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Abstract

A method of making a construction comprising a polycrystalline super-hard structure joined to a side surface of an elongate substrate. The method includes: providing a vessel configured for an ultra-high pressure, high temperature furnace, the vessel having an elongate cavity for containing a pre-sinter assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the cavity having opposite ends connected by a cavity wall. The pre-sinter assembly comprises the substrate, an aggregation comprising a plurality of super-hard grains arranged over at least a part of the side surface of the substrate, and a spacer structure configured for spacing the substrate apart from the cavity wall. The spacer structure comprises material having a Young's modulus of at least 300 GPa. The method further includes inserting the pre-sinter assembly into the cavity, the substrate being substantially longitudinally aligned and the spacer structure arranged between the side surface of the substrate and the cavity wall; applying a force to the pre-sinter assembly and heating it to a temperature, the force being sufficient to generate a pressure within the vessel for sintering the aggregation at the temperature, and providing the construction.

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First Claim