Patent ID: 8191445

Claim:
A method of forming an infiltrated drill bit including a cutting section including a matrix having a plurality of abrasive cutting media therein, wherein said matrix is configured to erode and continually expose new abrasive cutting media during drilling operations, comprising: mixing a matrix of hard particulate material and a plurality of abrasive cutting media, to form a cutting segment, wherein said matrix of hard particulate material comprises one or more of tungsten carbide, tungsten, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, or mixtures thereof, creating voids or at least partially preventing the consolidation of voids in said matrix by mixing a plurality of fibers having a diameter of between about 1 micron and about 500 microns in said matrix, said voids decreasing the strength of said cutting segment and thereby allowing said matrix to more easily erode during drilling operations; and infiltrating said cutting segment with a binder including one or more of copper zinc, silver, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, or alloys thereof.