| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080210473 | HYBRID CARBON NANOTUBE REINFORCED COMPOSITE BODIES - A composite body for cutting tools that includes a ductile phase; a plurality of carbide particles dispersed the ductile phase; and a plurality of nanotubes integrated into the composite body is disclosed. Methods of making such composite bodies and drill bits formed of such material are also disclosed. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080223621 | THERMALLY STABLE ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL COMPACT CONSTRUCTION - Thermally stable ultra-hard compact constructions of this invention comprise an ultra-hard material body that includes a thermally stable region positioned adjacent a surface of the body. The thermally stable region is formed from consolidated materials that are thermally stable at temperatures greater than about 750° C. The thermally stable region can occupy a partial portion of or the entire ultra-hard material body. The ultra-hard material body can comprise a composite of separate ultra-hard material elements that each form different regions of the body, at least one of the regions being thermally stable. The ultra-hard material body is attached to a desired substrate, an intermediate material is interposed between the body and the substrate, and the intermediate material joins the substrate and body together by high pressure/high temperature process. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080223623 | POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND CONSTRUCTIONS HAVING IMPROVED THERMAL STABILITY - Polycrystalline diamond constructions include a diamond body comprising a matrix phase of bonded together diamond crystals formed at high pressure/high temperature conditions with a catalyst material. The sintered body is treated remove the catalyst material disposed within interstitial regions, rendering it substantially free of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the body. Accelerating techniques can be used to remove the catalyst material. The body includes an infiltrant material disposed within interstitial regions in a first region of the construction. The body includes a second region adjacent the working surface and that is substantially free of the infiltrant material. The infiltrant material can be a Group VIII material not used to initially sinter the diamond body. A metallic substrate is attached to the diamond body, and can be the same or different from a substrate used as a source of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the diamond body. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080230280 | POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND HAVING IMPROVED THERMAL STABILITY - PCD constructions include a PCD body comprising a polycrystalline matrix region, a first region that includes a replacement material positioned remote from a body surface, and a second region that is substantially free of the replacement material and that extends a depth from the body surface. The PCD construction can further include a substrate that is attached to the body. The PCD body is formed by removing a solvent catalyst material used to form the body, replacing the removed solvent catalyst material with a replacement material, and then removing the replacement material from a region of the body to thereby form the second region. The replacement material can be introduced into the PCD body during a HPHT process, and the substrate may or may not be the source of the noncatalyzing material. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20090038858 | USE OF NANOSIZED PARTICULATES AND FIBERS IN ELASTOMER SEALS FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR ROLLER CONE BITS - A bit for drilling subterranean formations that includes a bit body including a bearing surface; a cutting structure mounted on the bit body, and including a bearing surface, and an annular seal for retaining a grease between the bearing surfaces, the annular seal comprising a flexible and resilient seal body formed from an elastomer composition, wherein the elastomer composition comprises an elastomer material, a curing agent, and 10% or less by volume of a nanomaterial additive selected from one of nanotubes and clustered nanodiamonds is disclosed. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090071726 | ULTRAHARD COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTIONS - Ultrahard composite constructions comprise a plurality of first phases dispersed within a matrix second phase, wherein each can comprise an ultrahard material including PCD, PcBN, and mixtures thereof. The constructions are formed from a plurality of granules that are combined and sintered at HP/HT conditions. The granules include a core surrounded by a shell and both are formed from an ultrahard material or precursor comprising an ultrahard constituent for forming the ultrahard material. When sintered, the cores form the plurality of first phases, and the shells form at least a portion of the second phase. The ultrahard material used to form the granule core may have an amount of ultrahard constituent different from that used to form the granule shell to provide desired different properties. The ultrahard constituent in the granule core and shell can have approximately the same particle size. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090071727 | ULTRA-HARD COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTIONS COMPRISING HIGH-DENSITY DIAMOND SURFACE - Ultra-hard composite constructions comprise an ultra-hard body having a plurality of diamond crystals bonded to one another by a carbide reaction product. A reactant material is selected from materials that are strong carbide formers to form a carbide reaction product with diamond at HPHT conditions. The body includes a high-density diamond region positioned along a surface portion of the body and that is substantially exclusively diamond, and that has a diamond volume content of 95 to 99 percent or more. The high-density diamond region can form a working surface of the composite construction. A substrate can be attached to the body, thereby forming a compact, and can include metallic materials, ceramic materials, carbides, nitrides, cermets, and mixtures thereof. An intermediate layer can be interposed between the body and the substrate depending on the substrate and/or method of attaching the same. