Abstract: A cubic boron nitride particle population having highly-etched surfaces and a high toughness index is produced by blending a reactive metal powder with a plurality of cubic boron nitride particles to form a blended mixture. The blended mixture is compressed to form a compressed mixture. The compressed mixture is subjected to a temperature and a pressure, where the temperature is controlled to cause etching of the plurality of cubic boron nitride particles by reaction of cubic boron nitride with the reactive metal powder, thereby forming a plurality of etched cubic boron nitride particles. Also, the temperature and pressure are controlled to cause boron nitride to remain in a cubic boron nitride phase. Afterwards, the plurality of etched cubic boron nitride particles is recovered from the compressed mixture to form the particle population. Preferably, the particle population contains no hexagonal boron nitride.

Abstract: A cubic boron nitride particle population having highly-etched surfaces and a high toughness index is produced by blending a reactive metal powder with a plurality of cubic boron nitride particles to form a blended mixture. The blended mixture is compressed to form a compressed mixture. The compressed mixture is subjected to a temperature and a pressure, where the temperature is controlled to cause etching of the plurality of cubic boron nitride particles by reaction of cubic boron nitride with the reactive metal powder, thereby forming a plurality of etched cubic boron nitride particles. Also, the temperature and pressure are controlled to cause boron nitride to remain in a cubic boron nitride phase. Afterwards, the plurality of etched cubic boron nitride particles is recovered from the compressed mixture to form the particle population. Preferably, the particle population contains no hexagonal boron nitride.

Abstract: Provided are a luminescent diamond material and method of producing the same. The method may include the steps of providing a catalyst selected from one or more of the group of cobalt, iron, manganese and nickel; providing an enhancer selected from one or more of the group of boron, germanium, phosphorous, silicon and tin; providing graphite; blending the catalyst, enhancer and graphite to form a homogenized blend; and subjecting the homogenized blend to a high temperature, high pressure process to form a luminescent diamond material having a plurality of diamond particles having a plurality of defect centers, wherein the luminescent diamond material luminesces at a wavelength of about 700 nm to about 950 nm and energy of about 1.77 eV to about 1.30 eV.