A diamond sintered material includes diamond grains, wherein a content ratio of the diamond grains is more than or equal to 80 volume % and less than or equal to 99 volume % with respect to the diamond sintered material, an average grain size of the diamond grains is more than or equal to 0.1 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm, and a dislocation density of the diamond grains is more than or equal to 1.2×10.sup.16 m.sup.−2 and less than or equal to 5.4×10.sup.19 m.sup.−2.

Zonal heating and cooling during the production of matrix drill bits may be achieved with a system that includes a cavity defined within a mold assembly having a central axis; reinforcing particles and a binder material disposed within the cavity; and a plurality of induction coils about a periphery of the mold assembly, each induction coil being spaced from each other along the height of the mold assembly, wherein a first induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of mold assembly containing a portion of the reinforcing particles and a second induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of the mold assembly containing a portion of the binder material.

Zonal heating and cooling during the production of matrix drill bits may be achieved with a system that includes a cavity defined within a mold assembly having a central axis; reinforcing particles and a binder material disposed within the cavity; and a plurality of induction coils about a periphery of the mold assembly, each induction coil being spaced from each other along the height of the mold assembly, wherein a first induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of mold assembly containing a portion of the reinforcing particles and a second induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of the mold assembly containing a portion of the binder material.

A sintered friction material comprises a metallic matrix and granular constituents embedded in the matrix. The metallic matrix comprises a copper base alloy. The friction material is characterized in that the granular constituents comprise at least one sintered cemented carbide in a proportion of up to 9 weight percent, based on the total weight of the friction material. Furthermore, a friction body, in particular for clutches and brakes, that comprises a friction lining with at least one layer made of the sintered friction material, and a method for the production of a friction lining with the sintered friction material are described.

A sintered friction material comprises a metallic matrix and granular constituents embedded in the matrix. The metallic matrix comprises a copper base alloy. The friction material is characterized in that the granular constituents comprise at least one sintered cemented carbide in a proportion of up to 9 weight percent, based on the total weight of the friction material. Furthermore, a friction body, in particular for clutches and brakes, that comprises a friction lining with at least one layer made of the sintered friction material, and a method for the production of a friction lining with the sintered friction material are described.

A cutting element for an earth-boring drill bit may include a thermally stable cutting table comprising a polycrystalline diamond material. The polycrystalline diamond material may consist essentially of a matrix of diamond particles bonded to one another and a silicon, silicon carbide, or silicon and silicon carbide material located within interstitial spaces among interbonded diamond particles of the matrix of diamond particles. The cutting table may be at least substantially free of Group VIII metal or alloy catalyst material. The cutting element may further include a substrate and an adhesion material between and bonded to the cutting table and the substrate. The adhesion material may include diamond particles bonded to one another and to the cutting table and the substrate after formation of the preformed cutting table.

A cutting element for an earth-boring drill bit may include a thermally stable cutting table comprising a polycrystalline diamond material. The polycrystalline diamond material may consist essentially of a matrix of diamond particles bonded to one another and a silicon, silicon carbide, or silicon and silicon carbide material located within interstitial spaces among interbonded diamond particles of the matrix of diamond particles. The cutting table may be at least substantially free of Group VIII metal or alloy catalyst material. The cutting element may further include a substrate and an adhesion material between and bonded to the cutting table and the substrate. The adhesion material may include diamond particles bonded to one another and to the cutting table and the substrate after formation of the preformed cutting table.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

The invention relates to a method of processing a superhard composite material (21) comprising a polycrystalline microstructure and a binder, said method comprising the following steps: contacting (200) a surface of said superhard composite material (21) with an absorbent material (30), and applying (300) an electric current to the superhard composite material (21), causing the binder to move from the superhard composite material (21) to the absorbent material (30) so as to create a continuous gradient (221) of binder content within the superhard composite material (21).