Composite constructions having ordered microstructures

A composite construction comprising:

• an ordered microstructure made up of a plurality of structural units that each comprise at least a first and a second structural phase;
• wherein the first structural phase comprises a hard material formed from polycrystalline diamond;
• and
• wherein the second structural phase comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, W, Mo, Cu, Al, Nb, Ti, Ta, cermet materials, and alloys thereof, the second structural phase being in contact with at least a portion of the first structural phase;
• and
• wherein the multiple structural units are disposed across a working surface of the composite construction.

A multi-layer construction comprising:

• a first layer;
• and
• a second layer disposed onto a surface of the first layer;
• wherein at least one of the first or second layers comprises a composite construction having an ordered microstructure made up of multiple structural units that each comprise at least a first structural phase and a second structural phase, wherein the first structural phase comprises a hard material selected from the group consisting of cermet materials, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, and mixtures thereof, wherein the second structural phase comprises a material that is different than that used to form the first structural phase, the second structural phase being in contact with at least a portion of the first structural phase.

A multi-layer construction comprising:

• a first layer;
• and
• a second layer disposed onto a surface of the first layer;
• and
• a third layer disposed onto a surface of the second layer;
• wherein the second layer comprises a composite construction having an ordered microstructure made up of multiple structural units that each comprise at least a first structural phase and a second structural phase, wherein the first structural phase comprises a hard material selected from the group consisting of cermet materials, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, and mixtures thereof, wherein the second structural phase comprises a material that is different than that used to form the first structural phase, the second structural phase being in contact with at least a portion of the first structural phase;
• and
• wherein the first and third layers are each formed from the group of materials selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, W, Mo, Cu, Al, Nb, Ti, Ta, cermet materials, and alloys thereof.

A roller cone drill bit comprising:

• a body having a number of legs that extend therefrom;
• cutting cones rotatably disposed on an end of each leg;
• a plurality of cutting inserts disposed in the cutting cones, wherein at least a portion of the cutting inserts are formed from a composite construction having an ordered microstructure made up of multiple structural units that each comprise at least a first structural phase and a second structural phase;
• wherein the first structural phase comprises a hard material selected from the group consisting of cermet materials, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• wherein the second structural phase comprises a material that is different than that used to form the first structural phase, the second structural phase being in contact with at least a portion of the first structural phase;
• and
• wherein the multiple structural units are disposed across a working surface of the composite construction.

A drag drill bit comprising:

• a body having a head and having a number of blades extending away from a head surface, the blades being adapted to engage a subterranean formation during drilling;
• a plurality of shear cutters disposed in the blades to contact the subterranean formation during drilling, each shear cutter comprising a substrate and a layer of cutting material disposed thereof, the cutting material comprising a composite construction having an ordered microstructure made up of multiple structural units that each comprise at least a first structural phase and a second structural phase;
• wherein the first structural phase comprises a hard material selected from the group consisting of cermet materials, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• wherein the second structural phase comprises a material that is different than that used to form the first structural phase, the second structural phase being in contact with at least a portion of the first structural phase;
• and
• wherein the multiple structural units are disposed across a working surface of the composite construction.