Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a body of super hard material having a first fraction of super hard grains in a matrix of a second fraction of super hard grains. The average grain size of the first fraction is between around 1.5 to around 10 times the average grain size of the second fraction and the first fraction comprises around 5 vol % to around 30 vol % of the grains of super hard material in the body.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a superhard phase, and a second phase dispersed in the superhard phase, the superhard phase comprising a plurality of inter-bonded superhard grains. The second phase comprises particles or grains that do not chemically react with the superhard grains, and/or do not inter-grow, and form between around 1 to 30 volume % or wt % of the body of polycrystalline superhard material.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a superhard phase, and a non-superhard phase dispersed in the superhard phase, the superhard phase comprising a plurality of inter-bonded superhard grains. The non-superhard phase comprises particles or grains that do not chemically react with the superhard grains and form less than around 10 volume % of the body of polycrystalline superhard material. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline super hard material and a substrate bonded to the body along an interface. The substrate a first end surface forming the interface, the first end surface comprising a projection extending from the body of the substrate into the body of super hard material towards the cutting face, the body of polycrystalline material extending around the projection. The body of polycrystalline material comprises a first region more thermally stable than a second region, the first region comprising an annular portion located around the projection, the second region extending between and bonding the first region to the substrate. The first region has a thickness from the cutting face along the peripheral side edge to the interface of at least around 3 mm and a portion of the projection has a thickness measured in a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of at least around 3 mm.

Abstract: A cutting element (30) includes a substrate (40) having a peripheral side edge, the peripheral side edge having an associated radius of curvature; and a body of superhard polycrystalline material bonded to the substrate along an interface, the body of superhard polycrystalline material (39) having a peripheral side edge and a longitudinal axis. The body of superhard polycrystalline material (39) has a working surface (54); and a plurality of spaced apart cutting edges extending to the working surface (54) through respective chamfer portions (62), the cutting edges (61, 76) being spaced around the working surface by a further region. The cutting edges (61, 76) have an associated radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of one or more of the cutting edges being less than the radius of curvature of the substrate. A method of making such a cutting element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cutting element (30) includes a substrate (40); and a body of superhard polycrystalline material (34) bonded to the substrate (40) along an interface, the body of superhard polycrystalline material having a peripheral side edge (42). The body of superhard polycrystalline material has a cutting surface (34); a plurality of spaced apart cutting edges (36) extending to the cutting surface (34) through respective chamfer portions (38), the cutting edges being spaced around the peripheral side edge; a plurality of recesses/regions (48) extending from the cutting surface (34) towards the substrate, adjacent cutting edges (36) being spaced apart by a respective one of said recesses/regions (48); and a protrusion or recessed region extending from the cutting surface about a central longitudinal axis of the cutting element. A method of making such a cutting element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a body of super hard material having a first fraction of super hard grains in a matrix of a second fraction of super hard grains. The average grain size of the first fraction is between around 1.5 to around 10 times the average grain size of the second fraction and the first fraction comprises around 5 vol % to around 30 vol % of the grains of super hard material in the body.

Abstract: A bearing element for a bearing assembly has a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material having a bearing contact surface, and a substrate bonded to the body of PCD material along an interface and having a free end surface. The substrate has a through-bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the body of PCD material having a portion extending through the through-bore in the substrate to at least the free end surface thereof, the substrate extending around the peripheral side edge of the portion of PCD material extending therethrough.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a superhard phase, and a second phase dispersed in the superhard phase, the superhard phase comprising a plurality of inter-bonded superhard grains. The second phase comprises particles or grains that do not chemically react with the superhard grains, and/or do not inter-grow, and form between around 1 to 30 volume % or wt % of the body of polycrystalline superhard material.

Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a body of super hard material having a first fraction of super hard grains in a matrix of a second fraction of super hard grains. The average grain size of the first fraction is between around 1.5 to around 10 times the average grain size of the second fraction and the first fraction comprises around 5 vol % to around 30 vol % of the grains of super hard material in the body.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction has a body of polycrystalline superhard material having a cutting face and a substrate bonded to the body of polycrystalline superhard material along an interface. The substrate has a substrate body and a first end surface forming the interface, the first end surface of the substrate having a projection extending from the body of the substrate into the body of superhard material towards the cutting face. The projection has an outer peripheral surface around which the body of polycrystalline superhard material extends. The body of polycrystalline superhard material has a thickness from the cutting face along the peripheral side edge to the interface with the substrate of at least around 4 mm and at least a portion of the projection has a thickness measured in a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of the construction of at least around 4 mm.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline super hard material and a substrate bonded to the body along an interface. The substrate a first end surface forming the interface, the first end surface comprising a projection extending from the body of the substrate into the body of super hard material towards the cutting face, the body of polycrystalline material extending around the projection. The body of polycrystalline material comprises a first region more thermally stable than a second region, the first region comprising an annular portion located around the projection, the second region extending between and bonding the first region to the substrate. The first region has a thickness from the cutting face along the peripheral side edge to the interface of at least around 3 mm and a portion of the projection has a thickness measured in a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of at least around 3 mm.

Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline super hard material, said body having an exposed working surface, a substrate attached to the body of polycrystalline super hard material along an interface and a plurality of apertures or channels. One or more of said apertures or channels extend(s) from the exposed working surface of the body into the substrate.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a superhard phase, and a non-superhard phase dispersed in the superhard phase, the superhard phase comprising a plurality of inter-bonded superhard grains. The non-superhard phase comprises particles or grains that do not chemically react with the superhard grains and form less than around 10 volume % of the body of polycrystalline superhard material. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction.

Abstract: A method of making a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising placing an aggregated mass of grains of superhard material into a canister, placing a ceramic layer either in direct contact with the aggregated mass of grains of superhard material or in indirect contact therewith, the ceramic layer being spaced from the grains by an interlayer of material when present, the ceramic layer having a surface with surface topology, the surface topology imprinting a pattern in the aggregated mass of grains of superhard material complementary to the surface topology, the ceramic material and the material of the interlayer being such that they do not react chemically with the superhard material and/or a sinter catalyst material for the grains of superhard material. The aggregated mass of grains of superhard material and ceramic layer are subjected to a pressure of greater than 5.

Abstract: A tip for twist drill, comprising a super-hard structure joined to a substrate at an interface boundary coterminous with an end of the substrate, the super-hard structure comprising sintered polycrystalline material comprising super-hard grains, the super-hard structure defining a super-hard end surface opposite the interface boundary and a plurality of cutting edges configured for boring into a body in use; the super-hard end surface including a center point or chisel edge, and comprising a plurality of surface regions configured such that respective planes tangential to each of the surface regions are disposed at substantially different angles from the axis of rotation of the tip in use. Precursor constructions for use in manufacturing the tips as well as methods for making the precursor constructions and the tips are disclosed.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a first superhard phase having a first average grain size; and a second superhard phase having a second average grain size. The second superhard phase is located in one or more channels or apertures in the first superhard phase, the first superhard phase forming a skeleton in the body of superhard material. The second superhard phase is bonded to the first superhard phase by a non-superhard phase and the first superhard phase differs from the second superhard phase in average grain size and/or composition. There is also disclosed a method of making such a superhard polycrystalline construction.

Abstract: A tip (20) for a rotary machine tool comprising a superhard structure (12) joined to a cemented carbide substrate 14 by means of at least one intermediate layer (161, 62, 163) disposed between the superhard structure (12) and the cemented carbide substrate (14), the intermediate layer or layers (161, 162, 163) comprising grains of superhard material and grains of a metal carbide material dispersed in a metal binder material.

Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline super hard material, said body having an exposed working surface, a substrate attached to the body of polycrystalline super hard material along an interface and a plurality of apertures or channels. One or more of said apertures or channels extend(s) from the exposed working surface of the body into the substrate.

Abstract: A method of making a construction comprising a polycrystalline super-hard structure joined to a side surface of an elongate substrate. The method includes: providing a vessel configured for an ultra-high pressure, high temperature furnace, the vessel having an elongate cavity for containing a pre-sinter assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the cavity having opposite ends connected by a cavity wall. The pre-sinter assembly comprises the substrate, an aggregation comprising a plurality of super-hard grains arranged over at least a part of the side surface of the substrate, and a spacer structure configured for spacing the substrate apart from the cavity wall. The spacer structure comprises material having a Young's modulus of at least 300 GPa.