Abstract: A free standing PCD body comprises a PCD material formed of combination of intergrown diamond grains forming a diamond network and an interpenetrating metallic network, the PCD body not being attached to a second body or substrate formed of a different material. The diamond network is formed of diamond grains having a plurality of grain sizes, and comprises a grain size distribution having an average diamond grain size, wherein the largest component of the diamond grain size distribution is no greater than three times the average diamond grain size. The PCD material forming the free standing PCD body is homogeneous, such that the PCD body is spatially constant and invariant with respect to diamond network to metallic network volume ratio. The homogeneity is measured at a scale greater than ten times the average grain size and spans the dimension of the PCD body. The PCD material is also macroscopically residual stress free at said scale.

Abstract: A composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 ?m.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polycrystalline abrasive construction comprises providing a plurality of particles of a superhard material, the particles coated with a first matrix precursor material, providing a plurality of second matrix precursor particles having an average size less than 2 micron, the second matrix precursor particles including a liquid phase sintering agent, mixing together the plurality of particles of superhard material with particles of the second matrix precursor material and consolidating and sintering the particles of superhard material and the particles of matrix precursor material. A polycrystalline abrasive construction comprises a particles of a superhard material dispersed in a matrix material comprising a material derived from a liquid phase sintering aid and chemical barrier particles having an average particle size of less than 100 nm dispersed in the matrix.

Abstract: A method of fabricating fluorescent diamond particles, and diamond particles fabricated by the method. The method comprises mounting a diamond body on a heat sink, the diamond body comprising a plurality of diamond particles having a particle size of no more than 250 micrometres and bound together in the diamond body by a binder. The diamond body is irradiated to generate vacancy defects in the diamond particles. The binder is then removed to separate the diamond body into diamond particles.

Abstract: A composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 ?m.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction has a body of polycrystalline superhard material having a cutting face and a substrate bonded to the body of polycrystalline superhard material along an interface. The substrate has a substrate body and a first end surface forming the interface, the first end surface of the substrate having a projection extending from the body of the substrate into the body of superhard material towards the cutting face. The projection has an outer peripheral surface around which the body of polycrystalline superhard material extends. The body of polycrystalline superhard material has a thickness from the cutting face along the peripheral side edge to the interface with the substrate of at least around 4 mm and at least a portion of the projection has a thickness measured in a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of the construction of at least around 4 mm.

Abstract: A PCD structure comprises a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the second region being bonded to the first region by intergrowth of diamond grains; the first region comprising a plurality of alternating strata or layers, each stratum or layer having a thickness in the range of around 5 to 300 microns. The second region comprises a plurality of strata or layers, one or more strata or layers in the second region having a thickness greater than the thicknesses of the individual strata or layers in the first region. The alternating layers or strata in the first region comprise first layers or strata alternating with second layers or strata, the first layers or strata being in a state of residual compressive stress and the second layers or strata being in a state of residual tensile stress.

Abstract: A method of forming a super hard PCD construction comprises forming an aggregated mass comprising a catalyst/solvent material for diamond, and one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, forming a pre-sinter assembly comprising the aggregated mass and a plurality of diamond grains and treating the pre-sinter assembly at UHPT to form a PCD construction. Residual catalyst/solvent and one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, in non-carbide form at least partially fill a plurality of interstitial regions in the PCD. There is also disclosed a superhard PCD construction comprising a body of PCD material formed of a mass of diamond grains and a non-superhard phase at least partially filling a plurality of interstitial regions, wherein the non-superhard phase comprises one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, in the non-carbide form.

Abstract: A polycrystalline superhard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material, and a substrate of hard material bonded thereto along an interface. The body of polycrystalline superhard material comprises a first region abutting the substrate along the interface and a second region bonded to the first region. The second region defines a rake face, a cutting edge, a chamfer and at least a part of a flank face, the cutting edge being defined by an edge of the flank face joined to the chamfer, the chamfer extending between the cutting edge and the rake face. The height of the chamfer in a plane parallel to the plane through which the longitudinal axis of the polycrystalline superhard construction extends is less than the thickness of the second region. The first region comprises a material having coarser grains than the second region. There is also disclosed a method of making the same.

Abstract: A cutter element for rock removal comprises a free standing PCD body (801, 1801) comprising one or more physical volumes (1702, 1703), the PCD material being invariant in terms of the diamond and metal network compositional ratio and metal elemental composition such that each physical volume does not differ to any other physical volume with respect to diamond and metal network compositional ratio and metal elemental composition. The PCD body has a functional working volume (803) forming in use the region which comes into contact with the rock. A functional support volume (804) extant in use and having a proximal free surface extends from the functional working volume.

Abstract: A method of making a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising placing an aggregated mass of grains of superhard material into a canister, placing a ceramic layer either in direct contact with the aggregated mass of grains of superhard material or in indirect contact therewith, the ceramic layer being spaced from the grains by an interlayer of material when present, the ceramic layer having a surface with surface topology, the surface topology imprinting a pattern in the aggregated mass of grains of superhard material complementary to the surface topology, the ceramic material and the material of the interlayer being such that they do not react chemically with the superhard material and/or a sinter catalyst material for the grains of superhard material. The aggregated mass of grains of superhard material and ceramic layer are subjected to a pressure of greater than 5.

