METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUPERHARD MATERIALS Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: production of superhard materials consisting, predominantly, of diamond or cubic boron nitride for use in mechanical engineering, instrument engineering, mining industry. SUBSTANCE: mixture of starting material and catalyst is placed into sheathing made of heat-resistant material, on top of which compensating material is placed having melting temperature equal to temperature, at which crystallization of superhard material begins. Melting of compensating material is accompanied by overall increase of volume of entire system. Mixture of starting material plus catalyst and compensating material are taken in volume ratio equal to (2-6):1. As compensating material, method employs fluorides or chlorides of alkali metals or ammonium. EFFECT: good-quality mono- or polycrystalline powders finding wide range of applications. 2 cl