Patent ID: 8016057

Claim:
A subterranean drill bit comprising: (a) at least one cutting element, and (b) a bit body having an infiltrated metal matrix, wherein the infiltrated metal matrix comprises: (i) an infiltrant, and (ii) a matrix powder mixture comprising: (A) about 30 to about 90 weight percent of a first component powder, the first component powder consisting of particles of cast tungsten carbide of −30 (600 micron) +140 (106 micron) in particle size; (B) about 10 to about 70 weight percent of a second component powder, the second component powder consisting of particles of at least one selected from the group consisting of macrocrystalline tungsten carbide, carburized tungsten carbide, and cemented tungsten carbide; and (C) up to about 12 weight percent of a third component powder, the third component powder consisting of particles of at least one selected from the group consisting of transition metals, main group metals, and alloys and combinations thereof; wherein the bit body carries the cutting element and the matrix powder mixture contains substantially no particles of the first component powder of −140 mesh (106 micron) in particle size and particles of the first component powder having a particle size of +100 mesh (150 microns) account for at least 15 weight percent of the matrix powder mixture.