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090114454 | Thermally-Stable Polycrystalline Diamond Materials and Compacts - Thermally-stable polycrystalline diamond materials of this invention comprise a first phase including a plurality of bonded together diamond crystals, and a second phase including a reaction product formed between a binder/catalyst material and a material reactive with the binder/catalyst material. The reaction product is disposed within interstitial regions of the polycrystalline diamond material that exists between the bonded diamond crystals. The first and second phases are formed during a single high pressure/high temperature process condition. The reaction product has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is relatively closer to that of the bonded together diamond crystals than that of the binder/catalyst material, thereby providing an improved degree of thermal stability to the polycrystalline diamond material. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090166094 | Polycrystalline Diamond Materials Having Improved Abrasion Resistance, Thermal Stability and Impact Resistance - PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090173015 | Polycrystalline Diamond Constructions Having Improved Thermal Stability - Polycrystalline diamond constructions include a diamond body comprising a matrix phase of bonded together diamond crystals formed at high pressure/high temperature conditions with a catalyst material. The sintered body is treated remove the catalyst material disposed within interstitial regions, rendering it substantially free of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the body. Accelerating techniques can be used to remove the catalyst material. The body includes an infiltrant material disposed within interstitial regions in a first region of the construction. The body includes a second region adjacent the working surface and that is substantially free of the infiltrant material. The infiltrant material can be a Group VIII material not used to initially sinter the diamond body. A metallic substrate is attached to the diamond body, and can be the same or different from a substrate used as a source of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the diamond body. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20100095602 | TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS FOR THE ACCELERATED REMOVAL OF CATALYST MATERIAL FROM DIAMOND BODIES - A method for making a thermally stable cutting element may include forming an acid mixture containing two different acid species by combining an acid solution and at least one acid-forming compound, wherein the at least one acid-forming compound is provided in solid form, and wherein the at least one acid-forming compound produces an acid that is different than the acid solution; treating at least a portion of a sintered diamond body by placing the sintered diamond body in the acid mixture, wherein the sintered diamond body comprises: a matrix phase of bonded-together diamond grains; a plurality of interstitial regions dispersed within the matrix phase; and a metal material disposed within a plurality of the interstitial regions; wherein the treating removes the metal material from at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions; and removing the sintered diamond body from the acid mixture after a predetermined length of time, wherein at least a portion of the diamond body removed from the acid mixture is substantially free of the metal material and is a thermally stable diamond body. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100101868 | BONDING OF CUTTERS IN DIAMOND DRILL BITS - A bit body formed of a mixture of matrix material and superabrasive powder and including pockets lined with superabrasive-free matrix material, and a method for forming the same, are provided. The pockets are shaped to receive cutting elements therein. The superabrasive-free matrix material enhances braze strength when a cutting element is brazed to surfaces of the pocket. The method for forming the drill bit body includes providing a mold and displacements. The displacements are coated with a mixture of superabrasive free matrix-material and an organic binder. The mold is packed with a mixture of matrix material and superabrasive powder and the arrangement heated to form a solid drill bit body. When the solid bit body is removed from the mold, pockets are formed by the displacements in the bit body and are lined with the layer of superabrasive-free matrix material. The superabrasive material may be diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, SiC or TiB | 04-29-2010 |
| 20110056753 | Thermally Stable Ultra-Hard Material Compact Construction - Thermally stable ultra-hard compact constructions of this invention comprise an ultra-hard material body that includes a thermally stable region positioned adjacent a surface of the body. The thermally stable region is formed from consolidated materials that are thermally stable at temperatures greater than about 750° C. The thermally stable region can occupy a partial portion of or the entire ultra-hard material body. The ultra-hard material body can comprise a composite of separate ultra-hard material elements that each form different regions of the body, at least one of the regions being thermally stable. The ultra-hard material body is attached to a desired substrate, an intermediate material is interposed between the body and the substrate, and the intermediate material joins the substrate and body together by high pressure/high temperature process. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110120781 | HIGH STRENGTH INFILTRATED MATRIX BODY USING FINE GRAIN DISPERSIONS - A drill bit may include a bit body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom, the bit body comprising a continuous infiltration binder and a plurality of carbide particles dispersed in the continuous infiltration binder, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of carbide particles and at least a portion of the continuous infiltration binder form a first carbide matrix region, wherein the plurality of carbide particles forming the first carbide matrix region have an average grain sizes of less than about 44 microns; and at least one cutting element for engaging a formation disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades. | 05-26-2011 |