METHOD FOR ATTACHING A PRE-SINTERED BODY OF ULTRAHARD MATERIAL TO A SUBSTRATE

A method of attaching a body of superhard material to a substrate comprises placing a layer of a first brazing material on or over at least a portion of a surface of the substrate; the first brazing material having an associated melting temperature. A second brazing material is located between the first brazing material and a face of a pre-formed body of superhard material to form an assembly; the second brazing material having an associated melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the first brazing material. The assembly is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the second brazing material and bond the second brazing material to the superhard material and to the first brazing material. The heating temperature is then reduced to a temperature below the melting point of the second brazing material for a period of time to diffuse the second brazing material into the first brazing material to form a brazing mixture having a melting point greater than the melting point of the first brazing material and to form a bonded assembly of the superhard material and the substrate.