Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the polycrystalline diamond material. The body of PCD material comprises a working surface positioned along an outside portion of the body, and a first region adjacent the working surface, the first region being a thermally stable region. The first region and/or a further region and/or the body of PCD material has/have an average oxygen content of less than around 300 ppm. A method of forming such a construction is also disclosed.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction (30) comprises a first region (34) comprising a body of thermally stable polycrystalline superhard material having an exposed surface forming a working surface (4), and a peripheral side edge (6), a second region (32) forming a substrate to the first region, and a third region (36) at least partially interposed between the first and second regions wherein the third region comprises a material more acid resistant than polycrystalline diamond material having a binder-catalyst phase comprising cobalt, and/or more acid resistant than cemented carbide material.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond material is formed of a mass of diamond grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding and defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, and a non-diamond phase at least partially filling a plurality of the interstitial regions to form non-diamond phase pools, the non-diamond phase pools each having an individual cross-sectional area. The percentage of non-diamond phase in the total area of a cross-section of the body of polycrystalline diamond material and the mean of the individual cross-sectional areas of the non-diamond phase pools in the image analysed using an image analysis technique at a selected magnification is less than 0.7, or less than 0.340 microns squared, or between around 0.005 to 0.340 microns squared depending on the percentage of non-diamond phase in the total area of the cross-section of the polycrystalline diamond construction. There is also disclosed a method of making such a construction.

Abstract: A PCD structure comprises a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the second region being bonded to the first region by intergrowth of diamond grains; the first region comprising a plurality of alternating strata or layers, each stratum or layer having a thickness in the range of around 5 to 300 microns. The second region comprises a plurality of strata or layers, one or more strata or layers in the second region having a thickness greater than the thicknesses of the individual strata or layers in the first region. The alternating layers or strata in the first region comprise first layers or strata alternating with second layers or strata, the first layers or strata being in a state of residual compressive stress and the second layers or strata being in a state of residual tensile stress.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond material is formed of a mass of diamond grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding and defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, and a non-diamond phase at least partially filling a plurality of the interstitial regions to form non-diamond phase pools, the non-diamond phase pools each having an individual cross-sectional area. The percentage of non-diamond phase in the total area of a cross-section of the body of polycrystalline diamond material and the mean of the individual cross-sectional areas of the non-diamond phase pools in the image analysed using an image analysis technique at a selected magnification is less than 0.7, or less than 0.340 microns squared, or between around 0.005 to 0.340 microns squared depending on the percentage of non-diamond phase in the total area of the cross-section of the polycrystalline diamond construction.

Abstract: A polycrystalline superhard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material, and a substrate of hard material bonded thereto along an interface. The body of polycrystalline superhard material comprises a first region abutting the substrate along the interface and a second region bonded to the first region. The second region defines a rake face, a cutting edge, a chamfer and at least a part of a flank face, the cutting edge being defined by an edge of the flank face joined to the chamfer, the chamfer extending between the cutting edge and the rake face. The height of the chamfer in a plane parallel to the plane through which the longitudinal axis of the polycrystalline superhard construction extends is less than the thickness of the second region. The first region comprises a material having coarser grains than the second region. There is also disclosed a method of making the same.

Abstract: A cubic nitride compact containing a polycrystalline mass of cubic boron nitride particles, present in an amount of at least 70 percent by volume, and a binder phase, which is metallic in character. In addition, a compact in which the binder phase is preferably superalloy in character.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the polycrystalline diamond material. The body of PCD material comprises a working surface positioned along an outside portion of the body, and a first region adjacent the working surface, the first region being a thermally stable region. The first region and/or a further region and/or the body of PCD material has/have an average oxygen content of less than around 300 ppm. A method of forming such a construction is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cubic nitride compact having a polycrystalline mass of cubic boron nitride particles, present in an amount of at least 70 percent by volume and a binder phase, which is metallic in character. In addition, a compact in which the binder phase is preferably superalloy in character.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material formed of a mass of superhard grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding and defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, the superhard grains having an associated mean free path; and a non-superhard phase at least partially filling a plurality of the interstitial regions and having an associated mean free path. The average grain size of the superhard grains is less than or equal to 25 microns; and the ratio of the standard deviation in the mean free path associated with the non-superhard phase to the mean of the mean free path associated with the non-superhard phase is greater than or equal to 80% when measured using image analysis techniques at a magnification of 1000. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction.

Abstract: A superhard construction comprises a substrate (10) comprising a peripheral surface, an interface surface (18) and a longitudinal axis and a super hard material layer (12) formed over the substrate and having an exposed outer surface forming a working surface (14), a peripheral surface extending therefrom and an interface surface. One of the interface surface of the substrate or the interface surface of the super hard material layer comprises one or more projections (24, 26) arranged to project from the interface surface, the height of the one or more projections being between around 0.2 mm to around 1.0 mm measured from the lowest point on the interface surface from which the one or more projections extend.

