Some thing tells me this is not the news we were expecting. I would think there is more to come, Iff'in you know what I mean...........................................
Rhombic Accepts Proposal to Develop Quality Diamond Coloration Using Its Patented Forced Diffusion Process
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 1999-- Rhombic Corporation (OTC BB:NUKE) announces that a third proposal has been accepted from the University of Missouri at Columbia that uses the company's "Forced Diffusion" technology to produce a quality line of colored diamonds for the rapidly growing high-end accessory market.
The "Forced Diffusion" process will be used to change ordinary colorless white diamonds into beautiful and valued shades of pink, orange, blue, and green and possibly the very rare red. The color changes to these diamonds will be virtually undetectable from natural colored diamonds. Colored diamonds, known as fancies, are valued for their depth of color, just as white diamonds are valued for their lack of color.
The company's initial 1996 experimental work in altering color in diamonds was successful in producing diamonds in a color range of orange to carnation. In the same year the figure for annual retail sales of colored gemstone jewelry was estimated at $10 billion while the world jewelry market is estimated to be between $50 and $60 billion according to Cheryl Kremkow, Director of International Colored Gemstone association Gembureau. Plans for implementation and development of the new project are scheduled to commence on September 1, 1999.
Since the color change will be used to enhance natural diamonds, the "Forced Diffusion" process will produce colored diamonds with the same properties; physical, optical, chemical, brilliance, and fire of a natural diamond unlike moissanite or cubic zirconia that are only simulants containing a different chemistry, different optical properties, etc.
According to Alex Grizenko, president of Ultimate Created Diamonds (UCD) who is noted to be a major player in the marketing of synthetic Russian colored diamonds, prices for artificially produced colored diamonds (real carbon, not cubic zirconium) are being sold in the following range of prices.
Yellows $600 to $3,000, Blues $2,000 to $5,000, Red, Oranges, Pinks $1,000 to $5,000, Color change $2,000 to $4,000 (in recent interviews by Robert Gents on the Diamond Trade Network).
Rhombic Corporation is also pleased to report that work at the University has begun as of July 1, 1999 on the purification of silicon carbide (SIC) and gallium nitride (GAN) wafers using "Forced Diffusion". The wafers, used by industry in large quantities, will be cleansed of the natural contaminates carbon, silicon and oxygen, and then reintroduced to industry as longer lifespan wafers with greater effectiveness.
Samples of both SIC and GAN are now being treated in preparation for work to be done in commercial quantities. Rhombic's business focus is to penetrate the existing $7 billion wafer market with a purified wafer line.
As previously announced, Rhombic Corporation will be working closely with the University of Missouri in a joint venture research plan to develop doped diamond electrodes and undoped diamond film for the hydrogen fuel cell market. The doped diamond electrodes will be non-corrosive with the unique feature of having excellent thermal, chemical, and electrical conductive properties. Electrodes developed using boron doped diamond film will add efficiency to hydrogen fuel cells now being produced for automobiles, buses, and trucks. Work on this project also is expected to begin on September 1, 1999.
Rhombic management is currently reviewing the following future "Forced Diffusion" projects.
(1) Production of N-type diamond semiconductor material for the computer, satellite, and communications markets.
(2) The doping of diamond films for use in small solid state monitor/detectors that would be portable and useful in monitoring nuclear power plants and waste sites.
CONTACT:
Rhombic Corporation
Public Relations, 888/821-6607, 604/421-5543
www.rhombic.com
KEYWORD: INTERNATIONAL CANADA
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