A method of treating a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) compact including a substrate and a layer of diamond material mixture of diamond particles and binder-catalyst disposed on the substrate. A leaching agent is applied to at least the layer of diamond material of the PCD compact. The leaching agent and a surface of the layer of diamond material are heated to a first temperature. The substrate is cooled to a second temperature. A first temperature gradient is established within the PCD compact to cause an inward diffusion of the leaching agent into at least the layer of diamond material. The cooling of the substrate is stopped and energy is applied directly to the PCD compact to heat the same to a third temperature. A second temperature gradient is established within the PCD compact to cause an outward diffusion of the binder-catalyst to remove the same from the layer of diamond material. The first and second temperature gradients can be repeated to accelerate removal of the reacted binder-catalyst from at least the layer of diamond material.

A method for making a polycrystalline diamond compact including the step of providing a polycrystalline diamond compact. The compact has a substrate of a hard metal composition of material and a volume of diamond material disposed on the substrate. The diamond material includes a mixture of diamond particles and a binder-catalyst. At least one pre-coating layer of organic material impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to at least an exterior surface of the substrate. At least one layer of primer material that is impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied on the at least one pre-coating layer. A layer of top coating material that is impermeable to the given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to the at least one primer layer. When the given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to the compact to leach the binder-catalyst from the diamond material the at least one pre-coating layer, at least one primer layer and layer of top coating material protect the coated portions of the compact.

A method of processing a superabrasive element includes providing a superabrasive element including a polycrystalline diamond table that includes a metallic material disposed in interstitial spaces defined within the polycrystalline diamond table. The method also includes leaching the metallic material from at least a volume of the polycrystalline diamond table to produce a leached volume in the polycrystalline diamond table.

A method of processing a polycrystalline diamond element includes forming a protective layer over a selected portion of a polycrystalline diamond element, the polycrystalline diamond element having a polycrystalline diamond table that includes a superabrasive face, a superabrasive side surface, and a chamfer extending between the superabrasive face and the superabrasive side surface. A portion of the superabrasive side surface is covered by the protective layer and the protective layer is not formed over the chamfer. The method includes exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline diamond element to a leaching solution. A polycrystalline diamond element has a polycrystalline diamond table that includes a leached volume extending from the superabrasive face to a portion of the chamfer proximate to the superabrasive side surface, and the leached volume does not substantially extend along the superabrasive side surface.

Superabrasive elements may be produced by methods including leaching the metallic material from the superabrasive element to produce a leached volume by exposing at least a portion of the superabrasive element to a processing solution, exposing an electrode to the processing solution, and applying a charge to the electrode such that a voltage is generated between the superabrasive element and the electrode and the voltage is applied to the processing solution.

A method of processing a superabrasive element includes defining a protective layer over a selected portion of a superabrasive element. The method includes exposing at least a portion of the superabrasive element to a leaching solution. A superabrasive element has a superabrasive table that includes a leached volume extending from the superabrasive face to a portion of the chamfer proximate to the superabrasive side surface.