Method of manufacturing a diamond composite and a composite produced by same

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a diamond composite and a diamond composite produced thereby. This patent application is related to PCT patent application nos. PCT/EP98/04414 and PCT/EP98/05579, and to Russian Patent Application Nos. 98118300 filed Sep. 28, 1998 and 99100821 filed January 26, 1999, which are hereby incorporated by reference. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a diamond composite from diamond particles, comprising the steps of forming a work piece, heating the work piece and controlling the heating temperature and heating time so that a certain desired amount of graphite is created by graphitization of diamond particles, thereby creating an intermediate body, and infiltrating silicon or silicon alloy into the intermediate body. The invention also relates to a diamond composite produced by this method.