Abstract: In one aspect, articles are described herein comprising composite claddings which, in some embodiments, demonstrate desirable properties including thermal conductivity, transverse rupture strength, fracture toughness, wear resistance and/or erosion resistance. Briefly, an article described herein comprises a metallic substrate, and a cladding adhered to the metallic substrate, the cladding comprising at least 10 weight percent of sintered cemented carbide pellets dispersed in matrix metal or matrix alloy, the sintered cemented carbide pellets having a spherical shape, spheroidal shape, or a mixture of spherical and spheroidal shapes.

Abstract: A flowable composite particle that includes a plurality of bound hard particles and a binder alloy. The bound hard particles are unfractured bound hard particles and fractured bound hard particles. Each of the bound hard particles is bonded to the binder alloy. The bound hard particles have a particle size of ?325 Mesh. The flowable composite particle have a particle size distribution is: (a) between more than about zero weight percent and about 5 weight percent flowable composite particles of a +80 Mesh particle size, (b) between about 60 weight percent and about 95 weight percent flowable composite particles of a ?80+325 Mesh particle size, and (c) between more than about zero weight percent and about 35 weight percent flowable composite particles of a ?325 Mesh particle size.

Abstract: A flowable composite particle that includes a plurality of bound hard particles and a binder alloy. The bound hard particles are unfractured bound hard particles and fractured bound hard particles. Each of the bound hard particles is bonded to the binder alloy. The bound hard particles have a particle size of ?325 Mesh. The flowable composite particle have a particle size distribution is: (a) between more than about zero weight percent and about 5 weight percent flowable composite particles of a +80 Mesh particle size, (b) between about 60 weight percent and about 95 weight percent flowable composite particles of a ?80+325 Mesh particle size, and (c) between more than about zero weight percent and about 35 weight percent flowable composite particles of a ?325 Mesh particle size.

Abstract: A hard composite member produced by a rapid omni-directional compaction process that includes the steps of: providing a pre-compaction composite comprising a substrate, a superhard member and a layer of braze between the substrate and the superhard member; placing the pre-compaction composite in a pressure transmitting material contained within a shell to form an isostatic die assembly; heating the isostatic die assembly to a temperature at which the pressure-transmitting material is capable of fluidic flow and wherein the temperature ranges between greater than the melting point of the braze layer and less than or equal to about 1200° C.; and in a forging press, compressing the isostatic die assembly to consolidate the pre-compaction composite under omnidirectional pressure at a pressure equal to or greater than about 60,000 psi into a dense, consolidated body.

Abstract: Subterranean drill bits having good erosion resistance, strength, toughness, and thermal stability are disclosed. The drill bits comprise a bit body carrying at least one cutting element and having an infiltrated metal matrix. The infiltrated metal matrix comprises a matrix powder composition bound together by an infiltrant. The matrix powder mixture includes cast tungsten carbide powder having a particle size of ?30 (600 micron) +140 mesh (106 micron), a second component powder consisting of one or more other types of tungsten carbide particles, and a metal powder.

Abstract: A blade, which is useful on a tool that impinges earth strata, that has a blade body with a leading surface. The blade body has a first portion defining at least a part of the leading surface and a second portion. The first portion is made of a first material composition and the second portion is made of a second material composition.

Abstract: Subterranean drill bits having good erosion resistance, strength, toughness, and thermal stability are disclosed. The drill bits comprise a bit body carrying at least one cutting element and having an infiltrated metal matrix. The infiltrated metal matrix comprises a matrix powder composition bound together by an infiltrant. The matrix powder mixture includes cast tungsten carbide powder having a particle size of ?30 (600 micron) +140 mesh (106 micron), a second component powder consisting of one or more other types of tungsten carbide particles, and a metal powder.

Abstract: A cutting bit for impinging earth strata wherein the cutting bit includes a highly wear-resistant elongate cutting bit body, which has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end, an enlarged dimension head portion at the axial forward end and a reduced dimension shank portion at the axial rearward end. The highly wear-resistant elongate cutting bit body has a maximum transverse dimension and a longitudinal axial length. The cutting bit includes a superhard insert, which is affixed to the head portion at the axial forward end of the cutting bit body. The cutting bit has a slimness ratio, which comprises the ratio of the maximum transverse dimension to the longitudinal axial length wherein the cutting bit exhibits a slimness ratio ranging between about 0.15 and about 0.60.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool carried in a bore of a holder wherein the holder has a forward surface surrounding a forward end of the bore. The rotatable cutting tool includes an elongate cutting tool body that has a central longitudinal axis, an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The cutting tool body contains a socket in the axial forward end thereof whereby the socket receives a hard insert therein. The cutting tool body has an enlarged diameter collar mediate of the axial forward end and the axial rearward end. The mediate collar presents an axial forward facing surface and an axial rearward facing surface. The cutting tool body has an axial forward hardness region beginning at and extending a first pre-selected distance in an axial rearward direction from the axial forward end to encompass the axial forward facing surface of the collar. The axial forward hardness region has a hardness equal to or greater than a first hardness, as well as a first average hardness.

Abstract: A blade, which is useful on a tool that impinges earth strata, that has a blade body with a leading surface. The blade body has a first portion defining at least a part of the leading surface and a second portion. The first portion is made of a first material composition and the second portion is made of a second material composition.

Abstract: A hard composite member produced by a rapid omni-directional compaction process that includes the steps of: providing a pre-compaction composite comprising a substrate, a superhard member and a layer of braze between the substrate and the superhard member; placing the pre-compaction composite in a pressure transmitting material contained within a shell to form an isostatic die assembly; heating the isostatic die assembly to a temperature at which the pressure-transmitting material is capable of fluidic flow and wherein the temperature ranges between greater than the melting point of the braze layer and less than or equal to about 1200° C.; and in a forging press, compressing the isostatic die assembly to consolidate the pre-compaction composite under omnidirectional pressure at a pressure equal to or greater than about 60,000 psi into a dense, consolidated body.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool carried in a bore of a holder wherein the holder has a forward surface surrounding a forward end of the bore. The rotatable cutting tool includes an elongate cutting tool body that has a central longitudinal axis, an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The cutting tool body contains a socket in the axial forward end thereof whereby the socket receives a hard insert therein. The cutting tool body has an enlarged diameter collar mediate of the axial forward end and the axial rearward end. The mediate collar presents an axial forward facing surface and an axial rearward facing surface. The cutting tool body has an axial forward hardness region beginning at and extending a first pre-selected distance in an axial rearward direction from the axial forward end to encompass the axial forward facing surface of the collar. The axial forward hardness region has a hardness equal to or greater than a first hardness, as well as a first average hardness.