Abstract: A system for producing thermally stable cutting elements may include a heat source, a pressure vessel, at least one polycrystalline diamond body attached to a carbide substrate, and a leaching agent is disclosed, wherein the heat source includes a container comprising at least one receiving mechanism and at least one retention mechanism, and wherein the carbide substrate is disposed in the at least one receiving mechanism of the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent is disposed in the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent removes the catalyzing material from the interstitial spaces interposed between the diamond particles of the at least one polycrystalline diamond body, and wherein the at least one retention mechanism of the pressure vessel seals at least a portion of the carbide substrate into the at least one receiving mechanism and prevents the leaching agent from contacting at least a portion of the carbide substrate.

Abstract: A method for making a thermally stable cutting element may include forming an acid mixture containing two different acid species by combining an acid solution and at least one acid-forming compound, wherein the at least one acid-forming compound is provided in solid form, and wherein the at least one acid-forming compound produces an acid that is different than the acid solution; treating at least a portion of a sintered diamond body by placing the sintered diamond body in the acid mixture, wherein the sintered diamond body comprises: a matrix phase of bonded-together diamond grains; a plurality of interstitial regions dispersed within the matrix phase; and a metal material disposed within a plurality of the interstitial regions; wherein the treating removes the metal material from at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions; and removing the sintered diamond body from the acid mixture after a predetermined length of time, wherein at least a portion of the diamond body removed from the acid mi

Abstract: A method for making a thermally stable cutting element may include forming an acid mixture containing two different acid species by combining an acid solution and at least one acid-forming compound, wherein the at least one acid-forming compound is provided in solid form, and wherein the at least one acid-forming compound produces an acid that is different than the acid solution; treating at least a portion of a sintered diamond body by placing the sintered diamond body in the acid mixture, wherein the sintered diamond body comprises: a matrix phase of bonded-together diamond grains; a plurality of interstitial regions dispersed within the matrix phase; and a metal material disposed within a plurality of the interstitial regions; wherein the treating removes the metal material from at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions; and removing the sintered diamond body from the acid mixture after a predetermined length of time, wherein at least a portion of the diamond body removed from the acid mi

Abstract: A system for producing thermally stable cutting elements may include a heat source, a pressure vessel, at least one polycrystalline diamond body attached to a carbide substrate, and a leaching agent is disclosed, wherein the heat source includes a container comprising at least one receiving mechanism and at least one retention mechanism, and wherein the carbide substrate is disposed in the at least one receiving mechanism of the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent is disposed in the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent removes the catalyzing material from the interstitial spaces interposed between the diamond particles of the at least one polycrystalline diamond body, and wherein the at least one retention mechanism of the pressure vessel seals at least a portion of the carbide substrate into the at least one receiving mechanism and prevents the leaching agent from contacting at least a portion of the carbide substrate.

Abstract: A device, system and method for nondestructively obtaining qualitative and/or quantitative information relating to the material properties of a region in a diamond body comprises directing x-rays onto the body. The body can comprise sintered or unsintered diamond. The body can ultimately be in the form of a cutting element used with a subterranean drill bit. The x-rays penetrate the body and cause a target element within the desired region including the same to emit x-ray fluorescence. The emitted x-ray fluorescence is received and information relating to content, location, and/or distribution of the target element in the region within the body is determined therefrom. The measured region can extend axially or radially from a surface of the body, and the target elements are nondiamond materials that can be constituents of a substrate attached to the body, or of a container used during HPHT sintering of the body.

Abstract: A method for making a thermally stable cutting element may include forming an acid mixture containing two different acid species by combining an acid solution and at least one acid-forming compound, wherein the at least one acid-forming compound is provided in solid form, and wherein the at least one acid-forming compound produces an acid that is different than the acid solution; treating at least a portion of a sintered diamond body by placing the sintered diamond body in the acid mixture, wherein the sintered diamond body comprises: a matrix phase of bonded-together diamond grains; a plurality of interstitial regions dispersed within the matrix phase; and a metal material disposed within a plurality of the interstitial regions; wherein the treating removes the metal material from at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions; and removing the sintered diamond body from the acid mixture after a predetermined length of time, wherein at least a portion of the diamond body removed from the acid mi

Abstract: A device, system and method for nondestructively obtaining qualitative and/or quantitative information relating to the material properties of a region in a diamond body comprises directing x-rays onto the body. The body can comprise sintered or unsintered diamond. The body can ultimately be in the form of a cutting element used with a subterranean drill bit. The x-rays penetrate the body and cause a target element within the desired region including the same to emit x-ray fluorescence. The emitted x-ray fluorescence is received and information relating to content, location, and/or distribution of the target element in the region within the body is determined therefrom. The measured region can extend axially or radially from a surface of the body, and the target elements are nondiamond materials that can be constituents of a substrate attached to the body, or of a container used during HPHT sintering of the body.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the consistency of the quality of ultra hard materials formed over tungsten carbide substrates formed from different batches of tungsten carbide powder by controlling the tungsten carbide particle size distribution in each batch.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the consistency of the quality of ultra hard materials formed over tungsten carbide substrates formed from different batches of tungsten carbide powder by controlling the tungsten carbide particle size distribution in each batch.