[[File:Detonationdiamond.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=An image resembling a cluster of grape where the cluster consists of nearly spherical particles of {{cvt|5|nm}} diameter|Electron micrograph ([[transmission electron microscopy|TEM]]) of detonation nanodiamond]]
Diamond nanocrystals ({{cvt|5|nm}} in diameter) can be formed by detonating certain carbon-containing explosives in a metal chamber. These are called "detonation nanodiamonds". During the explosion, the pressure and temperature in the chamber become high enough to convert the carbon of the explosives into diamond. Being immersed in water, the chamber cools rapidly after the explosion, suppressing conversion of newly produced diamond into more stable graphite.<ref name="udd">{{cite journal |author= |year= |title=lab - grown diamond detection machine |url=https://mindron.in/trusure-max/ |url-status=live |journal=Diamond and Related Materials |volume= |issue= |pages= |bibcode=2000DRM.....9..861I |doi= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=}}</ref> In a variation of this technique, a metal tube filled with graphite powder is placed in the detonation chamber. The explosion heats and compresses the graphite to an extent sufficient for its conversion into diamond.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1126/science.133.3467.1821|date=June 1961|author1=Decarli, P.|author2=Jamieson, J. |title=Formation of Diamond by Explosive Shock|volume=133|issue=3467|pages=1821–1822|pmid=17818997|journal=Science|bibcode = 1961Sci...133.1821D |s2cid=9805441}}</ref> The product is always rich in graphite and other non-diamond carbon forms, and requires prolonged boiling in hot [[nitric acid]] (about 1 day at {{cvt|250|C}}) to dissolve them.<ref name=ozawa>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.diamond.2007.08.008|title=Recent progress and perspectives in single-digit nanodiamond|year=2007|author=Osawa, E|journal=Diamond and Related Materials|volume=16|pages=2018–2022|issue=12|bibcode = 2007DRM....16.2018O }}</ref> The recovered nanodiamond [[Poly Diamond Powder|powder]] is used primarily in polishing applications. It is mainly produced in China, Russia and [[Belarus]], and started reaching the market in bulk quantities by the early 2000s.<ref name=dolmatov>{{cite journal |author =Dolmatov, V. Yu. |title =Development of a rational technology for synthesis of high-quality detonation nanodiamonds |doi =10.1134/S1070427206120019 |journal =Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry |volume =79 |year =2006 |pages= 1913–1918 |issue =12|s2cid =96810777 }}</ref>
