Abstract: A system for use in leaching a plurality of polycrystalline diamond cutter elements includes a plurality of leaching receptacles having a first and a second cavity, the second cavity being arranged to receive a volume of liquid acid leaching mixture. A plurality of removable fixtures, each being adapted to hold an individual cutter element to be leached, are provided and the first cavity of each leaching receptacle is adapted to receive a respective one of said fixtures. A plurality of seal members are positionable in a recess in a respective one of said fixtures and arranged to extend around the respective cutter element. The leaching receptacle are adapted to interconnect with a respective one of said fixtures holding a respective cutter element to form a closed system, with the cutter element in the respective fixture forming a lid to seal the respective leaching receptacle with the respective fixture.

Abstract: A method for leaching a plurality of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutter elements is disclosed as providing a leaching receptacle for each PCD cutter element, introducing a volume of liquid acid leaching mixture into each leaching receptacle, attaching each PCD cutter element to a respective fixture, applying a seal member around each PCD cutter element, suspending the PCD cutter elements above the acid leaching mixtures in the respective leaching receptacles, sealing each leaching receptacle to provide a plurality of closed systems, elevating the temperature of the liquid acid leaching mixture in each leaching receptacle to above ambient conditions to transition at least some of the liquid acid leaching mixture to acid vapour(s) and exposing the PCD cutter elements to the acid vapour(s) to leach the PCD cutter elements.

Abstract: A method for leaching a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutter element includes providing a leaching receptacle, introducing a volume of liquid acid leaching mixture into the leach ing receptacle, attaching the PCD cutter element to a fixture, applying a seal member around the PCD cutter element, locating the fixture with the PCD cutter element attached in the leaching receptacle to suspend the PCD cutter element above the acid leaching mixture, sealing the leaching receptacle to provide a closed system, elevating the temperature of the liquid acid leaching mixture to above ambient conditions to transition at least some of the liquid acid leaching mixture to acid vapour(s) and exposing the PCD cutter element to the acid vapour(s) to leach the PCD cutter element.

Abstract: A method for leaching a polycrystalline diamond cutter element is disclosed as providing a leaching receptacle having a first cavity and a second cavity therein. A volume of liquid acid leaching mixture is introduced into the second cavity. The PCD cutter element is attached to a fixture and a seal member is positioned around a portion of the PCD cutter element and located in a recess in the fixture. The PCD cutter element is located in the second cavity. The fixture is connected to the leaching receptacle, compressing the seal member against and/or between the cutter and the leaching receptacle to form a closed system with the PCD cutter to be leached in the fixture forming a lid. The temperature of the liquid acid leaching mixture is elevated to above ambient conditions to leach at least a portion of the PCD cutter element.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in leaching a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutter element is disclosed and includes a leaching receptacle having a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity extending from a first end of the leaching receptacle to a first open end of the second cavity, the second cavity extending from the first open end to a second end and being arranged to receive a volume of liquid acid leaching mixture. A removable fixture is adapted to hold the PCD cutter element to be leached. A seal member is positionable adjacent the first open end of the second cavity and arranged to extend around the PCD cutter element. The leaching receptacle and the fixture holding the PCD cutter are adapted to interconnect to form a closed system with the PCD cutter to be leached in the fixture forming a lid to close and seal the apparatus.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of making a shaped tool component from a precursor sintered body comprising polycrystalline diamond (PCD). The sintered body has a PCD table joined to a substrate, and the PCD table varies in depth. The resulting shaped tool component thus also has a PCD layer with varying depth. A method of making a shaped tool component comprising polycrystalline diamond (PCD), comprising the steps: h. Adding a diamond feed stock to a refractory cup; i. Adding a p re-shaped cemented carbide body to the refractory cup adjacent the diamond feed stock; j. Compacting the diamond feed stock and cemented carbide body to form a green body; k. Sintering the green body at a temperature between 1400° C. to 2100° C. and at a pressure of at least 7 GPa, for at least 30 seconds to form a sintered PCD precursor body that comprises a PCD table sinter-joined to the cemented carbide substrate at an interface.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of making a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) body comprising a PCD table with a height of at least 10 mm.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of making a shaped tool component from a precursor sintered body comprising polycrystalline diamond (PCD). The sintered body has a PCD table joined to a substrate, and the PCD table varies in depth. The resulting shaped tool component thus also has a PCD layer with varying depth. A method of making a shaped tool component comprising polycrystalline diamond (PCD), comprising the steps: h. Adding a diamond feed stock to a refractory cup; i. Adding a p re-shaped cemented carbide body to the refractory cup adjacent the diamond feed stock; j. Compacting the diamond feed stock and cemented carbide body to form a green body; k. Sintering the green body at a temperature between 1400° C. to 2100° C.