verneuil process ruby to relieve stress, but it's more common to split the boule to accomplish that.
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Excellent research, marcop. I still think there is a difference between HPHT and annealing. Skimming some of the articles, it seems that annealing is often referred to as LPHT.
Someone (hint hint) should call the GIA library and ask for their precise definition of both.
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
Isn't annealing just a process? If it is Gem or a metal, heat treatment to a specific tempature then to allow cooling at slow rate wether controlled rate or not. With metal it is common that it will be quenched in water not annealed. We all know what is most likely to happen if that were done with most gems. So good question whether annealing should be appropriate for gemstone heat treatment. I second the (hint, hint). I believe there is a difference between the terms HPHT and Annealing.
I'm a bit late for answering, but in regard of diamond treatments, annealing is a term used to refer to heat treatment subsequent to irradiation treatment, with the purpose of modifying the blue or green color that was initially obtained by irradiation.
It is not the same than HPHT treatment (which may also be refered to as HPHT annealing).
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