Cubic boron nitride (cBN) composites with addition of TiN, TiC and Ti3SiC2 as a binding phase were studied. The composites prepared by high-pressure (7 GPa) hot pressing (1750degreesC) were characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermodynamic calculations indicated that TiN and TiC react with cBN, forming new phases in very wide range of temperature and pressure. TEM observations proved a complex structure of the cBN/TiN/TiC/Ti3SiC2 composites and confirmed the formation of new phases, i.e., TiB2 and SiB4 at the BN/binding phase interface. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.