Abstract: Wear resistant centrifuge tile assemblies include a backing portion and a wear-resistant tile. Wear resistant centrifuge tile assemblies are provided with self-fixturing features to provide a desired mounting position and to restrict movement of the wear-resistant tile with respect to the backing plate during bonding. The self-fixturing features provide the ability to perform repeatable and consistent bonding of the wear-resistant tile to the backing plate. The bonding of the wear-resistant tile to the backing plate can be performed with a braze material.

Abstract: Composite suction liners and associated centrifugal pump architectures are described herein which, in some embodiments, provide enhanced operating lifetimes under abrasive slurry conditions. For example, a composite suction liner includes a suction liner substrate and a monolithic cladding metallurgically bonded to a face of the suction liner substrate, the monolithic cladding comprising metal matrix composite including a hard particle phase dispersed in matrix metal or alloy.

Abstract: Wear resistant centrifuge tile assemblies are disclosed that include a backing portion and a wear-resistant tile. Wear resistant centrifuge tile assemblies are provided with self-fixturing features to provide a desired mounting position and to restrict movement of the wear-resistant tile with respect to the backing plate during bonding. The self-fixturing features provide the ability to perform repeatable and consistent bonding of the wear-resistant tile to the backing plate.

Abstract: A multi-layer film for use in forming a layer of hardfacing on a surface of a tool includes a first layer and a second layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the first layer. The layers each include a polymer material and a plurality of particles dispersed throughout the polymer material. An intermediate structure includes a body of an earth-boring tool, a first material layer disposed over a surface of the body, and a second material layer disposed over the first material layer. A method of applying hardfacing includes providing a first material layer on a surface of a body of an earth-boring tool, providing a second material layer adjacent the first material layer, heating the body and removing the polymer material from the body of the earth-boring tool, and heating the body of the earth-boring tool to a higher temperature to form a layer of hardfacing material.

Abstract: Methods of repairing earth-boring tools may involve providing wear-resistant material over a temporary displacement member to repair a cutting element pocket in a body and a depth-of-cut control feature using the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, the wear-resistant material may comprise a particle-matrix composite material. For example, a hardfacing material may be built up over a temporary displacement member to form or repair a cutting element pocket and provide a depth-of-cut control feature. Earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature comprising a wear-resistant material. The depth-of-cut control feature may be configured to limit a depth-of-cut of a cutting element secured within a cutting element pocket partially defined by at least one surface of the depth-of-cut control feature. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature extending over a temporary displacement member.

Abstract: A component for a downhole tool includes a rotor and a hardfacing precursor. The hardfacing precursor includes a polymeric material, hard particles, and a metal. A hydraulic drilling motor includes a stator, a rotor, and a sintered hardfacing material on an outer surface of the rotor or an inner surface of the stator. Methods of applying hardfacing to surfaces include forming a paste of hard particles, metal matrix particles, a polymeric material, and a solvent. The solvent is removed from the paste to form a sheet, which is applied to a surface and heated. A component for a downhole tool includes a first hardfacing material, a second hardfacing material over the first hardfacing material and defining a plurality of pores, and a metal disposed within at least some of the pores. The metal has a melting point lower than a melting point of the second hardfacing material.

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: Composite suction liners and associated centrifugal pump architectures are described herein which, in some embodiments, provide enhanced operating lifetimes under abrasive slurry conditions. For example, a composite suction liner includes a suction liner substrate and a monolithic cladding metallurgically bonded to a face of the suction liner substrate, the monolithic cladding comprising metal matrix composite including a hard particle phase dispersed in matrix metal or alloy.

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: Methods of repairing earth-boring tools may involve providing wear-resistant material over a temporary displacement member to repair a cutting element pocket in a body and a depth-of-cut control feature using the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, the wear-resistant material may comprise a particle-matrix composite material. For example, a hardfacing material may be built up over a temporary displacement member to form or repair a cutting element pocket and provide a depth-of-cut control feature. Earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature comprising a wear-resistant material. The depth-of-cut control feature may be configured to limit a depth-of-cut of a cutting element secured within a cutting element pocket partially defined by at least one surface of the depth-of-cut control feature. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature extending over a temporary displacement member.

Abstract: Methods of repairing earth-boring tools may involve providing wear-resistant material over a temporary displacement member to repair a cutting element pocket in a body and a depth-of-cut control feature using the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, the wear-resistant material may comprise a particle-matrix composite material. For example, a hardfacing material may be built up over a temporary displacement member to form or repair a cutting element pocket and provide a depth-of-cut control feature. Earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature comprising a wear-resistant material. The depth-of-cut control feature may be configured to limit a depth-of-cut of a cutting element secured within a cutting element pocket partially defined by at least one surface of the depth-of-cut control feature. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature extending over a temporary displacement member.

