US Synthetic Corporation

Diamicron, Inc.

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Other

Brigham Young University

Michael Alexander Vail

Kenneth Eugene Bertagnolli

Jason Keith Wiggins

Jiang Qian

Debkumar Mukhopadhyay

Richard H Dixon

Clayton Frank Gardinier

Bill Jordan Pope

David Paul Miess

Dean C Blackburn

Kenneth M Jensen

Louis M Pope

Jeffrey K Taylor

C Eugene McMurray

Jeffery Karl Taylor

Paul Douglas Jones

Brandon Paul Linford

Shawn Casey Scott

Kevin Duy Nguyen

Arnold D Cooper

Seth Garrett Anderle

Robert W Arfele

Brian Atkins

Ram L Ladi

Louis McConkie Pope, Ii

Jim I Dewberry

Craig Hodges Cooley

Mark Pehrson Chapman

Troy J Medford

Julie Ann Kidd

Stephen Rudger Adams

Giovani J Gongora

Amy Leigh Rodriguez

S Barrett Peterson

Matthew R Linford

Damon Bart Crockett

Heather Marie Schaefer

Victoriano Carvajal

Adam M Ziegenfelder

Damon B Crocket

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts ('PDC') exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table bonded to a substrate. At least a portion of the PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of interstitial regions includes a metal-solvent catalyst. The plurality of diamond grains exhibit an average grain size of about 30 μm or less. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit an average electrical conductivity of less than about 1200 S/m. Other embodiments are directed to PCD, employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

Polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline diamond compacts, methods of making same, and applications

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond ('PCD') exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, PCD includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. A metal-solvent catalyst occupies at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit a coercivity of about 115 Oersteds (“Oe”) or more and a specific magnetic saturation of about 15 Gauss·cm/grams (“G·cm/g”) or less. Other embodiments are directed to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

Polycrystalline diamond compacts

In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact is disclosed. The method includes sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst to form a polycrystalline diamond body; leaching the polycrystalline diamond body to at least partially remove the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom, thereby forming an at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body; and subjecting an assembly of the at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body and a cemented carbide substrate to a high-pressure/high-temperature process at a pressure to infiltrate the at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body with an infiltrant. The pressure of the high-pressure/high-temperature process is less than that employed in the act of sintering of the plurality of diamond particles.

Polycrystalline diamond compact

Embodiments of methods are disclosed for characterizing a tested superabrasive element, such as a polycrystalline diamond element. In an embodiment, a method of characterizing the relative strength of a superabrasive element is disclosed. A first superabrasive element and a second superabrasive element are positioned upper surface to upper surface, including an area of overlap between the upper surfaces. A load is applied while the first and second superabrasive elements are overlapped until failure of one or both of the first or second superabrasive elements fail. A relative strength is determined using at least the load during failure as a parameter.

Methods for evaluating superabrasive elements

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to cell assemblies for fabricating superhard materials (e.g., used in a high-pressure cubic press) and methods of using the same. The disclosed cell assemblies include a plurality of internal anvils, at least some of which are positioned internally relative to a cell pressure medium of the cell assembly. Such a configuration for the cell assemblies may enable one or more of intensifying cell pressure, reducing processing time, or reducing costs for fabricating such superhard materials.

Cell assemblies and methods of using the same

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond ('PCD') exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, PCD includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. A metal-solvent catalyst occupies at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit a coercivity of about 115 Oersteds ('Oe') or more and a specific magnetic saturation of about 15 Gauss&#xb7;cm/grams ('G&#xb7;cm/g') or less. Other embodiments are directed to polycrystalline diamond compacts (&#x201c;PDCs&#x201d;) employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

Embodiments of the invention relate to bearing assemblies and associated cardiopulmonary bypass blood pumps in which the bearing assembly includes a stator and a rotor each including bearing surfaces oriented so as to be generally opposed to one another. The bearing surface may comprise a polycrystalline diamond material including a plurality of bonded diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions therebetween, in which a non-metallic catalyst (e.g., a carbonate) and/or at least one derivative thereof is disposed interstitially between the bonded diamond grains.

Bearing assembly for use in axial-flow cardiopulmonary bypass blood pumps and related pumps

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts ('PDC') exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a polycrystalline diamond ('PCD') table bonded to a substrate. At least a portion of the PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of interstitial regions includes a metal-solvent catalyst. The plurality of diamond grains exhibit an average grain size of about 30 &#x3bc;m or less. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit an average electrical conductivity of less than about 1200 S/m. Other embodiments are directed to PCD, employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

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.

Carbonate-catalyzed polycrystalline diamond elements, methods of manufacturing the same, and applications therefor

Methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact

In an embodiment, a cell assembly for use in a high-pressure cubic press may include at least one can assembly containing a diamond volume. The at least one can assembly may include an end surface in proximity to the diamond volume. The cell assembly may include at least one heating element including a major surface generally opposing and positioned adjacent to the end surface of the at least one can assembly. The at least one heating element may be positioned and configured to heat the diamond volume. The cell assembly may include at least one pressure transmitting medium extending about the at least one can assembly, and a gasket medium that defines a receiving space configured to receive the at least one can assembly, the one or more heating elements, and the at least one pressure transmitting medium.

Proximity heating cell assembly for use in a high-pressure cubic press

Growing community of inventors

Genola, UT, United States of America

Michael Alexander Vail