Abstract: A method of making a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), material is provided. The matrix precursor powder comprises an aluminium compound. The method comprises mixing matrix precursor powder comprising particles having an average particle size no greater than 250 nm, with between 30 and 40 volume percent of cubic boron nitride (cBN) particles having an average particle size of at least 4 ?m, and then spark plasma sintering the mixed particles. The spark plasma sintering occurs at a pressure of at least 500 MPa, a temperature of no less than 1050° C. and no more than 1500° C. and a time of no less than 1 minute and no more than 3 minutes.

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 method of forming polycrystalline diamond comprised placing a plurality of graphene nano-platelets into a capsule; and subjecting the platelets to a pressure of around 10 GPa to around 20 GPa and a temperature of around 1600 degrees Celsius to around 3000 degrees Celcius to convert the graphene platelets to nano-polycrystalline diamond. There is also disclosed a polycrystalline super hard construction comprising a polycrystalline diamond region comprising polycrystalline diamond material formed according to said method.

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: Described in example embodiments are nanocomposite powders including calcium phosphate and silver nanoparticles on the surface of the calcium phosphate. Other example embodiments, describe methods of forming nanocomposite powders comprising a) preparing a nanometric calcium phosphate by a sol-gel processing route; and b) depositing silver nanoparticles on the calcium phosphate surface. Compositions including nanocomposite powders and uses of those compositions are also described.

Abstract: Described in example embodiments are nanocomposite powders including calcium phosphate and silver nanoparticles on the surface of the calcium phosphate. Other example embodiments, describe methods of forming nanocomposite powders comprising a) preparing a nanometric calcium phosphate by a sol-gel processing route; and b) depositing silver nanoparticles on the calcium phosphate surface. Compositions including nanocomposite powders and uses of those compositions are also described.