Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting element includes a substrate and a polycrystalline diamond compact. The substrate comprises a ceramic-metal composite material including hard ceramic particles in a metal matrix. The polycrystalline diamond compact includes interbonded diamond particles. Interstitial material disposed within interstitial spaces between the interbonded diamond particles comprises aluminum and at least one element of the ceramic-metal composite material of the substrate. A method of manufacturing such a PDC cutting element includes forming a mixture including diamond particles and particles of aluminum, and subjecting the mixture and a substrate to a high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) sintering process.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting element includes a substrate and a polycrystalline diamond compact. The substrate comprises a ceramic-metal composite material including hard ceramic particles in a metal matrix. The polycrystalline diamond compact includes interbonded diamond particles. Interstitial material disposed within interstitial spaces between the interbonded diamond particles comprises aluminum and at least one element of the ceramic-metal composite material of the substrate. A method of manufacturing such a PDC cutting element includes forming a mixture including diamond particles and particles of aluminum, and subjecting the mixture and a substrate to a high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) sintering process.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact includes diamond, cubic boron nitride, and at least one hard material, which may be aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and/or aluminum boride. The diamond, the cubic boron nitride, and the hard material are intermixed and interbonded to form a polycrystalline material. An earth-boring tool includes a bit body and a polycrystalline diamond compact secured to the bit body. Methods of fabricating polycrystalline compacts include forming a mixture comprising diamond, non-cubic boron nitride, and a metal or semimetal; encapsulating the mixture in a container; and subjecting the encapsulated mixture to high-pressure and high-temperature conditions to form a polycrystalline material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a diamond compact includes functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine; combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a non-group-VIII metal to form a particle mixture; and subjecting the particle mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles. A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a plurality of grains of diamond material; a plurality of diamond nanoparticles bonded to the plurality of grains of diamond material; and a non-group-VIII metal fluoride disposed within interstitial spaces between the grains of diamond material and the plurality of diamond nanoparticles. The cutting element is substantially free of a metal-solvent catalyst.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a diamond compact includes functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine; combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a non-group-VIII metal to form a particle mixture; and subjecting the particle mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles. A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a plurality of grains of diamond material; a plurality of diamond nanoparticles bonded to the plurality of grains of diamond material; and a non-group-VIII metal fluoride disposed within interstitial spaces between the grains of diamond material and the plurality of diamond nanoparticles. The cutting element is substantially free of a metal-solvent catalyst.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a diamond compact includes functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine; combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a non-group-VIII metal to form a particle mixture; and subjecting the particle mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles. A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a plurality of grains of diamond material; a plurality of diamond nanoparticles bonded to the plurality of grains of diamond material; and a non-group-VIII metal fluoride disposed within interstitial spaces between the grains of diamond material and the plurality of diamond nanoparticles. The cutting element is substantially free of a metal-solvent catalyst.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact includes diamond, cubic boron nitride, and at least one hard material, which may be aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and/or aluminum boride. The diamond, the cubic boron nitride, and the hard material are intermixed and interbonded to form a polycrystalline material. An earth-boring tool includes a bit body and a polycrystalline diamond compact secured to the bit body. Methods of fabricating polycrystalline compacts include forming a mixture comprising diamond, non-cubic boron nitride, and a metal or semimetal; encapsulating the mixture in a container; and subjecting the encapsulated mixture to high-pressure and high-temperature conditions to form a polycrystalline material.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact includes diamond grains, cubic boron nitride grains, and grains of an additional nitride, carbide, or boride. The additional nitride, carbide, or boride may be aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and/or aluminum boride. The diamond grains, the cubic boron nitride grains, and the grains of the additional nitride, carbide, or boride are intermixed and interbonded to form a polycrystalline material. An earth-boring tool includes a bit body and a polycrystalline diamond compact secured to the bit body. Methods of fabricating polycrystalline compacts include forming a mixture comprising diamond grains, non-cubic boron nitride grains, and a metal or semimetal; encapsulating the mixture in a container; and subjecting the encapsulated mixture to high-pressure and high-temperature conditions to form a polycrystalline material.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact includes diamond grains, cubic boron nitride grains, and grains of an additional nitride, carbide, or boride. The additional nitride, carbide, or boride may be aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and/or aluminum boride. The diamond grains, the cubic boron nitride grains, and the grains of the additional nitride, carbide, or boride are intermixed and interbonded to form a polycrystalline material. An earth-boring tool includes a bit body and such a polycrystalline diamond compact secured to the bit body. Methods of fabricating polycrystalline compacts include forming a mixture comprising diamond grains, non-cubic boron nitride grains, and a metal or semimetal; encapsulating the mixture in a container; and subjecting the encapsulated mixture to high-pressure and high-temperature conditions to form a polycrystalline material.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method of preparing a superhard material involves using mixtures of boron with carbon nitride of C3N4 stoichiometry as precursors. The C3N4 may be nanospherical. The result of chemical interaction of these components is the formation of new ternary compound B—C—N compound with a cubic structure. According to some embodiments, the composition is BCxN, where x is about 0.5. According to some embodiments, the composition is BCxN, where x is about 0.2. According to some embodiments, the compound has a unit cell parameter a=3.645±0.005 ?. According to some embodiments, the unit cell parameter a is about 3.655 ?. Synthesis is carried out under the conditions of thermodynamic stability of diamond at pressures higher that 6.0 GPa and temperatures above 1000° C. The starting components are taken according to the following ratio: boron—20-60 wt. %, C3N4—40-80 wt. %.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method of preparing a superhard material involves using mixtures of boron with carbon nitride of C3N4 stoichiometry as precursors. The C3N4 may be nanospherical. The result of chemical interaction of these components is the formation of new ternary compound B—C—N compound with a cubic structure. According to some embodiments, the composition is BCxN, where x is about 0.5. According to some embodiments, the composition is BCxN, where x is about 0.2. According to some embodiments, the compound has a unit cell parameter a=3.645±0.005 ?. According to some embodiments, the unit cell parameter a is about 3.655 A. Synthesis is carried out under the conditions of thermodynamic stability of diamond at pressures higher that 6.0 GPa and temperatures above 1000° C. The starting components are taken according to the following ratio: boron—20-60 wt. %, C3N4—40-80 wt. %.