Patent attributes
A method of making a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising placing an aggregated mass of grains of superhard material into a canister, placing a ceramic layer either in direct contact with the aggregated mass of grains of superhard material or in indirect contact therewith, the ceramic layer being spaced from the grains by an interlayer of material when present, the ceramic layer having a surface with surface topology, the surface topology imprinting a pattern in the aggregated mass of grains of superhard material complementary to the surface topology, the ceramic material and the material of the interlayer being such that they do not react chemically with the superhard material and/or a sinter catalyst material for the grains of superhard material. The aggregated mass of grains of superhard material and ceramic layer are subjected to a pressure of greater than 5.5 GPa and sintered to form a body of polycrystalline superhard material having a surface topology complementary to the surface topology of the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer and interlayer if present are then removed from the body of polycrystalline material. There is also disclosed a body of polycrystalline superhard material having a surface topology on a first surface, the first surface being substantially free of material from a canister used in formation of the body of polycrystalline superhard material.
