Patent ID: 9109413
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: B22F,C22C,E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a body of an earth-boring tool, the method comprising: selecting hard particles consisting essentially of boron carbide and carbides and borides of the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, Cr, Zr, Al, and Si; selecting a binder material comprising approximately 60.5 wt % nickel, about 20.5 wt % chromium, about 9.0 wt % molybdenum, about 5.0 wt % niobium, and about 5.0 wt % iron and having a coefficient of thermal expansion closely matching a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material of the hard particles over a temperature range extending from about 0° C. to about 400° C.; mixing the hard particles and the binder material to form a mixture; pressing the mixture to form a green part; presintering the green part to form a brown part consisting essentially of the hard particles and the binder material; and applying substantially isostatic pressure to the brown part through a pressure transmission medium while sintering the brown part to a final density to form the body of the earth-boring tool to consist essentially of a consolidated hard material substantially free of double-metal carbides and consisting essentially of the hard particles surrounded by and directly contacting a continuous phase consisting essentially of the binder material.