Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a roller bearing unit, an inner race and an outer race. The roller bearing unit is formed of polycrystalline super-hard material having a mean mass density of at most 4.5 g/cm3 and a volume-weighted arithmetic mean thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/m·K.

Abstract: A diamond powder comprising diamond particles having an average particle size of no more than 20 ?m and a vacancy or impurity-vacancy point defect concentration of at least 1 ppm. At least 70% of the volume of diamond in the powder is formed from a single crystal growth sector. This leads to a substantially uniform concentration of vacancies or impurity-vacancy point defects in the diamond particles because the rate of impurity take-up during growth is heavily dependent on the growth sector, which in turn leads to a more uniform fluorescent response. There is also described a method for making such a powder.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a roller bearing unit, an inner race and an outer race. The roller bearing unit is formed of polycrystalline super-hard material having a mean mass density of at most 4.5 g/cm3 and a volume-weighted arithmetic mean thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/m·K.

Abstract: A method of fabricating fluorescent diamond particles, and diamond particles fabricated by the method. The method comprises mounting a diamond body on a heat sink, the diamond body comprising a plurality of diamond particles having a particle size of no more than 250 micrometres and bound together in the diamond body by a binder. The diamond body is irradiated to generate vacancy defects in the diamond particles. The binder is then removed to separate the diamond body into diamond particles.

Abstract: A diamond powder comprising diamond particles having an average particle size of no more than 20 ?m and a vacancy or impurity-vacancy point defect concentration of at least 1 ppm. At least 70% of the volume of diamond in the powder is formed from a single crystal growth sector. This leads to a substantially uniform concentration of vacancies or impurity-vacancy point defects in the diamond particles because the rate of impurity take-up during growth is heavily dependent on the growth sector, which in turn leads to a more uniform fluorescent response. There is also described a method for making such a powder.

Abstract: A method of providing well-shaped diamond grains of at most about 100 microns in size. The method includes providing a synthesis assembly comprising a source of carbon material, a plurality of seed grains on which diamond material can crystallize, and solvent-catalyst material for promoting the crystallization of the diamond grains, and subjecting the synthesis assembly to a condition for growing the diamond grains. The synthesis condition is maintained long enough for at least about half of the carbon material to be converted into the diamond grains.

Abstract: A method of fabricating fluorescent diamond particles, and diamond particles fabricated by the method. The method comprises mounting a diamond body on a heat sink, the diamond body comprising a plurality of diamond particles having a particle size of no more than 250 micrometres and bound together in the diamond body by a binder. The diamond body is irradiated to generate vacancy defects in the diamond particles. The binder is then removed to separate the diamond body into diamond particles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing encapsulated superhard material includes the steps of providing a source of superhard material, providing a mixture comprising an appropriate binder, a solvent or fluid medium and the intended coating or encapsulating layer, combining the superhard material and the mixture in a shovel rotor, the shovel rotor having a vessel including a rotor, the vessel adapted to receive a stream of gas. The rotor is rotated at an appropriate velocity such that the superhard material is encapsulated by the mixture.

Abstract: A process for the formation of pellets containing an ultra hard (superhard) core coated with an encapsulating material includes utilizing a shovel rotor in combination with a rotating pan and/or a fluidized bed apparatus in sequence. The process includes providing a source of superhard material, providing a mixture comprising a binder, a solvent or fluid medium and the intended coating or encapsulating layer, and combining the superhard material and the mixture in a shovel rotor. The rotor of the shovel rotor is rotated at a velocity such that the superhard material is encapsulated by the mixture to form pellets. The pellets are introduced into a rotating vessel or fluidized bed granulating apparatus, and the pellets are contacted with encapsulating material to form pellets of greater mass than the pellets introduced into the vessel.

Abstract: A containment element for a pressure containment assembly, comprising mullite or a polymorph of mullite.

Abstract: A method of providing well-shaped diamond grains of at most about 100 microns in size. The method includes providing a synthesis assembly comprising a source of carbon material, a plurality of seed grains on which diamond material can crystallise, and solvent-catalyst material for promoting the crystallisation of the diamond grains, and subjecting the synthesis assembly to a condition for growing the diamond grains. The synthesis condition is maintained long enough for at least about half of the carbon material to be converted into the diamond grains.

Abstract: A containment element for a pressure containment assembly, comprising mullite or a polymorph of mullite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing encapsulated superhard material, the method comprising the steps of providing a source of superhard material, providing a mixture comprising an appropriate binder, a solvent or fluid medium and the intended coating or encapsulating layer, combining the superhard material and the mixture in a shovel rotor comprising a vessel including a rotor, the vessel adapted to receive a stream of gas; and rotating the rotor at an appropriate velocity such that the superhard material is encapsulated by the mixture. The invention further relates to an encapsulated superhard material produced by a method as hereinbefore described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the formation of pellets containing an ultra hard (superhard) core coated with an encapsulating material, the process including the process including the steps of utilising a shovel rotor in combination with a rotating pan and/or a fluidised bed apparatus in sequence. The invention teaches the steps of providing a source of superhard material, providing a mixture comprising an appropriate binder, a solvent or fluid medium and the intended coating or encapsulating layer, combining the superhard material and the mixture in a shovel rotor, rotating the rotor at an appropriate velocity such that the superhard material is encapsulated by the mixture to form pellets, introducing the pellets into a rotating vessel or fluidised bed granulating apparatus, and contacting the pellets with encapsulating material to form pellets of greater mass than the pellets introduced into the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for debindering and/or purifying granules or material suitable for use in High Pressure High Temperatures diamond or cubic boron nitride synthesis, the method comprising the steps of passing the granules or material through a zone having controlled atmosphere and temperature in a continuous manner, the zone having a maximum temperature within the zone of greater than approximately 600° C, wherein the time spent by each granule within the zone is less than 30 minutes.