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.

A cutting element for use in a drill bit for drilling subterranean formations includes a cutting body having a substrate, and a superabrasive layer overlying an upper surface of the substrate. The cutting element further includes a sleeve including another superabrasive layer and surrounding the peripheral side surface of the cutting body.

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) including a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) table having a structure for enhancing at least one of abrasion resistance, thermal stability, or impact resistance. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a PCD table. The PCD table includes a lower region including a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting a lower average grain size and at least an upper region adjacent to the lower region and including a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting an upper average grain size. The lower average grain size may be at least two times greater than that of the upper average grain size. The PDC includes a substrate having an interfacial surface that is bonded to the lower region of the PCD table. Other embodiments are directed methods of forming PDCs, and various applications for such PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

A cutting element has a cutting face with a geometry including at least one protrusion spaced a radial distance apart from an edge of the cutting element, the edge extending around an entire periphery of the cutting face, and a lower portion extending within the distance between the at least one protrusion and the edge, wherein a lower portion axial height measured between the edge and a base of the at least one protrusion is less than 30 percent of a greatest axial height of the at least one protrusion measured between the base of the at least one protrusion and an axially highest point of the at least one protrusion.

A cutting element includes a body, a non-planar cutting face formed on a first end of the body, and an edge formed around a perimeter of the cutting face. The cutting face includes a central raised portion, and the edge has an edge angle defined between the cutting face and a side surface of the body. The edge angle varies around the perimeter of the cutting face and includes an acute edge angle defined by a portion of the cutting face extending downwardly from the edge to a depth from the cutting angle. The portion of the edge defining the acute edge angle may be directly adjacent: a side surface of the cutting element; a bevel of the cutting element; or a flat region at the perimeter of the cutting element or bevel.

A cutting element for downhole drilling and related earth-boring tool for downhole drilling. The cutting element may include a substrate and a polycrystalline diamond material affixed to the substrate at an interface. The polycrystalline diamond material may include a raised cutting surface having at least two cutting edges, and first transition surfaces between the at least two cutting edges of the raised cutting surface and a side surface of the cutting element. The first transition surfaces may include multiple planar surfaces.

In a fixed cutter drill bit, a hybrid cutter with a cutting edge including a substantially continuous curve interrupted by at least one arc discontinuity. In a fixed cutter drill bit, a contoured cutter with a contoured cutting face including a raised shape, wherein the raised shape has a raised shape axis which is oblique to a drill bit body axis. In a cutter for a fixed cutter drill bit, a chamfer including a side bevel and a cutting face bevel, wherein a cutting face bevel length is at least two times a side bevel length.

An earth-boring tool having at least one cutting element with a multi-friction cutting face provides for the steering of formation cuttings as the cuttings slide across the cutting face. The multi-friction cutting element includes a diamond table bonded to a substrate of superabrasive material. The diamond table has a cutting face formed thereon with a cutting edge extending along a periphery of the cutting face. The cutting face has a first area having an average surface finish roughness less than an average surface finish roughness of a second area of the cutting face, the two areas separated by a boundary having a proximal end proximate a tool crown and a distal end remote from the tool crown.

Cutting elements for use with earth-boring tools include a cutting table having at least two sections where a boundary between the at least two sections is at least partially defined by a discontinuity formed in the cutting table. Earth-boring tools including a tool body and a plurality of cutting elements carried by the tool body. The cutting elements include a cutting table secured to a substrate. The cutting table includes a plurality of adjacent sections, each having a discrete cutting edge where at least one section is configured to be selectively detached from the substrate in order to substantially expose a cutting edge of an adjacent section. Methods for fabricating cutting elements for use with an earth-boring tool including forming a cutting table comprising a plurality of adjacent sections.

Methods of laser cutting polycrystalline diamond tables and polycrystalline diamond compacts are disclosed. Laser cutting of the polycrystalline diamond table provides an alternative to electrical-discharge machining (EDM), grinding with a diamond wheel, or lapping with a diamond wheel. Grinding or lapping with a diamond wheel is relatively slow and expensive, as diamond is used to remove a diamond material. EDM cutting of the polycrystalline diamond table is sometimes impractical or even impossible, particularly when the cobalt or other infiltrant or catalyst concentration within the polycrystalline diamond table is very low (e.g., in the case of a leached polycrystalline diamond table). As such, laser cutting provides a valuable alternative machining method that may be employed in various processes such as laser scribing, laser ablation, and laser lapping.