Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) including a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) table in which a metal-solvent catalyst is alloyed with at least one alloying element to improve thermal stability and/or wear resistance of the PCD table. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The PCD table includes an alloy comprising at least one Group VIII metal and at least one metallic alloying element such as phosphorous.

Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) including a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) table in which a metal-solvent catalyst is alloyed with at least one alloying element to improve thermal stability and/or wear resistance of the PCD table. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The PCD table includes an alloy comprising at least one Group VIII metal and at least one metallic alloying element such as phosphorous.

Disclosed is a process for making a grinding wheel for the squaring of ceramic, formed by a support body and an abrasive ring. The process does not involve costly workings on the body and on the ring and produces a light grinding wheel which, therefore, is more practical to be handled by the handling machine.

Disclosed is a process for making a grinding wheel for the squaring of ceramic, formed by a support body and an abrasive ring. The process does not involve costly workings on the body and on the ring and produces a light grinding wheel which, therefore, is more practical to be handled by the handling machine.

The invention relates to a PCD composite compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded at an interface to a cemented carbide substrate; the PCD structure comprising coherently bonded diamond grains having a mean size no greater than 15 microns; the cemented carbide substrate comprising carbide particles dispersed in a metallic binder, the carbide particles comprising a carbide compound of a metal; wherein the ratio of the amount of metallic binder to the amount of the metal at points in the substrate deviates from a mean value by at most 20 percent of the mean value. The invention further relates to a method for making a PDC compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded to a substrate formed of cemented carbide; the method including introducing a source of excess carbon to the substrate at a bonding surface of the substrate to form a carburised substrate; contacting an aggregated mass of diamond grains with the carburised substrate; and sintering the diamond grains in the presence of a solvent/catalyst material for diamond; wherein the mean size of the diamond grains in the aggregated mass is no greater than 30 microns.

The invention relates to a PCD composite compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded at an interface to a cemented carbide substrate; the PCD structure comprising coherently bonded diamond grains having a mean size no greater than 15 microns; the cemented carbide substrate comprising carbide particles dispersed in a metallic binder, the carbide particles comprising a carbide compound of a metal; wherein the ratio of the amount of metallic binder to the amount of the metal at points in the substrate deviates from a mean value by at most 20 percent of the mean value. The invention further relates to a method for making a PDC compact element comprising a PCD structure integrally bonded to a substrate formed of cemented carbide; the method including introducing a source of excess carbon to the substrate at a bonding surface of the substrate to form a carburised substrate; contacting an aggregated mass of diamond grains with the carburised substrate; and sintering the diamond grains in the presence of a solvent/catalyst material for diamond; wherein the mean size of the diamond grains in the aggregated mass is no greater than 30 microns.

A polishing pad or polishing tape with abrasive particles (e.g., diamond, aluminum-oxide, silicon-carbide, etc.) having an average particle size of between approximately 0.5 micrometers (m) and 5.0 m, which are strongly adhered with water-insoluble binders to a flexible and lens-conformable substrate having a cushion so that there is little-to-no shedding or release of the particles from the substrate.

A polishing pad or polishing tape with abrasive particles (e.g., diamond, aluminum-oxide, silicon-carbide, etc.) having an average particle size of between approximately 0.5 micrometers (m) and 5.0 m, which are strongly adhered with water-insoluble binders to a flexible and lens-conformable substrate having a cushion so that there is little-to-no shedding or release of the particles from the substrate.

PDCs, methods of fabricating the PDCs, and methods of using the PDCs are disclosed herein. The PDCs include a PCD table bonded to a substrate. The PCD table includes an upper surface having a plurality of recessed features formed therein. The plurality of recessed features are configured to attract at least some cracks that form in the PCD table. As such, the plurality of recessed features limit or prevent crack propagation into other portions of the PCD table and limit a volume of the PCD table that spalls. Methods of fabricating the PDCs include partially leaching the PCD table and, after leaching the PCD table, forming the plurality of recessed features in the upper surface thereof. Method of using the PDCs include rotating a PDC that has spalled relative to a rotary drill bit such that a portion of the upper surface of the PDC that has not spalled forms a cutting surface thereof.

PDCs, methods of fabricating the PDCs, and methods of using the PDCs are disclosed herein. The PDCs include a PCD table bonded to a substrate. The PCD table includes an upper surface having a plurality of recessed features formed therein. The plurality of recessed features are configured to attract at least some cracks that form in the PCD table. As such, the plurality of recessed features limit or prevent crack propagation into other portions of the PCD table and limit a volume of the PCD table that spalls. Methods of fabricating the PDCs include partially leaching the PCD table and, after leaching the PCD table, forming the plurality of recessed features in the upper surface thereof. Method of using the PDCs include rotating a PDC that has spalled relative to a rotary drill bit such that a portion of the upper surface of the PDC that has not spalled forms a cutting surface thereof.