Metal-matrix composites reinforced with a refractory metal

A drill bit, comprising:

• a bit body;
• and
• a plurality of cutting elements coupled to an exterior of the bit body,
• wherein at least a portion of the bit body comprises a hard composite portion that comprises a reinforcement material infiltrated with a binder material,
• wherein the reinforcement material comprises a refractory metal component dispersed with reinforcing particles,
• wherein a surface roughness of the reinforcing particles is at least two times greater than a surface roughness of the refractory metal component,
• wherein the refractory metal component has a failure strain of at least 0.05 and a shear modulus of 200 GPa or less, and
• wherein the reinforcing particles have a failure strain of 0.01 or less and at least five times less than the failure strain of the refractory metal component, and the reinforcing particles have a shear modulus of greater than 200 GPa and at least two times greater than the shear modulus of the refractory metal component.

A drilling assembly, comprising:

• a drill string extendable from a drilling platform and into a wellbore;
• a drill bit attached to an end of the drill string;
• and
• a pump fluidly connected to the drill string and configured to circulate a drilling fluid to the drill bit and through the wellbore, wherein the drill bit comprises a bit body and a plurality of cutting elements coupled to an exterior of the bit body, and
• wherein at least a portion of the bit body comprises a hard composite portion that comprises a reinforcement material infiltrated with a binder material,
• wherein the reinforcement material comprises a refractory metal component dispersed with reinforcing particles,
• wherein a surface roughness of the reinforcing particles is at least two times greater than a surface roughness of the refractory metal component,
• wherein the refractory metal component has a failure strain of at least 0.05 and a shear modulus of 200 GPa or less, and
• wherein the reinforcing particles have a failure strain of 0.01 or less and at least five times less than the failure strain of the refractory metal component, and the reinforcing particles have a shear modulus of greater than 200 GPa and at least two times greater than the shear modulus of the refractory metal component.