Abstract: There is provided a method for making diamond and CBN compacts which comprises positioning a catalyst metal disc and a barrier disc intermediate a diamond or CBN mass and a carbide mass. The catalyst metal disc is adjacent to the diamond or CBN layer and the barrier disc is intermediate said catalyst disc and the carbide mass. In order to prevent unregulated flow of metal bond from said carbide mass to the diamond layer and to prevent depletion of metal bond from the carbide near the carbide/diamond interface, the barrier disc has a surface area virtually identical to that of the carbide mass. Such arrangement of materials is subjected to temperature and pressure conditions within the diamond stable region but below the melting point of the barrier disc.