Abstract: This disclosure relates to a two-piece friction stir welding (FSW) tool insert. The tool insert has a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprises a stirring pin and an annular shoulder coaxially mounted about the stirring pin. The stirring pin and annular shoulder each comprise polycrystalline cubic boron nitride. The annular shoulder is a thin disc with a thickness of 1 to 12 mm and the shoulder comprises a tapered, central aperture, through which the stirring pin protrudes.

Abstract: This disclosure relates a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, PCBN, composite material for use in friction stir welding. The PCBN composite material comprises tungsten (W), rhenium (Re) and aluminium (Al) in the binder matrix material.

Abstract: A method of making a cutter structure (1) comprises placing a pre-formed body (4) of hard material having a surface topography in a canister, placing an aggregated mass of grains of superhard material (2) over said surface topography, placing a punch (10) in contact with the superhard material (2), the punch (10) having a surface with a surface topography inverse to that of the hard material body to imprint a pattern in the superhard material (2) complementary to the surface topography of the punch (10). The surface of the punch (10) contacting the superhard material (2) being formed of a ceramic material that does not react chemically with the superhard material (12) and/or a sinter catalyst for the superhard material (2).

Abstract: PCBN material consisting of cBN grains dispersed in a matrix, the content of the cBN grains being in the range of about 35 to about 70 volume % of the PCBN material. The matrix comprises at least one kind of chemical compound that includes aluminium (Al) and at least one kind of chemical compound that includes titanium (Ti). The size distribution of the cBN grains exposed at a surface of the PCBN material is such that at least about 50% per cent of the total equivalent circle area (ECA) arises from cBN intercept lengths up to 5 microns. At least about 20 per cent of the total ECA arises from cBN intercept lengths greater than about 5 microns.

Abstract: A method for making a treated super-hard structure, the method including providing a super-hard structure comprising super-hard material selected from polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) material or thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material; subjecting the super-hard structure to heat treatment at a treatment temperature of greater than 700 degrees centigrade at a treatment pressure at which the super-hard material is not thermodynamically stable, for a treatment period of at least about 5 minutes to produce the treated super-hard structure.

Abstract: A method of making a cutter structure (1) comprises placing a pre-formed body (4) of hard material having a surface topography in a canister, placing an aggregated mass of grains of superhard material (2) over said surface topography, placing a punch (10) in contact with the superhard material (2), the punch (10) having a surface with a surface topography inverse to that of the hard material body to imprint a pattern in the superhard material (2) complementary to the surface topography of the punch (10). The surface of the punch (10) contacting the superhard material (2) being formed of a ceramic material that does not react chemically with the superhard material (12) and/or a sinter catalyst for the superhard material (2).

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 method for making a treated super-hard structure, the method including providing a super-hard structure comprising super-hard material selected from polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) material or thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material; subjecting the super-hard structure to heat treatment at a treatment temperature of greater than 700 degrees centigrade at a treatment pressure at which the super-hard material is not thermodynamically stable, for a treatment period of at least about 5 minutes to produce the treated super-hard structure.

Abstract: A method of making polycrystalline CBN compacts, high in CBN content, is provided. The method includes making a powdered composition by subjecting a mixture of CBN, present in an amount of at least 80 volume percent of the mixture, and a powdered binder phase to attrition milling. This powdered mixture is subjected to conditions of elevated temperature and pressure suitable to produce CBN compacts.

Abstract: A composition containing: about 45 to about 75 volume % of cubic boron nitride (CBN), where the CBN has finer and coarser particles having two different average particle sizes, the range of the average particle size of the finer particles being about 0.1 to about 2 ?m, the range of the average particle size of the coarser particles being about 0.3 to about 5 ?m, the ratio of the content of the coarser CBN particles to the finer CBN particles being 50:50 to 90:10; a secondary hard phase containing a nitride or carbonitride of a Group 4, 5 or 6 transition metal or a mixture or solid solution thereof, and a binder phase.

Abstract: A CBN compact which contains CBN and a matrix phase, wherein the CBN grain size volume frequency distribution has a distribution spread expressed as d90-d10 of 1 micron or greater, and the d90 maximum value is 5 micron or less.

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.

Abstract: A CBN compact comprises CBN and a matrix phase incorporating a secondary hard phase selected from TiCN, TiC, TiN and mixtures and solid solutions thereof and a maximum amount of titanium diboride where the XRD peak height of the (101) titanium diboride peak (after background correction) is less than 12% of the peak height of the (111) CBN peak.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a powdered composition or starting material used in producing a CBN compact which comprises CBN, a secondary hard phase and a binder phase includes two steps of attrition milling. First, the attrition milling of the secondary hard phase and the binder phase. Second, adding CBN particles to the fine particle mixture of the first attrition milling and then attrition milling this mixture.

Abstract: A method of making polycrystalline CBN compacts, high in CBN content, is provided. The method includes making a powdered composition by subjecting a mixture of CBN, present in an amount of at least 80 volume percent of the mixture, and a powdered binder phase to attrition milling. This powdered mixture is subjected to conditions of elevated temperature and pressure suitable to produce CBN compacts.

Abstract: A composition for use in producing a CBN compact comprising about 45 to about 75 volume % CBN, where the CBN is comprised of particles of more than one average particle size, preferably bimodal; a secondary hard phase including a compound containing a nitride, carbonitride or carbide of a Group 4, 5 or 6 transition metal or a mixture or solid solution thereof, and a binder phase.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a powdered composition or starting material used in producing a CBN compact which comprises CBN, a secondary hard phase and a binder phase includes two steps of attrition milling. First, the attrition milling of the secondary hard phase and the binder phase. Second, adding CBN particles to the fine particle mixture of the first attrition milling and then attrition milling this mixture.

Abstract: A CBN compact comprises CBN and a matrix phase incorporating a secondary hard phase selected from TiCN, TiC, TiN and mixtures and solid solutions thereof and a maximum amount of titanium diboride where the XRD peak height of the (101) titanium diboride peak (after background correction) is less than 12% of the peak height of the (111) CBN peak.

Abstract: A polycrystalline cubic boron nitride compact which comprises greater than 75 volume % and not greater than 90 volume % cubic boron nitride particles, the cubic boron nitride particles comprising particles of at least two average particle sizes, and a binder phase constituting the balance of the compact and comprising at least one titanium compound selected from titanium boride, titanium nitride, titanium carbide and titanium carbonitride and at least one aluminium compound selected from aluminium oxide, aluminium boride, aluminium nitride, aluminium carbide and aluminium carbonitride.

Abstract: A method of producing a tool insert is disclosed. A body (50) of a superabrasive material having major surfaces on each of opposite sides thereof is provided. It is typically an abrasive compact disc such as a PCBN or a PCD disc, for example. An array of spaced cores (58) filled with hard metal, such as cemented carbide, for example, extends from one major surface to the opposite major surface. The body is severed from one major surface to the opposite major surface along intersecting, transverse lines (68) around the respective hard metal cores to produce the tool insert. The body may include an interlayer (56) of hard metal intermediate the opposite major surfaces, preferably the same hard metal as the cores, such that the cores are integrally formed with the interlayer.