Abstract: A needle for a choke valve assembly includes a base portion formed from a first non-superhard material and a tip portion formed from a superhard material. The needle also includes a brazed connection coupling the tip portion to the base portion. The brazed connection includes an insert formed from a second non-superhard material, in which the second non-superhard material is harder than the first non-superhard material and softer than the superhard material. In addition, the brazed connection includes a shim disposed between the insert and the base portion, a first layer of brazing material disposed between the base portion and the shim, and a second layer of brazing material disposed between the shim and the insert.

Abstract: Luminescent diamond is made by subjecting a volume of diamond grains to high-pressure/high-temperature conditions with or without a catalyst to cause the grains to undergo plastic deformation to produce nitrogen vacancy defects in the diamond grains, increasing the luminescent activity/intensity of the resulting diamond material. The consolidated diamond material may be further treated to further increase luminescent activity/intensity, which treatment may comprise reducing the consolidated diamond material to diamond particles, heat treatment in vacuum, and air heat treatment, which reducing process further increases luminescent activity/intensity. The resulting luminescent diamond particles display a level of luminescence intensity greater than that of conventional luminescent nanodiamond, and may be functionalized for use in biological applications.

Abstract: Luminescent diamond is made by subjecting a volume of diamond grains to high-pressure/high-temperature conditions with or without a catalyst or pressure transfer media to cause the grains to undergo plastic deformation to produce internal vacancy defects, increasing the luminescent activity/intensity of the resulting diamond material. The luminescent material is then subjected to further treatment to create quantum dots on the surface of the diamond particles. Quantum dot formation can include placing the diamond particles in liquid and subjecting the particles to laser pulses. The consolidated diamond material may be treated to further increase luminescent activity/intensity including reducing the consolidated diamond material to diamond particles, heat treatment in vacuum, and/or air heat treatment. The resulting luminescent diamond particles display a level of luminescence intensity greater than that of conventional luminescent nanodiamond, and may be functionalized for use in biological applications.

Abstract: A device may include a bit body with a rotational axis in a longitudinal direction. A device may include at least one blade coupled to the bit body with an outward surface. A device may include a rolling cutting element positioned on the outward surface. A device may include a fixed cutting element positioned with a fixed cutting profile at least partially rotationally overlapping with a rolling cutting profile of the rolling cutting element.

Abstract: Luminescent diamond is made subjecting a volume of diamond grains and catalyst material to high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. A pressure apparatus and/or a pressure cell is specially configured to impose a differential or asymmetric pressure onto the diamond volume during the HPHT conditions. This subjects the diamond grains to differential strain that increases the degree of plastic deformation of the diamond grains to increase the formation of nitrogen vacancy centers. Diamond pellets formed by such process and subjected to differential pressure can have an aspect ratio, or an aspect ratio change, of greater than one. The temperature of the HPHT process is 1.800° C. or less to facilitate desired nitrogen migration to preferentially promote formation of NV centers over NVN and N3 centers in the diamond pellets to provide a degree of luminescence in a red wavelength spectrum greater than diamond pellets formed by some other HPHT processes.

Abstract: A needle for a choke valve assembly includes a base portion formed from a first non-superhard material and a tip portion formed from a superhard material. The needle also includes a brazed connection coupling the tip portion to the base portion. The brazed connection includes an insert formed from a second non-superhard material, in which the second non-superhard material is harder than the first non-superhard material and softer than the superhard material. In addition, the brazed connection includes a shim disposed between the insert and the base portion, a first layer of brazing material disposed between the base portion and the shim, and a second layer of brazing material disposed between the shim and the insert.

Abstract: A needle for a choke valve assembly includes a base portion formed from a first non-superhard material and a tip portion formed from a superhard material. The needle also includes a brazed connection coupling the tip portion to the base portion. The brazed connection includes an insert formed from a second non-superhard material, in which the second non-superhard material is harder than the first non-superhard material and softer than the superhard material. In addition, the brazed connection includes a shim disposed between the insert and the base portion, a first layer of brazing material disposed between the base portion and the shim, and a second layer of brazing material disposed between the shim and the insert.

Abstract: Luminescent diamond is made subjecting a volume of diamond grains and catalyst material to high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. A pressure apparatus and/or a pressure cell is specially configured to impose a differential or asymmetric pressure onto the diamond volume during the HPHT conditions. This subjects the diamond grains to differential strain that increases the degree of plastic deformation of the diamond grains to increase the formation of nitrogen vacancy centers. Diamond pellets formed by such process and subjected to differential pressure can have an aspect ratio, or an aspect ratio change, of greater than one. The temperature of the HPHT process is 1.800° C. or less to facilitate desired nitrogen migration to preferentially promote formation of NV centers over NVN and N3 centers in the diamond pellets to provide a degree of luminescence in a red wavelength spectrum greater than diamond pellets formed by some other HPHT processes.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a body, a concave cutting face formed at a first end of the body, the cutting face including one or more cutting ridges adjacent a cutting tip that are raised above the concavity of the cutting face and having a length that is at least about 10% of a diameter of the cutting face. An edge is formed around a perimeter of the cutting face, and the edge has an edge angle defined between a tangent of the cutting face and a cylindrical side surface of the body, the edge angle being acute at the cutting tip and varying around the perimeter of the cutting face.

Abstract: A tool for removing material includes a body, an ultrahard insert, and a matrix. The body has a forward portion, an opposing rear portion, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The ultrahard insert includes an ultrahard material, and the ultrahard insert is mounted to and contacts the body proximate the forward portion. The matrix contacts the body and the ultrahard insert. The matrix is mechanically interlocked with the body and at least a portion of the matrix is positioned circumferentially around at least a portion of the forward portion of the body.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline diamond body includes mixing a sintering agent with diamond powder to form a premixed layer, the sintering agent including at least one alkaline earth metal carbonate; forming an infiltration layer adjacent to the premixed layer, the infiltration layer including an infiltrant material including at least one alkaline earth metal carbonate; and subjecting the premixed layer and the infiltration layer to high pressure high temperature conditions.

Abstract: Luminescent diamond is made by subjecting a volume of diamond grains to high-pressure/high-temperature conditions with or without a catalyst or pressure transfer media to cause the grains to undergo plastic deformation to produce nitrogen vacancy defects, increasing the luminescent activity/intensity of the resulting diamond material. The consolidated diamond material may be further treated to further increase luminescent activity/intensity including reducing the consolidated diamond material to diamond particles, heat treatment in vacuum, and/or air heat treatment. The resulting luminescent diamond particles display a level of luminescence intensity greater than that of conventional luminescent nanodiamond, and may be functionalized for use in biological applications.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a body, a concave cutting face formed at a first end of the body, the cutting face including one or more cutting ridges adjacent a cutting tip that are raised above the concavity of the cutting face and having a length that is at least about 10% of a diameter of the cutting face. An edge is formed around a perimeter of the cutting face, and the edge has an edge angle defined between a tangent of the cutting face and a cylindrical side surface of the body, the edge angle being acute at the cutting tip and varying around the perimeter of the cutting face.

Abstract: A method of making a cutting element includes subjecting a mixture of diamond particles and a carbonate material to high-pressure high-temperature sintering conditions to form a sintered carbonate-polycrystalline diamond body having a diamond matrix of diamond grains bonded together and carbonates residing in the interstitial regions between the diamond grains, the carbonate material having a non-uniform distribution throughout the diamond matrix. The carbonate-polycrystalline diamond body is subjected to a controlled temperature, a controlled pressure condition or a combination thereof, to effect an at least partial decomposition of the carbonate material.

Abstract: Luminescent diamond is made by subjecting a volume of diamond grains to high-pressure/high-temperature conditions with or without a catalyst to cause the grains to undergo plastic deformation to produce nitrogen vacancy defects in the diamond grains, increasing the luminescent activity/intensity of the resulting diamond material. The consolidated diamond material may be further treated to further increase luminescent activity/intensity, which treatment may comprise reducing the consolidated diamond material to diamond particles, heat treatment in vacuum, and air heat treatment, which reducing process further increases luminescent activity/intensity. The resulting luminescent diamond particles display a level of luminescence intensity greater than that of conventional luminescent nanodiamond, and may be functionalized for use in biological applications.

Abstract: A tool for removing material includes a body, an ultrahard insert, and a matrix. The body has a forward portion, an opposing rear portion, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The ultrahard insert includes an ultrahard material, and the ultrahard insert is mounted to and contacts the body proximate the forward portion. The matrix contacts the body and the ultrahard insert. The matrix is mechanically interlocked with the body and at least a portion of the matrix is positioned circumferentially around at least a portion of the forward portion of the body.

Abstract: A cutting element has an intercrystalline-bonded diamond body that includes an inner region and an outer surface that includes a working surface of the cutting element. The outer surface is treated, after formation of the intercrystalline-bonded diamond by high-pressure/high-temperature process, to have a level of surface compressive stress that is greater than a compressive stress of the inner region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cutting elements incorporating polycrystalline diamond bodies used for subterranean drilling applications, and more particularly, to polycrystalline diamond bodies having a high diamond content which are configured to provide improved properties of thermal stability and wear resistance, while maintaining a desired degree of impact resistance, when compared to prior polycrystalline diamond bodies. In various embodiments disclosed herein, a cutting element with high diamond content includes a modified PCD structure and/or a modified interface (between the PCD body and a substrate), to provide superior performance.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline diamond body includes mixing a sintering agent with diamond powder to form a premixed layer, the sintering agent including at least one alkaline earth metal carbonate; forming an infiltration layer adjacent to the premixed layer, the infiltration layer including an infiltrant material including at least one alkaline earth metal carbonate; and subjecting the premixed layer and the infiltration layer to high pressure high temperature conditions.

Abstract: Polycrystalline ultra-hard constructions comprise a polycrystalline ultra-hard material body and two or more support members attached to the body by braze material. The support members include a backside support member and a side support member. The side support member is a one- or two-piece construction, and is positioned circumferentially around and extends axially along the body or both the body and the backside support member such that a working surface of the body remains exposed. The support members can be configured to provide a mechanical attachment or interlocking attachment with the body or another support member. The braze materials used in the construction can be different and selected to enhance the attachment and/or reduce the creation of thermal stress within the construction during assembly. The support members can be selected having different thermal expansion characteristics that also operate to reduce the thermal stress during construction assembly.