Interesting Applications of Crystals

You are here: http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/first_light_case/horn/MSI/MSIcrystals/crystalsapps.html

Minerals and Materials in the 20th Century: A Review. Lots of data on various minerals. (US Geological Survey)

States of matter

How Quartz Watches Work from How Stuff Works

• Quartz crystal Smithsonian

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Crystal radios and here

• Galena crystal
• Build one!

Cubic Zirconia

• History and structures
• Structure diagram
• Industrial uses
• Gem use

Artificial diamonds

• How are they made?
• Laboratory made diamonds --- shows diagram of the high pressure piston used
• First artificial diamonds made in 1953, with 83,000 atmospheres pressure!
• New method (1999)
• New application
• Diamond abrasives

Liquid crystals: What are they? from How Stuff Works

• Background--- and here and here
• First report of liquid crystals was on cholesteryl compounds in 1888
• Forms of liquid crystals
• Images of liquid crystals and here
• Virtual textbook on liquid crystals
• Virtual experiments with liquid crystals

How LCD's work

How mood rings work (also how liquid crystal thermometers work)

Electronic Paper? (through AAAS ScienceNetLinks)

Zeolites

• What are they? microporous crystalline solids
• Uses ---and here
• Artificial soil
• Detergents
• Water softener
• "Cracking" gasoline Zeolite process inventor

More Links...

• Molecular Expressions: Exploring the world of optics and microscopy
• Science NetLinks Resource Index
• Women in Mining

Comments, requests, suggestions?