Abstract: A polycrystalline superhard construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material having two or more layers. A first layer differs from a second layer in one or more characteristics. The body has a thickness of greater than around 1.8 mm. A substrate is bonded to at least one of said layers, and one of the interface surface of the substrate or the body comprises one or more projections arranged to project from the interface surface, the height of the projection(s) being between around 0.2 mm to around 2.0 mm measured from the lowest point on the interface surface from which the one or more projections extend. At least a portion of the body of superhard material is substantially free of a catalyst material for the superhard material, and forms a thermally stable region extending a depth of at least around 300 microns from the working surface of the body of superhard material.

Abstract: A tip for a degradation tool, the tip comprising a PCD structure (20) joined to a cemented carbide substrate (30); the PCD structure comprising a plurality of strata (24, 25) arranged so that adjacent strata have alternating compressive and tensile stress states, adjacent strata comprising different PCD grades and being directly bonded to each other by inter-growth of diamond grains; each stratum having a mean thickness of at most 500 microns; the PCD structure defining a working end including a rounded conical apex (22) having a radius of curvature of 1.3 mm to 4 mm.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond material is formed of a mass of diamond grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding and defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, and a non-diamond phase at least partially filling a plurality of the interstitial regions to form non-diamond phase pools, the non-diamond phase pools each having an individual cross-sectional area. The percentage of non-diamond phase in the total area of a cross-section of the body of polycrystalline diamond material and the mean of the individual cross-sectional areas of the non-diamond phase pools in the image analysed using an image analysis technique at a selected magnification is less than 0.7, or less than 0.340 microns squared, or between around 0.005 to 0.340 microns squared depending on the percentage of non-diamond phase in the total area of the cross-section of the polycrystalline diamond construction.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material, comprising a mass of superhard grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding and defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, the superhard grains having an associated mean free path and a non-superhard phase at least partially filling a plurality of the interstitial regions and having an associated mean free path. The median of the mean free path associated with the non-superhard phase divided by (Q3?Q1) for the non-superhard phase being greater than or equal to 0.50, where Q1 is the first quartile and Q3 is the third quartile; and the median of the mean free path associated with the superhard grains divided by (Q3?Q1) for the superhard grains being less than 0.60. The body of polycrystalline superhard material has a first surface having a surface topology comprising one or more indentations therein and/or projections therefrom. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a construction.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the polycrystalline diamond material; the body of PCD material comprises a working surface positioned along an outside portion of the body; a first region substantially free of a solvent/catalysing material; a second region remote from the working surface that includes solvent/catalysing material in a plurality of the interstitial regions; and a substrate attached to the second region along an interface. The first region extends a depth from the working surface and the thickness of the second region between the interface with the substrate and an interface with the first region is between around 20 microns to around 200 microns at one or more points along the interface with the substrate.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprises a body of PCD material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the PCD material. The body also comprises a first region substantially free of a solvent/catalysing material which extends a depth from a working surface into the body of PCD material. A second region remote from the working surface includes solvent/catalysing material in a plurality of the interstitial regions. A chamfer extends between the working surface and a peripheral side surface of the body of PCD material. The chamfer has a height which is the length along a plane perpendicular to the plane along which the working surface extends between the point of intersection of the chamfer with the working surface and the point of intersection of the chamfer and the peripheral side surface of the body of PCD material. The depth of the first region is greater than the height of the chamfer.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the polycrystalline diamond material; the body of PCD material comprises a working surface positioned along an outside portion of the body; a first region substantially free of a solvent/catalysing material; and a second region remote from the working surface that includes solvent/catalysing material in a plurality of the interstitial regions. The first region extends to a depth of at least about 400 microns from the working surface into the body of polycrystalline diamond material.

Abstract: A polycrystalline super hard construction comprising a body of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material and a plurality of interstitial regions between inter-bonded diamond grains forming the polycrystalline diamond material; the body of PCD material comprises a working surface positioned along an outside portion of the body; a first region substantially free of a solvent/catalysing material; and a second region remote from the working surface that includes solvent/catalysing material in a plurality of the interstitial regions. The first region extends to a depth of at least about 800 microns from the working surface into the body of polycrystalline diamond material.

Abstract: A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material formed of a mass of superhard grains exhibiting inter-granular bonding and defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, the superhard grains having an associated mean free path; and a non-superhard phase at least partially filling a plurality of the interstitial regions and having an associated mean free path. The average grain size of the superhard grains is less than or equal to 25 microns; and the ratio of the standard deviation in the mean free path associated with the non-superhard phase to the mean of the mean free path associated with the non-superhard phase is greater than or equal to 80% when measured using image analysis techniques at a magnification of 1000. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction.