Patent ID: 8292006

Claim:
A cutting element for use in subterranean drilling applications, comprising: a substrate; at least one transition layer bonded to the substrate, the at least one transition layer comprising: a continuous first matrix phase; and a discontinuous first diamond phase dispersed throughout the first matrix phase, wherein the volume percentage of the first diamond phase in the at least one transition layer is about 50% or less; and a working layer bonded to the at least one transition layer on a side thereof opposite the substrate, the working layer comprising: a continuous second matrix phase; and a discontinuous second diamond phase dispersed throughout the second matrix phase, wherein the volume percentage of the second diamond phase in the working layer is at least about 50%, the volume percentage of the second diamond phase in the working layer is greater than the volume percentage of the first diamond phase in the at least one transition layer, and the working layer is at least substantially free of polycrystalline diamond material.