Abstract: A method of modifying surfaces of diamond particles comprises forming spinodal alloy coatings over discrete diamond particles, thermally treating the spinodal alloy coatings to form modified coatings each independently exhibiting a reactive metal phase and a substantially non-reactive metal phase, and etching surfaces of the discrete diamond particles with at least one reactive metal of the reactive metal phase of the modified coatings. Diamond particles and earth-boring tools are also described.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact includes a plurality of diamond grains of micron size, submicron size, or both, and a plurality of diamond nanoparticles disposed in interstitial spaces between the plurality of diamond grains. A method of forming a polycrystalline compact includes combining a plurality of micron and/or submicron-sized diamond grains and a plurality of diamond nanoparticles to form a mixture and sintering the mixture in a presence of a carburized binder to form a polycrystalline hard material having a plurality of inter-bonded diamond grains and diamond nanoparticles. Cutting elements including a polycrystalline compact and earth-boring tools bearing such compacts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of modifying surfaces of diamond particles comprises forming spinodal alloy coatings over discrete diamond particles, thermally treating the spinodal alloy coatings to form modified coatings each independently exhibiting a reactive metal phase and a substantially non-reactive metal phase, and etching surfaces of the discrete diamond particles with at least one reactive metal of the reactive metal phase of the modified coatings. Diamond particles and earth-boring tools are also described.

Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools may include a superhard, polycrystalline material and a substrate adjacent to and secured to the superhard, polycrystalline material at an interface. The substrate may include a first region exhibiting a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second region exhibiting a second, different coefficient of thermal expansion. The first region may be spaced from the superhard, polycrystalline material. The second region may extend from laterally adjacent to at least a portion of the first region to longitudinally between the first region and the superhard, polycrystalline material.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline diamond compact comprises providing metallized diamond particles including diamond particles including nanograins of a sweep catalyst secured thereto, the sweep catalyst comprising at least one of tungsten and tungsten carbide and constituting between about 0.01 weight percent and about 1.0 weight percent of the metallized diamond particles and placing the metallized diamond particles and a metal solvent catalyst in a container. The metallized diamond particles are subjected to a high-temperature, high-pressure process in the presence of the metal solvent catalyst to form a polycrystalline diamond material having inter-bonded diamond grains and nanograins of tungsten carbide, the nanograins of tungsten carbide covering less than about twenty percent of a surface area of the inter-bonded diamond grains. Polycrystalline diamond compacts and earth-boring tools including the polycrystalline diamond compacts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction has a body of PCD material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the PCD material. The body also has a first region substantially free of a solvent/catalyzing material which extends a depth from a working surface into the body of PCD material. A second region remote from the working surface includes solvent/catalyzing material in a plurality of the interstitial regions. A chamfer extends between the working surface and a peripheral side surface of the body of PCD material. The chamfer has a height which is the length along a plane perpendicular to the plane along which the working surface extends between the point of intersection of the chamfer with the working surface and the point of intersection of the chamfer and the peripheral side surface of the body of PCD material. The depth of the first region is greater than the height of the chamfer.

Abstract: A composite material comprising a plurality of hard particles surrounded by a matrix material comprising a plurality of nanoparticles. Earth boring tools including the composite material and methods of forming the composite material are also disclosed. A polycrystalline material having a catalyst material including nanoparticles in interstitial spaces between inter-bonded crystals of the polycrystalline material and methods of forming the polycrystalline material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of forming a polycrystalline table may involve disposing a plurality of particles comprising a superabrasive material, a substrate comprising a hard material, and a catalyst material in a mold. The plurality of particles may be partially sintered in the presence of the catalyst material to form a brown polycrystalline table having a first permeability attached to an end of the substrate. The substrate may be removed from the brown polycrystalline table and catalyst material may be removed from the brown polycrystalline table. The brown polycrystalline table may then be fully sintered to form a polycrystalline table having a reduced, second permeability. Intermediate structures formed during a process of attaching a polycrystalline table to a substrate may include a substantially fully leached brown polycrystalline table. The substantially fully leached brown polycrystalline table may include a plurality of interbonded grains of a superabrasive material.

Abstract: Method of fabricating polycrystalline diamond include functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine, combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a polymer to form a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles. A green body includes a plurality of diamond nanoparticles functionalized with fluorine, and a polymer material interspersed with the plurality of diamond nanoparticles. A method of forming cutting element includes functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine, and combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a polymer to form a mixture. The mixture is formed over a body, and the mixture and the body are subjected to HPHT conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles and secure the bonded diamond nanoparticles to the body.

Abstract: A composite material comprising a plurality of hard particles surrounded by a matrix material comprising a plurality of nanoparticles. Earth boring tools including the composite material and methods of forming the composite material are also disclosed. A polycrystalline material having a catalyst material including nanoparticles in interstitial spaces between inter-bonded crystals of the polycrystalline material and methods of forming the polycrystalline material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polycrystalline elements include a substrate and a polycrystalline table attached to an end of the substrate. The polycrystalline table includes a first region of superabrasive material having a first permeability and at least a second region of superabrasive material having a second, lesser permeability, the at least a second region being interposed between the substrate and the first region. Methods of forming a polycrystalline element involve attaching a polycrystalline table including a first region of superabrasive material having a first permeability and at least a second region of superabrasive material having a second, lesser permeability to an end of a substrate, the at least a second region being interposed between the first region and the substrate. Catalyst material is removed from at least the first region of the polycrystalline table.

