Abstract: The present invention relates to highly pure high performance polycrystalline diamond monolith, a method for manufacturing a single-crystal diamond, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A die or piston of a spark plasma sintering apparatus, wherein the die or piston is made from graphite and the outer surfaces of the die or piston are coated with a silicon carbide layer with a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres, the silicon carbide layer being further optionally coated with one or more other layer(s) made from a carbide other than silicon carbide chosen from hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide and titanium carbide, the other layer(s) each having a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres. A spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus comprising the die and two of the pistons, defining a sintering, densification or assembly chamber capable of receiving a powder to be sintered, a part to be densified, or parts to be assembled. A method of sintering a powder, densifying a part, or assembling two parts by means of a method of spark plasma sintering (SPS) in an oxidising atmosphere, using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of processing a superhard composite material (21) comprising a polycrystalline microstructure and a binder, said method comprising the following steps: contacting (200) a surface of said superhard composite material (21) with an absorbent material (30), and applying (300) an electric current to the superhard composite material (21), causing the binder to move from the superhard composite material (21) to the absorbent material (30) so as to create a continuous gradient (221) of binder content within the superhard composite material (21).

Abstract: A die or piston of a spark plasma sintering apparatus, wherein the die or piston is made from graphite and the outer surfaces of the die or piston are coated with a silicon carbide layer with a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres, the silicon carbide layer being further optionally coated with one or more other layer(s) made from a carbide other than silicon carbide chosen from hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide and titanium carbide, the other layer(s) each having a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres. A spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus comprising the die and two of the pistons, defining a sintering, densification or assembly chamber capable of receiving a powder to be sintered, a part to be densified, or parts to be assembled. A method of sintering a powder, densifying a part, or assembling two parts by means of a method of spark plasma sintering (SPS) in an oxidising atmosphere, using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus.

Abstract: A die or piston of a spark plasma sintering apparatus, wherein the die or piston is made from graphite and the outer surfaces of the die or piston are coated with a silicon carbide layer with a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres, the silicon carbide layer being further optionally coated with one or more other layer(s) made from a carbide other than silicon carbide chosen from hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide and titanium carbide, the other layer(s) each having a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres. A spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus comprising the die and two of the pistons, defining a sintering, densification or assembly chamber capable of receiving a powder to be sintered, a part to be densified, or parts to be assembled. A method of sintering a powder, densifying a part, or assembling two parts by means of a method of spark plasma sintering (SPS) in an oxidising atmosphere, using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for densifying materials or consolidating an assembly of materials wherein a single sintering step is carried out which consists of simultaneously applying, inside a chamber, a uniaxial force and a sintering temperature to the moistened material or the moistened assembly placed in this chamber, said force being applied by at least two pistons which can be moved towards each other inside said chamber, each piston having a housing for recovering the fluid discharged during sintering, the assembly consisting of said chamber and said pistons, and being sealed so that the sintering step is carried out entirely in a liquid medium or in a supercritical fluid medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a porous monolithic material from at least one powder, preferably mineral, the method including at least one step of low-temperature compression of a mixture based on powder and at least one solvent, preferably water. The materials produced by the method have improved mechanical properties compared to the prior art materials. The materials for medical application, such as hydroxyapatite, also have improved biocompatibility compared to the prior art materials. Also disclosed are materials produced by the method.

Abstract: A die or piston of a spark plasma sintering apparatus, wherein the die or piston is made from graphite and the outer surfaces of the die or piston are coated with a silicon carbide layer with a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres, the silicon carbide layer being further optionally coated with one or more other layer(s) made from a carbide other than silicon carbide chosen from hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide and titanium carbide, the other layer(s) each having a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres. A spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus comprising the die and two of the pistons, defining a sintering, densification or assembly chamber capable of receiving a powder to be sintered, a part to be densified, or parts to be assembled. A method of sintering a powder, densifying a part, or assembling two parts by means of a method of spark plasma sintering (SPS) in an oxidising atmosphere, using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a porous monolithic material from at least one powder, preferably mineral, the method including at least one step of low-temperature compression of a mixture based on powder and at least one solvent, preferably water. The materials produced by the method have improved mechanical properties compared to the prior art materials. The materials for medical application, such as hydroxyapatite, also have improved biocompatibility compared to the prior art materials. Also disclosed are materials produced by the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of extracting organic substances present in coral, which consists in treating the coral with a fluid or a mixture of fluids in the supercritical state without modifying the crystalline structure of said coral, at a temperature of less than 270° C. and at a pressure which is much higher than the critical pressure of said fluid or mixture of fluids, for example of the order of at least 3 times, and preferably at least 5 times said critical pressure. It also provides coral obtained by said method and bone substitutes fabricated from said coral.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of extracting organic substances present in coral, which consists in treating the coral with a fluid or a mixture of fluids in the supercritical state without modifying the crystalline structure of said coral, at a temperature of less than 270° C. and at a pressure which is much higher than the critical pressure of said fluid or mixture of fluids, for example of the order of at least 3 times, and preferably at least 5 times said critical pressure. It also provides coral obtained by said method and bone substitutes fabricated from said coral.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a diamond-coated composite material comprising deposition on a substrate of an intermediate layer and deposition on the intermediate layer of a diamond coating. The invention is characterised in that the intermediate layer is an expansible layer capable of producing chemical bonds with the substrate while chemically developing during deposition of the diamond coating. The invention is applicable to a large number of articles and components made of diamond composite.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for sterilising at least a sensitive active principle, characterised in that said at least active principle is treated at pressure levels ranging between 3000 and 6000 bars and at temperatures ranging between −30° C. and +25° C. The method consists in treating directly the active principle in the pulverulent medium wherein it is contained.

Abstract: Chemical transformation of complex chemical structures in a supercritical medium.The transformation of one or more chemical structures (20) involves at least one reduction reaction in a solvent (22) in the supercritical state.Application to the destruction of dangerous products, the treatment of industrial effluents and natural products and the modification of molecular structures.