Patent ID: 8191658

Claim:
A method of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool, comprising: providing a first powder comprising diamond crystals adjacent a surface of a cutting element substrate; providing a layer of barrier material adjacent the first powder on a side thereof opposite the cutting element substrate; providing a second powder comprising diamond crystals adjacent the layer of barrier material on a side thereof opposite the first powder; subjecting the cutting element substrate, the first powder, the layer of barrier material, and the second powder to high temperature and high pressure conditions and forming a first layer of polycrystalline diamond material from the first powder and a second layer of polycrystalline diamond material from the second powder; catalyzing the formation of at least the first layer of polycrystalline diamond material from the first powder using catalytic material for catalyzing the formation of polycrystalline diamond material from individual diamond crystals; infiltrating a portion of the layer of barrier material proximate the first layer of polycrystalline diamond material with the catalytic material; hindering the catalytic material from migrating across the layer of barrier material; and infiltrating interstitial spaces between diamond crystals in the second layer of polycrystalline diamond material proximate the layer of barrier material with the barrier material.