Abstract: The disclosed drill tools have metal matrix composite (MMC) or steel alloy bodies that are formed around one or more pre-fabricated components using either a casting or infiltration process. The pre-fabricated components are made of sintered, infiltrated, and/or cemented particles of an ultrahard material, and may form any suitable portion of the bit blades. The pre-fabricated components may be loaded into a machined mold, and the mold cavity is subsequently filled with powder, such as tungsten carbide powder, filler metal powder, binder metal powder, or combinations thereof. During a casting or infiltration process, the mold and pre-fabricated components are heated to a sufficient temperature to melt the binder metal and/or filler metal, wherein the molten metal superficially interacts with the inner surfaces of the pre-fabricated components to form a metallurgical bond to secure the pre-fabricated components to the bit body.

Abstract: The disclosed drill tools have metal matrix composite (MMC) or steel alloy bodies that are formed around one or more pre-fabricated components using either a casting or infiltration process. The pre-fabricated components are made of sintered, infiltrated, and/or cemented particles of an ultrahard material, and may form any suitable portion of the bit blades. The pre-fabricated components may be loaded into a machined mold, and the mold cavity is subsequently filled with powder, such as tungsten carbide powder, filler metal powder, binder metal powder, or combinations thereof. During a casting or infiltration process, the mold and pre-fabricated components are heated to a sufficient temperature to melt the binder metal and/or filler metal, wherein the molten metal superficially interacts with the inner surfaces of the pre-fabricated components to form a metallurgical bond to secure the pre-fabricated components to the bit body.

Abstract: A bit may include a matrix portion, the matrix portion exposed at a cone region and a nose region of the bit. A bit may include a steel portion, the steel portion including a bit connection, the steel portion exposed at a gauge region of the bit. A bit may include a plurality of cutting elements secured to the matrix portion at the cone region and the nose region.

Abstract: A method of making a flux-coated binder includes treating metal binder slugs to have an adherent surface, adding a flux powder to the treated metal binder slugs, and distributing the flux powder on the adherent surface of the metal binder slugs. A method of making a metal-matrix composite-based drill bit body includes loading a matrix powder into a bit body mold, loading a flux-coated binder into the mold on top of the matrix powder to form a load assembly, and heating the load assembly to allow the binder to infiltrate into the matrix powder.

Abstract: The disclosed drill tools have metal matrix composite (MMC) or steel alloy bodies that are formed around one or more pre-fabricated components using either a casting or infiltration process. The pre-fabricated components are made of sintered, infiltrated, and/or cemented particles of an ultrahard material, and may form any suitable portion of the bit blades. The pre-fabricated components may be loaded into a machined mold, and the mold cavity is subsequently filled with powder, such as tungsten carbide powder, filler metal powder, binder metal powder, or combinations thereof. During a casting or infiltration process, the mold and pre-fabricated components are heated to a sufficient temperature to melt the binder metal and/or filler metal, wherein the molten metal superficially interacts with the inner surfaces of the pre-fabricated components to form a metallurgical bond to secure the pre-fabricated components to the bit body.

Abstract: Cutting elements and hardfacing materials are in the form of a milled tooth having an uppermost first surface or crest and remaining surfaces such as flank surfaces and end surfaces extending downwardly away from crest. The crest has a hardfaced layer disposed thereon formed from a premium hardfacing material, and one or more of the remaining cutting element surfaces has a hardfaced layer formed from a hardfacing material different than the premium hardfacing material, wherein the hardfaced layer on the crest has a wear resistance at least 10% greater than that of the remaining cutting element hardfaced surfaces. The hardfaced layer on the crest may extend along a partial portion of one or more of the adjacent remaining cutting element surfaces.

Abstract: A method of making a flux-coated binder includes treating metal binder slugs to have an adherent surface, adding a flux powder to the treated metal binder slugs, and distributing the flux powder on the adherent surface of the metal binder slugs. A method of making a metal-matrix composite-based drill bit body includes loading a matrix powder into a bit body mold, loading a flux-coated binder into the mold on top of the matrix powder to form a load assembly, and heating the load assembly to allow the binder to infiltrate into the matrix powder.

Abstract: A method of making a flux-coated binder includes treating metal binder slugs to have an adherent surface, adding a flux powder to the treated metal binder slugs, and distributing the flux powder on the adherent surface of the metal binder slugs.

Abstract: Cutting elements and hardfacing materials as disclosed herein are in the form of a milled tooth having an uppermost first surface or crest and remaining surfaces such as flank surfaces and end surfaces extending downwardly away from crest. The crest has a hardfaced layer disposed thereon formed from a premium hardfacing material, and one or more of the remaining cutting element surfaces has a hardfaced layer formed from a hardfacing material different than the premium hardfacing material, wherein the hardfaced layer on the crest has a wear resistance at least 10% greater than that of the remaining cutting element hardfaced surfaces. The hardfaced layer on the crest may extend along a partial portion of one or more of the adjacent remaining cutting element surfaces.

Abstract: A method of making a flux-coated binder includes treating metal binder slugs to have an adherent surface, adding a flux powder to the treated metal binder slugs, and distributing the flux powder on the adherent surface of the metal binder slugs.

Abstract: Downhole tools include a component, at least a portion of which includes ternary boride cermet. A method of making a downhole tool including a ternary boride cermet includes obtaining a ternary boride cermet material and heating the ternary boride cermet material and a binder to form the downhole tool.

Abstract: A copper, manganese, nickel, zinc and tin binder metal composition having a melting point of 1500° F. or less that includes zinc and tin at a sum weight of about 26.5% to about 30.5% in which zinc is at least about 12% and Sn is at least about 6.5%. The binder metal having a melting point of 1500° F. or less can be used at an infiltrating temperature of 1800° F. or less in forming drilling tools and tool components.