High-strength matrix body
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorsKuttaripalayam T. Kembaiyan, Thomas W. Oldham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A new composition for making an improved high-strength matrix body and methods of making the matrix body are disclosed. The new composition includes large-grain carburized tungsten carbide, an infiltration binder, and optionally cast tungsten carbide. The high-strength matrix body is formed from the new composition by an infiltration process. Suitable infiltration binders include all transition metals and all main group metals. To obtain optimal physical properties, large-grain carburized tungsten carbide is mixed with cast tungsten carbide and Ni powder before infiltration. The high-strength matrix body has improved braze strength. Such matrix bodies are suitable for manufacturing bit bodies for PDC drill bits and other earth-boring devices.
Claims48
A new composition for forming a matrix body, comprising:
- agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide;
- and
- an infiltration binder including one or more metals or alloys.
A high-strength matrix body manufactured by the method, comprising:
- providing a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide;
- and
- infiltrating the composition by an infiltration binder including one or more metals or alloys.
An earth-boring bit comprising:
- a body formed from a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof, the composition infiltrated by an infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- and
- a cutter which is fixedly attached to the body.
A polycrystalline diamond compact bit comprising:
- a body with a lower end having a face, the body formed from a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof, the composition infiltrated by an infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- a plurality of pockets in the face of the body;
- and
- a plurality of cutters in the pockets,
- wherein the cutters include a polycrystalline diamond compact.
An impregnated bit, comprising:
- a bit body support;
- a matrix body attached to the bit body support, the matrix body formed from a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof, the composition infiltrated by an infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- and
- a particle of superhard material bonded in the matrix body.
A method of making a high-strength matrix body, comprising:
- providing a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide;
- and
- infiltrating the composition by an infiltration binder including one or more metals or alloys thereof.
A method of making an earth-boring bit, comprising:
- providing a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof;
- forming a matrix body from the composition by infiltrating the composition by an infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- and
- attaching a cutter fixedly to the matrix body.
A method of making a polycrystalline diamond compact bit, comprising:
- providing a composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof;
- forming a matrix body with a lower end having a face, the body formed from the composition by infiltrating the composition by an infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- forming a plurality of pockets in the face of the matrix body;
- and
- placing a plurality of cutters in the pockets,
- wherein the cutters include a polycrystalline diamond compact.
A method of making an impregnated bit, comprising:
- providing a bit body support;
- forming a matrix body by infiltrating a composition by an infiltration binder, the composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof, the infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- and
- attaching the matrix body to the bit body support,
- wherein a particle of superhard material is embedded in the matrix body.
A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising:
- providing an earth-boring bit having a matrix body and a cutter, the matrix body formed from a composition by infiltrating the composition by an infiltration binder, the composition including agglomerated carburized tungsten carbide and a Group VIIIB metal selected from one of Ni, Co, Fe, and alloys thereof, the infiltration binder including one or more transition metals or alloys thereof;
- and
- contacting the earth-boring bit with an earthen formation to drill a wellbore,
- wherein the cutter is fixedly attached to the matrix body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.