Abstract: A method of making a cutter structure (1) comprises placing a pre-formed body (4) of hard material having a surface topography in a canister, placing an aggregated mass of grains of superhard material (2) over said surface topography, placing a punch (10) in contact with the superhard material (2), the punch (10) having a surface with a surface topography inverse to that of the hard material body to imprint a pattern in the superhard material (2) complementary to the surface topography of the punch (10). The surface of the punch (10) contacting the superhard material (2) being formed of a ceramic material that does not react chemically with the superhard material (12) and/or a sinter catalyst for the superhard material (2).

Abstract: A method of providing well-shaped diamond grains of at most about 100 microns in size. The method includes providing a synthesis assembly comprising a source of carbon material, a plurality of seed grains on which diamond material can crystallize, and solvent-catalyst material for promoting the crystallization of the diamond grains, and subjecting the synthesis assembly to a condition for growing the diamond grains. The synthesis condition is maintained long enough for at least about half of the carbon material to be converted into the diamond grains.

Abstract: A cutter element for rock removal comprises a free standing PCD body (801, 1801) comprising two or more physical volumes (1702, 1703) within the boundary of the PCD body, wherein adjacent physical volumes differ in one or more of diamond and metal network compositional ratio, metal elemental composition and diamond grain size distribution, a functional working volume (803) distal to the PCD body, the functional working volume forming in use a region which comes into contact with the rock. A functional support volume (804) extant in use and having a proximal free surface extends from the functional working volume. The PCD body has a shape having an aspect ratio such that the ratio of the length (ae) of the longest edge of the circumscribing rectangular parallelepiped of the overall PCD body to the largest width (ad) of the smallest rectangular face from which the functional working volume extends of the circumscribing rectangular parallelepiped, is greater than or equal to 1.

Abstract: A cutter comprises a superhard construction, the cutter having a cutting edge defined by a rake face, and a flank extending therefrom. The cutter also has first and second regions, the first region abutting the second region along a boundary, the first region having a different material composition from the second region. At least the second region comprises superhard material, the material of the first region has a different coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from the material of the second region. The second region extends around the peripheral edge of the first region defined by the boundary to form a collar therearound, the first region and/or the second region extending to and/or forming at least a part of the rake face.

Abstract: A tip (20) for a rotary machine tool comprising a superhard structure (12) joined to a cemented carbide substrate 14 by means of at least one intermediate layer (161, 62, 163) disposed between the superhard structure (12) and the cemented carbide substrate (14), the intermediate layer or layers (161, 162, 163) comprising grains of superhard material and grains of a metal carbide material dispersed in a metal binder material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing polycrystalline abrasive elements consisting of micron, sub-micron or nano-sized ultrahard abrasives dispersed in micron, sub-micron or nano-sized matrix materials. A plurality of ultrahard abrasive particles having vitreophilic surfaces are coated with a matrix precursor material in a refined colloidal process and then treated to render them suitable for sintering. The matrix precursor material can be converted to an oxide, nitride, carbide, oxynitride, oxycarbide, or carbonitride, or an elemental form thereof. The coated ultrahard abrasive particles are consolidated and sintered at a pressure and temperature at which they are crystallographically or thermodynamically stable.

Abstract: A tool component comprising a wear part covered at least in part by a connection member, the wear part having a specified hardness and the connection member being a metal or alloy, and the wear part comprising a surface that includes one or more depressions or projections therefrom, and the connection member having been pressed against that surface so that at least the surface of the connection member that faces the wear part surface follows the profile of the wear part, whereby relative movement between the wear part and connection member is substantially prevented. The metal or alloy connection member may be readily attached to a tool body for example by brazing of the like. The wear part may comprise a material that is not readily brazeable, for example a ceramic material or a cermet or a superhard material or a composite of such materials.

Abstract: A free standing PCD body comprises a PCD material formed of combination of intergrown diamond grains forming a diamond network and an interpenetrating metallic network, the PCD body not being attached to a second body or substrate formed of a different material. The diamond network is formed of diamond grains having a plurality of grain sizes, and comprises a grain size distribution having an average diamond grain size, wherein the largest component of the diamond grain size distribution is no greater than three times the average diamond grain size. The PCD material forming the free standing PCD body is homogeneous, such that the PCD body is spatially constant and invariant with respect to diamond network to metallic network volume ratio. The homogeneity is measured at a scale greater than ten times the average grain size and spans the dimension of the PCD body. The PCD material is also macroscopically residual stress free at said scale.

Abstract: A method of making a construction comprising a polycrystalline super-hard structure joined to a side surface of an elongate substrate. The method includes: providing a vessel configured for an ultra-high pressure, high temperature furnace, the vessel having an elongate cavity for containing a pre-sinter assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the cavity having opposite ends connected by a cavity wall. The pre-sinter assembly comprises the substrate, an aggregation comprising a plurality of super-hard grains arranged over at least a part of the side surface of the substrate, and a spacer structure configured for spacing the substrate apart from the cavity wall. The spacer structure comprises material having a Young's modulus of at least 300 GPa.