Abstract
We enhanced the color of blue sapphires and rubies successfully by using a oxygen-propane torch flame annealing, which had not been employed so far. We confirmed that about 1 mm-thick de-coloring of the corundum samples were available with 60 minutes flame annealing through eye evaluation, color coordination characterization, and methylene iodide immersion observation. We also suggest that the color centers such as $[Fe_{Al}^{\cdot}]$ may transform into transparent $[Fe_{Al}^{x}],\;[Cr_{A1}^{x}]$ sites with $[V_o^']$ generation at the elevated temperature in oxygen-rich atmosphere by diffusion mechanism. Our results implied that the longer diffusion time and the higher oxygen partial pressure might lead to the better de-coloring enhancement in corundum gem stones.
