A cutting element comprises a supporting substrate, and a cutting table attached to an end of the supporting substrate. The cutting table comprises a first region and a second region. The first region comprising inter-bonded diamond particles and is substantially free of at least highly catalytic metallic compounds, one or more non-catalytic compounds within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles, and voids within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles. The second region comprising inter-bonded diamond particles, one or more non-catalytic compounds within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles, and one or more metallic phases within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles. The first region of the cutting table has a content of elemental metal of at least about 2.6 wt %. A method of forming a cutting element, and an earth-boring tool are also described.

A method for manufacture of a complex component includes construction of the component from a metal material in an additive manufacturing method with at least one cavity segment that has a cavity open on at least one side and defined by an interior surface of the component, formation of an auxiliary electrode during construction of the component, formation of one or a plurality of supporting structures that connect the auxiliary electrode to the interior surface of the component during the construction of the component, electrical insulation of the auxiliary electrode from the interior surface by separating the supporting structures from the interior surface or from the auxiliary electrode, and performance of an electro-polishing of the interior surface in an electrolyte bath by connecting the component and the auxiliary electrode to different poles of an electric voltage source.

A method for manufacture of a complex component includes construction of the component from a metal material in an additive manufacturing method with at least one cavity segment that has a cavity open on at least one side and defined by an interior surface of the component, formation of an auxiliary electrode during construction of the component, formation of one or a plurality of supporting structures that connect the auxiliary electrode to the interior surface of the component during the construction of the component, electrical insulation of the auxiliary electrode from the interior surface by separating the supporting structures from the interior surface or from the auxiliary electrode, and performance of an electro-polishing of the interior surface in an electrolyte bath by connecting the component and the auxiliary electrode to different poles of an electric voltage source.

A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a first region comprising a body of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond material comprising a plurality of intergrown grains of diamond material; a second region forming a substrate to the first region; and a third region interposed between the first and second regions. The third region extends across a surface of the second region along an interface. The interface comprises at least a portion having an uneven topology, and the third region comprises a diamond composite material including a first phase comprising a plurality of non-intergrown super hard grains, said super hard grains comprising diamond grains; and a matrix material. The superhard material and matrix material of the third region form a diamond composite material which is more acid resistant than polycrystalline diamond material having a binder-catalyst phase comprising cobalt, and/or more acid resistant than cemented tungsten carbide material.

A super hard polycrystalline construction is disclosed as comprising a first region comprising a body of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond material comprising a plurality of intergrown grains of diamond material; a second region forming a substrate to the first region; and a third region interposed between the first and second regions. The third region extends across a surface of the second region along an interface. The interface comprises at least a portion having an uneven topology, and the third region comprises a diamond composite material including a first phase comprising a plurality of non-intergrown super hard grains, said super hard grains comprising diamond grains; and a matrix material. The superhard material and matrix material of the third region form a diamond composite material which is more acid resistant than polycrystalline diamond material having a binder-catalyst phase comprising cobalt, and/or more acid resistant than cemented tungsten carbide material.

A porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes a composition represented by (1−a)Sn.sub.1-xM.sup.1.sub.x+aM.sup.2+cC, wherein: M.sup.1 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; M.sup.2 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; x is 0≦x≦1; a is 0≦a≦1; and c is 0<c≦99. A method of forming the porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes the steps of dissolving one or more metal salts and a metal salt of polysaccharide to form a mixture; subjecting the mixture to heat treatment under an inert atmosphere to form carbon-metal/alloy composite material and metal salt by-product; and washing the formed carbon-metal/alloy composite material and the metal salt by-product with washing solvent to remove the metal salt by-product and obtain the porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material.

A porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes a composition represented by (1−a)Sn.sub.1-xM.sup.1.sub.x+aM.sup.2+cC, wherein: M.sup.1 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; M.sup.2 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; x is 0≦x≦1; a is 0≦a≦1; and c is 0<c≦99. A method of forming the porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes the steps of dissolving one or more metal salts and a metal salt of polysaccharide to form a mixture; subjecting the mixture to heat treatment under an inert atmosphere to form carbon-metal/alloy composite material and metal salt by-product; and washing the formed carbon-metal/alloy composite material and the metal salt by-product with washing solvent to remove the metal salt by-product and obtain the porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material.

A sodium-chloride-space-holder process with two-step heat treatment is used to create an open-porous metal foam (e.g., titanium foam) with a high porosity of about 70 to 90 percent for use in load-bearing applications. A mechanically reliable titanium foam is manufactured using a space-holder method containing two-step heat treatment where a sodium chloride powder is first sieved for desired pore size range, mixed with titanium powder, and compacted under pressure at high temperature. An additional heat treatment is applied to further strengthen the chemical bonding between the titanium particles after the removal of sodium chloride in water to create pores. This process uses a pneumatic pressing machine in combination with a furnace under an argon gas to simultaneously apply both the pressure and temperature. The resulting titanium foam is chemically well bonded and has enhanced durability for proper used in structural applications.

A sodium-chloride-space-holder process with two-step heat treatment is used to create an open-porous metal foam (e.g., titanium foam) with a high porosity of about 70 to 90 percent for use in load-bearing applications. A mechanically reliable titanium foam is manufactured using a space-holder method containing two-step heat treatment where a sodium chloride powder is first sieved for desired pore size range, mixed with titanium powder, and compacted under pressure at high temperature. An additional heat treatment is applied to further strengthen the chemical bonding between the titanium particles after the removal of sodium chloride in water to create pores. This process uses a pneumatic pressing machine in combination with a furnace under an argon gas to simultaneously apply both the pressure and temperature. The resulting titanium foam is chemically well bonded and has enhanced durability for proper used in structural applications.

The present disclosure provides a sintering assembly and a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) including a acid-labile leach-enhancing material, a PDC including cavities formed by removal of an acid-labile leach-enhancing material, and a method of forming a leached PDC using an acid-labile leach-enhancing material. The present disclosure further includes drill bits using PDCs formed suing an acid-labile leach-enhancing material.