Abstract: Polycrystalline compact tables for cutting elements include regions of grains of super hard material. One region of grains (“first grains”) and another region of grains (“second grains”) have different properties, such as different average grain sizes, different super hard material volume densities, or both. The region of first grains and the region of second grains adjoin one another at grain interfaces that may include a curved portion in a vertical cross-section of the table. In some embodiments, discrete regions of the first grains may be vertically disposed between discrete regions of the second grains. As such, the tables have ordered grain regions of different properties that may inhibit delamination and crack propagation through the table when used in conjunction with a cutting element. Methods of forming the tables include forming the regions and subjecting the grains to a high-pressure, high-temperature process to sinter the grains.

Abstract: Sensor-enabled cutting elements for an earth-boring drilling tool may comprise a substrate base, and a cutting tip at an end of the substrate base. The cutting tip may comprise a tapered surface extending from the substrate base and tapering to an apex of the cutting tip, and a sensor coupled with the cutting tip. The sensor may be configured to obtain data relating to at least one parameter related to at least one of a drilling condition, a wellbore condition, a formation condition, and a condition of the earth-boring drilling tool. The sensor-enabled cutting elements may be included on at least one of an earth-boring drill bit, a drilling tool, a bottom-hole assembly, and a drill string.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating polycrystalline diamond include subjecting a particle mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular diamond-to-diamond bonds. Before being subjected to HPHT conditions, the particle mixture includes a plurality of non-diamond nanoparticles, diamond nanoparticles, and diamond grit. The non-diamond nanoparticles includes carbon-free cores and at least one functional group attached to the cores. Cutting elements for use in an earth-boring tool include a polycrystalline diamond material formed by such processes. Earth-boring tools include such cutting elements.

Abstract: Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts include subjecting a plurality of grains of hard material interspersed with a catalyst material to high-temperature and high-pressure conditions to form a polycrystalline material having intergranular bonds and interstitial spaces between adjacent grains of the hard material. The catalyst material is disposed in at least some of the interstitial spaces in the polycrystalline material. The methods further comprise substantially removing the catalyst material from the interstitial spaces in at least a portion of the polycrystalline material to form an at least partially leached polycrystalline compact; and removing a portion of the polycrystalline material from which the catalyst material has been substantially removed from the at least partially leached polycrystalline compact. The polycrystalline cutting elements may be secured to a bit body of an earth-boring tool.

Abstract: A polycrystalline compact comprises a plurality of diamond grains of micron size, submicron size, or both, and a plurality of crushed diamond nanoparticles disposed in interstitial spaces between the plurality of diamond grains. A method of forming a polycrystalline compact comprises combining a plurality of micron and/or submicron-sized diamond grains and a plurality of crushed diamond nanoparticles to form a mixture and sintering the mixture in a presence of a binder to form a polycrystalline hard material comprising a plurality of inter-bonded diamond grains and diamond nanoparticles. Cutting elements comprising a polycrystalline compact and earth-boring tools bearing such compacts are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements include leached and un-leached regions. The leached region may be or include a leached annular region. An inner boundary of the leached annular region remote from a side surface of the polycrystalline diamond may have a non-linear profile in a plane extending through the PDC cutting element along a longitudinal axis of the cutting element. Methods of forming PDC cutting elements include configuring polycrystalline diamond of a PDC cutting element to have such a leached annular region with a non-linear profile. Earth-boring tools may be formed that include such PDC cutting elements.

Abstract: Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts include subjecting a plurality of grains of hard material interspersed with a catalyst material to high-temperature and high-pressure conditions to form a polycrystalline material having intergranular bonds and interstitial spaces between adjacent grains of the hard material. The catalyst material is disposed in at least some of the interstitial spaces in the polycrystalline material. The methods further comprise substantially removing the catalyst material from the interstitial spaces in at least a portion of the polycrystalline material to form an at least partially leached polycrystalline compact; and removing a portion of the polycrystalline material from which the catalyst material has been substantially removed from the at least partially leached polycrystalline compact. The polycrystalline cutting elements may be secured to a bit body of an earth-boring tool.

Abstract: An abrasive article includes a polycrystalline material comprising abrasive grains and a filler material selected from the group of materials consisting of tungstate, molybdate, vanadate, and a combination thereof. Earth-boring tools comprise a bit body and a cutting element carried by the bit body. The cutting element comprises a polycrystalline material comprising abrasive grains, a catalyst material, and a filler material selected from the group of materials consisting of tungstate, molybdate, vanadate, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include directing at least one energy beam at a surface of a volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material including interstitial material disposed in regions between inter-bonded grains of polycrystalline superabrasive material. The method includes ablating the interstitial material with the at least one energy beam such that at least a portion of the interstitial material is removed from a first region of the volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material without any substantial degradation of the inter-bonded grains of superabrasive material or of bonds thereof in the first region.