Superabrasive compact including diamond-silicon carbide composite, methods of fabrication thereof, and applications therefor

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to diamond-silicon carbide composites, superabrasive compacts including such diamond-silicon carbide composites, and methods of fabricating such diamond-silicon carbide composites and superabrasive compacts. In one embodiment, a superabrasive compact includes a substrate and a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate. The superabrasive table comprises diamond-silicon carbide composite including a matrix comprising nanometer-sized silicon carbide grains and micrometer-sized diamond grains dispersed through the matrix. In another embodiment, a method of fabricating a superabrasive compact is disclosed. An assembly comprising a mixture including diamond particles and silicon is formed. The silicon comprises amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon crystallized from amorphous silicon formed by a milling process, or combinations thereof. A substrate is positioned in proximity to the mixture. The assembly is subjected to heat and pressure to form a superabrasive compact comprising a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate. The superabrasive table comprises diamond-silicon carbide composite including diamond grains dispersed through a matrix of silicon carbide grains.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.