Matrix powder for matrix body fixed cutter bits

• US 8,211,203 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Inventors: Sheng, Xiayang, Lockstedt, Alan W., Lockwood, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, NGOCLAN THI
• Application Number:
  US12/189,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20090260893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 752/40, 752/52, 175/374
• US Class Current: 75/252
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 1/052 characterised by a mixture of particles of different sizes or by the particle size distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/00 Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 19/07 based on cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 29/08 based on tungsten carbide

Abstract

A matrix powder for forming a matrix bit body, the matrix powder essentially consisting of a plurality of carbide particles having a particle size distribution of ±20% of a median particle size; and a plurality of metal binder particles is disclosed.

Claims

1. A matrix powder for forming a matrix bit body, the matrix powder consisting essentially of:

a plurality of tungsten carbide particles having a particle size distribution of ±

20% or less of a median particle size; and

a plurality of metal binder particles;

wherein the plurality of carbide particles comprise at least one of cast tungsten carbide, cemented tungsten carbide, or macrocrystalline tungsten carbide and the mean particle size of the plurality of carbide particles ranges from 50 to 840 microns.

2. The matrix powder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of metal binder particles comprise 8 to 12 wt % of the matrix powder.

3. The matrix powder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of carbide particles comprise at least one of spherical cast tungsten carbide and crushed cast tungsten carbide.

4. A matrix powder for forming a matrix bit body, the matrix powder consisting essentially of:

a plurality of tungsten carbide particles, wherein 90% of the plurality of carbide particles have a particle size within 20% or less of a median particle size of the plurality of carbide particles; and

a plurality of metal binder particles;

wherein the plurality of carbide particles comprise at least one of cast tungsten carbide, cemented tungsten carbide, or macrocrystalline tungsten carbide and the mean particle size of the plurality of carbide particles ranges from 50 to 840 microns.

5. The matrix powder of claim 4, wherein the plurality of metal binder particles comprise 8 to 12 wt % of the matrix powder.

6. The matrix powder of claim 4, wherein the plurality of carbide particles comprise at least one of spherical cast tungsten carbide and crushed cast tungsten carbide.