Hard composite with deformable constituent and method of applying to earth-engaging tool
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsHarold Sreshta, Eric F Drake, Douglas B Caraway
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hardmetal composite used as wear-resistant surfaces and inlays in earth-engaging equipment includes more than one hardphase. At least one hardphase has a high average particle size, for example, from 100 μm to 2000 μm. The hardphases vary in terms of particle size, hardness, and binder content, and at least one hardphase includes a particulate constituent capable of plastic deformation that comprises at least 1% residual porosity.
Claims22
A hardmetal composite, comprising:
- a solid state forged product of:
- a primary hardphase;
- at least one secondary hardphase, at least one of the primary hardphase and the at least one secondary hardphase having a particulate constituent having a residual porosity and which exhibits plastic deformation under pressure, and having at least 15% residual porosity;
- and
- a steel matrix comprised of iron powder;
- wherein the particulate constituent of the at least one secondary hardphase has an average particle size smaller than an average particle size of the primary hardphase.
An earth-engaging tool comprising hardsurfacing comprised of multiple carbide hard phases, comprising:
- a primary hardphase;
- at least one secondary hardphase, at least one of the primary hardphase and the at least one secondary hardphase having a particulate constituent having a residual porosity and which exhibits plastic deformation under pressure, and having at least 15% residual porosity;
- and
- a steel matrix comprised of iron powder;
- wherein the particulate constituent of the at least one secondary hardphase has an average particle size smaller than an average particle size of the primary hardphase.
A method comprising:
- selecting hardphases comprising:
- a primary hardphase;
- at least one secondary hardphase, at least one of the primary hardphase and the at least one secondary hardphase having a particulate constituent having a residual porosity and which exhibits plastic deformation under pressure, and having at least 15% residual porosity;
- and
- a steel matrix comprised of iron powder;
- wherein the particulate constituent of the at least one secondary hardphase has an average particle size smaller than an average particle size of the primary hardphase;
- encapsulating particles of said hardphases in a malleable matrix material to form a hardmetal composite,
- applying a desired amount of the encapsulated particles to the surface of a substrate;
- and
- finishing the substrate by forging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.