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 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 composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 ?m.

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 superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a structure comprising superhard material, the structure having porosity greater than 20% by volume and up to around 80% by volume. A method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction comprises forming a skeleton structure of a first material having a plurality of voids, at least partially filling some or all of the voids with a second material to form a pre-sinter assembly, and treating the pre-sinter assembly to sinter together grains of superhard material to form a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a first region of superhard grains, and an interpenetrating second region; the second region being formed of the other of the first or second material that does not comprise the superhard grains; the superhard grains forming a sintered structure having a porosity greater than 20% by volume and up to around 80% by volume.

Abstract: A composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 ?m.

Abstract: A composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 ?m.

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 super hard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline super hard material comprising a first fraction of super hard grains and a second fraction of super hard grains, the first fraction having a greater average grain size than the super hard grains in the second fraction, the super hard grains in the first and second fraction having a peripheral surface. The super hard grains in the first fraction are bonded along at least a portion of the peripheral surface to at least a portion of a plurality of super hard grains in the second fraction, the super hard grains in the first fraction being spaced from adjacent grains in the first fraction by a distance of between around 50 to around 500 nm.

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 structure comprising superhard material, the structure having porosity greater than 20% by volume and up to around 80% by volume. A method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction comprises forming a skeleton structure of a first material having a plurality of voids, at least partially filling some or all of the voids with a second material to form a pre-sinter assembly, and treating the pre-sinter assembly to sinter together grains of superhard material to form a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a first region of superhard grains, and an interpenetrating second region; the second region being formed of the other of the first or second material that does not comprise the superhard grains; the superhard grains forming a sintered structure having a porosity greater than 20% by volume and up to around 80% by volume.

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 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 composite material and a method of using the composite material. The composite material consists of at least 65 volume percent cubic boron nitride (cBN) grains dispersed in a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising a plurality of microstructures bonded to the cBN grains and a plurality of intermediate regions between the cBN grains; the microstructures comprising nitride or boron compound of a metal; and the intermediate regions including a silicide phase containing the metal chemically bonded with silicon; in which the content of the silicide phase is 2 to 6 weight percent of the composite material, and in which the cBN grains have a mean size of 0.2 to 20 ?m.

Abstract: A super hard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline super hard material comprising a first fraction of super hard grains and a second fraction of super hard grains, the first fraction having a greater average grain size than the super hard grains in the second fraction, the super hard grains in the first and second fraction having a peripheral surface. The super hard grains in the first fraction are bonded along at least a portion of the peripheral surface to at least a portion of a plurality of super hard grains in the second fraction, the super hard grains in the first fraction being spaced from adjacent grains in the first fraction by a distance of between around 50 to around 500 nm.

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 dis closed a method of making such a superhard polycrystalline construction.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction (1) comprises a body (12) of polycrystalline superhard material having a cutting face (14) and a substrate (10) bonded to the body of polycrystalline superhard material along an interface (18). The substrate comprises a substrate body and a first end surface ( )20 forming the interface, the first end surface of the substrate comprising 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 (h) from the cutting face along the peripheral side edge (13) 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 cutter insert assembly for a drill bit for boring into the earth, comprising a super-hard structure clampable to a support body by means of a clamp mechanism; the clamp mechanism comprising opposed or opposable compression members connected or connectable by a tension member capable of sustaining a clamping force between the compression members when the cutter insert assembly is in a clamped condition, in which condition the compression members exert opposing compressive forces on the super-hard structure and the support body, operable to clamp the super-hard structure to the support body, and in which condition the cutter insert assembly is self-supporting and capable of being mounted onto a drill bit body.

Abstract: A polycrystalline superhard material comprises a mass of diamond, graphite or cubic boron nitride particles or grains bonded together by ultrathin inter-granular bonding layers, the inter-granular bonding layers having an average thickness of greater than about 0.3 nm and less than about 100 nm. There is also disclosed a method for making such a polycrystalline superhard material.

Abstract: A method of producing a tool insert which comprises a central metal portion having edge regions of superabrasive material bonded thereto and presenting cutting edges or points for the tool insert is disclosed. A body (50) having major surfaces on each of opposite sides thereof, each having spaced strips (64) of superabrasive material, typically abrasive compact such as PCBN or PCD, for example, separated by a metal region or regions, such as cemented carbide, is provided. Each superabrasive strip of one major surface is arranged in register with a superabrasive strip of the opposite major surface. Alternatively, each superabrasive strip extends from one major surface to the opposite major surface. The body is severed from one major surface to the opposite major surface along at least two sets of planes intersecting at or in the respective superabrasive strips to produce the tool insert.