A method of forming a super hard PCD construction comprises forming an aggregated mass comprising a catalyst/solvent material for diamond, and one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, forming a pre-sinter assembly comprising the aggregated mass and a plurality of diamond grains and treating the pre-sinter assembly at UHPT to form a PCD construction. Residual catalyst/solvent and one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, in non-carbide form at least partially fill a plurality of interstitial regions in the PCD. There is also disclosed a superhard PCD construction comprising a body of PCD material formed of a mass of diamond grains and a non-superhard phase at least partially filling a plurality of interstitial regions, wherein the non-superhard phase comprises one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, in the non-carbide form.

A method of forming a super hard PCD construction comprises forming an aggregated mass comprising a catalyst/solvent material for diamond, and one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, forming a pre-sinter assembly comprising the aggregated mass and a plurality of diamond grains and treating the pre-sinter assembly at UHPT to form a PCD construction. Residual catalyst/solvent and one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, in non-carbide form at least partially fill a plurality of interstitial regions in the PCD. There is also disclosed a superhard PCD construction comprising a body of PCD material formed of a mass of diamond grains and a non-superhard phase at least partially filling a plurality of interstitial regions, wherein the non-superhard phase comprises one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Sc, and/or Y, in the non-carbide form.

A method of producing a free standing PCD comprises forming a mass of combined diamond particles and precursor compound(s) for the metals of the metallic network by suspending the diamond particles in a liquid, and crystallising and/or precipitating the precursor compounds in the liquid. The mass is then removed from suspension by sedimentation and/or evaporation to form a dry powder of combined diamond particles and precursor compound(s). The powder is subjected to a heat treatment to dissociate and reduce the precursor compound(s) to form metal particles smaller in size than the diamond particles to provide a homogeneous mass. This is then consolidated using isostatic compaction to form a homogeneous cohesive green body of a pre-selected size and 3-dimensional shape. The green body is subjected to high pressure and high temperature conditions such that the metallic material wholly or in part becomes molten and facilitates diamond particle to particle bonding via partial diamond re-crystallisation to form a free standing PCD body.

A method of producing a free standing PCD comprises forming a mass of combined diamond particles and precursor compound(s) for the metals of the metallic network by suspending the diamond particles in a liquid, and crystallising and/or precipitating the precursor compounds in the liquid. The mass is then removed from suspension by sedimentation and/or evaporation to form a dry powder of combined diamond particles and precursor compound(s). The powder is subjected to a heat treatment to dissociate and reduce the precursor compound(s) to form metal particles smaller in size than the diamond particles to provide a homogeneous mass. This is then consolidated using isostatic compaction to form a homogeneous cohesive green body of a pre-selected size and 3-dimensional shape. The green body is subjected to high pressure and high temperature conditions such that the metallic material wholly or in part becomes molten and facilitates diamond particle to particle bonding via partial diamond re-crystallisation to form a free standing PCD body.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to pore inducers and porous abrasive forms made using the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of forming a porous abrasive form including heating an abrasive composition including pore inducers to form the porous abrasive form. During the heating the pore inducers in the porous abrasive form reduce in volume to form induced pores in the porous abrasive form.

In an embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond compact includes a substrate and a preformed polycrystalline diamond table bonded to the substrate. The table includes bonded diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The table includes an upper surface, a back surface bonded to the substrate, and at least one lateral surface extending therebetween. The table includes a first region extending inwardly from the upper surface and the lateral surface. The first region exhibits a first interstitial region concentration and includes at least one interstitial constituent disposed therein, which may be present in at least a residual amount and includes at least one metal carbonate and/or at least one metal oxide. The table includes a second bonding region adjacent to the substrate that extends inwardly from the back surface. The second bonding region exhibits a second interstitial region concentration that is greater than the first interstitial region concentration and includes a metallic infiltrant therein.

In an embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond compact includes a substrate and a preformed polycrystalline diamond table bonded to the substrate. The table includes bonded diamond grains defining interstitial regions. The table includes an upper surface, a back surface bonded to the substrate, and at least one lateral surface extending therebetween. The table includes a first region extending inwardly from the upper surface and the lateral surface. The first region exhibits a first interstitial region concentration and includes at least one interstitial constituent disposed therein, which may be present in at least a residual amount and includes at least one metal carbonate and/or at least one metal oxide. The table includes a second bonding region adjacent to the substrate that extends inwardly from the back surface. The second bonding region exhibits a second interstitial region concentration that is greater than the first interstitial region concentration and includes a metallic infiltrant therein.

In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) includes forming a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) table in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst in a first high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) process. The PCD table includes bonded diamond grains defining interstitial regions, with the metal-solvent catalyst disposed therein. The method includes at least partially leaching the PCD table to remove at least a portion of the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom. The method includes subjecting the at least partially leached PCD table and a substrate to a second HPHT process under diamond-stable temperature-pressure conditions to partially infiltrate the at least partially leached PCD table with an infiltrant. A maximum temperature (T), a total process time (t), and a maximum pressure (P) of the second HPHT process are chosen so that is about 2 Celsius.Math.hours/gigapascals ( C..Math.h/GPa) to about 325 C..Math.h/GPa, with represented as =T.Math.t/P.

In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) includes forming a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) table in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst in a first high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) process. The PCD table includes bonded diamond grains defining interstitial regions, with the metal-solvent catalyst disposed therein. The method includes at least partially leaching the PCD table to remove at least a portion of the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom. The method includes subjecting the at least partially leached PCD table and a substrate to a second HPHT process under diamond-stable temperature-pressure conditions to partially infiltrate the at least partially leached PCD table with an infiltrant. A maximum temperature (T), a total process time (t), and a maximum pressure (P) of the second HPHT process are chosen so that is about 2 Celsius.Math.hours/gigapascals ( C..Math.h/GPa) to about 325 C..Math.h/GPa, with represented as =T.Math.t/P.

Superabrasive elements may be produced by method 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 polycrystalline diamond table includes a superabrasive face and a superabrasive side surface extending around an outer periphery of the superabrasive face. 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 by (1) exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline diamond table to a processing solution, (2) exposing an electrode to the processing solution, and (3) applying a charge to the electrode.