Abstract: A multi-layer film for use in forming a layer of hardfacing on a surface of a tool includes a first layer and a second layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the first layer. The layers each include a polymer material and a plurality of particles dispersed throughout the polymer material. An intermediate structure includes a body of an earth-boring tool, a first material layer disposed over a surface of the body, and a second material layer disposed over the first material layer. A method of applying hardfacing includes providing a first material layer on a surface of a body of an earth-boring tool, providing a second material layer adjacent the first material layer, heating the body and removing the polymer material from the body of the earth-boring tool, and heating the body of the earth-boring tool to a higher temperature to form a layer of hardfacing material.

Abstract: A multi-layer film for use in forming a layer of hardfacing on a surface of a tool includes a first layer and a second layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the first layer. The layers each include a polymer material and a plurality of particles dispersed throughout the polymer material. An intermediate structure includes a body of an earth-boring tool, a first material layer disposed over a surface of the body, and a second material layer disposed over the first material layer. A method of applying hardfacing includes providing a first material layer on a surface of a body of an earth-boring tool, providing a second material layer adjacent the first material layer, heating the body and removing the polymer material from the body of the earth-boring tool, and heating the body of the earth-boring tool to a higher temperature to form a layer of hardfacing material.

Abstract: A component for a downhole tool includes a rotor and a hardfacing precursor. The hardfacing precursor includes a polymeric material, hard particles, and a metal. A hydraulic drilling motor includes a stator, a rotor, and a sintered hardfacing material on an outer surface of the rotor or an inner surface of the stator. Methods of applying hardfacing to surfaces include forming a paste of hard particles, metal matrix particles, a polymeric material, and a solvent. The solvent is removed from the paste to form a sheet, which is applied to a surface and heated. A component for a downhole tool includes a first hardfacing material, a second hardfacing material over the first hardfacing material and defining a plurality of pores, and a metal disposed within at least some of the pores. The metal has a melting point lower than a melting point of the second hardfacing material.

Abstract: A component for a downhole tool includes a rotor and a hardfacing precursor. The hardfacing precursor includes a polymeric material, hard particles, and a metal. A hydraulic drilling motor includes a stator, a rotor, and a sintered hardfacing material on an outer surface of the rotor or an inner surface of the stator. Methods of applying hardfacing to surfaces include forming a paste of hard particles, metal matrix particles, a polymeric material, and a solvent. The solvent is removed from the paste to form a sheet, which is applied to a surface and heated. A component for a downhole tool includes a first hardfacing material, a second hardfacing material over the first hardfacing material and defining a plurality of pores, and a metal disposed within at least some of the pores. The metal has a melting point lower than a melting point of the second hardfacing material.

Abstract: Methods of repairing earth-boring tools may involve providing wear-resistant material over a temporary displacement member to repair a cutting element pocket in a body and a depth-of-cut control feature using the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, the wear-resistant material may comprise a particle-matrix composite material. For example, a hardfacing material may be built up over a temporary displacement member to form or repair a cutting element pocket and provide a depth-of-cut control feature. Earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature comprising a wear-resistant material. The depth-of-cut control feature may be configured to limit a depth-of-cut of a cutting element secured within a cutting element pocket partially defined by at least one surface of the depth-of-cut control feature. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature extending over a temporary displacement member.

Abstract: Methods of forming and repairing earth-boring tools include providing wear-resistant material over a temporary displacement member to form a cutting element pocket in a body and a depth-of-cut control feature using the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, the wear-resistant material may comprise a particle-matrix composite material. For example, a hardfacing material may be built up over a temporary displacement member to form or repair a cutting element pocket and provide a depth-of-cut control feature. Earth-boring tools include a depth-of-cut control feature comprising a wear-resistant material. The depth-of-cut control feature is configured to limit a depth-of-cut of a cutting element secured within a cutting element pocket partially defined by at least one surface of the depth-of-cut control feature. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of earth-boring tools include a depth-of-cut control feature extending over a temporary displacement member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a condition of a cutter coupled to a drill bit is disclosed. A support is configured to dispose the drill bit and the cutter at a selected location. A positioning device positions an ultrasonic transducer relative to the drill bit. The ultrasonic transducer and generates an ultrasonic pulse. A reflection of the ultrasonic pulse at a reflective surface of the cutter is obtained at the ultrasonic transducer. A processor receives the reflected pulse and forms an image of the reflective surface of the cutter using the reflected ultrasonic pulse while the cutter is coupled to the drill bit.

Abstract: A multi-layer film for use in forming a layer of hardfacing on a surface of a tool includes a first layer and a second layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the first layer. The layers each include a polymer material and a plurality of particles dispersed throughout the polymer material. An intermediate structure includes a body of an earth-boring tool, a first material layer disposed over a surface of the body, and a second material layer disposed over the first material layer. A method of applying hardfacing includes providing a first material layer on a surface of a body of an earth-boring tool, providing a second material layer adjacent the first material layer, heating the body and removing the polymer material from the body of the earth-boring tool, and heating the body higher temperature to form a layer of hardfacing material.