CPC B24D 3/007 (2013.01) [B24D 3/10 (2013.01); C22C 1/04 (2013.01); C22C 1/05 (2013.01); C22C 1/051 (2013.01); E21B 10/55 (2013.01); E21B 10/5673 (2013.01); E21B 10/62 (2013.01); E21B 10/633 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact, the method comprising:
leaching at least a portion of at least one interstitial constituent from a polycrystalline diamond table to a leach depth measured inwardly from an upper surface and to a lateral leach depth measured inwardly from at least one lateral surface of the polycrystalline diamond table to form a leached region, the leach depth being less than a depth of the polycrystalline diamond table to produce an unleached region;
after leaching the polycrystalline diamond table, forming a plurality of recessed features that extend from the upper surface of the polycrystalline diamond table to a depth less than the leach depth of the leached region such that the plurality of recessed features are entirely contained within the leached region and do not extend into the unleached region of the polycrystalline diamond table; and
forming at least a portion of one recessed feature of the plurality of recessed features proximate to an anticipated leach boundary-wear intersection location;
wherein forming the plurality of recessed features forms a plurality of cells on the upper surface that are at least partially defined by the plurality of recessed features.
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