A method of manufacturing a polycrystalline abrasive construction comprises providing a plurality of particles of a superhard material, the particles coated with a first matrix precursor material, providing a plurality of second matrix precursor particles having an average size less than 2 micron, the second matrix precursor particles including a liquid phase sintering agent, mixing together the plurality of particles of superhard material with particles of the second matrix precursor material and consolidating and sintering the particles of superhard material and the particles of matrix precursor material. A polycrystalline abrasive construction comprises a particles of a superhard material dispersed in a matrix material comprising a material derived from a liquid phase sintering aid and chemical barrier particles having an average particle size of less than 100 nm dispersed in the matrix. Greater than 50% of the chemical barrier particles are located substantially at boundaries between superhard particles and the matrix.