Earth-boring tools comprising eutectic or near-eutectic compositions
Articles comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool include at least one insert and a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase and a hard material phase. Other articles include a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase and a coating material in contact with the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.
1. An article comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool, the article comprising:
at least one insert; and
a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant selected from the group consisting of a transition metal aluminate, a transition metal metasilicate, and a transition metal oxide.
2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert comprises a particle-matrix composite material exhibiting a wear-resistance greater than a wear resistance of the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.
3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert is at least partially embedded in the eutectic or near-eutectic composition.
4. An article comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool, the article comprising:
at least one insert; and
a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant, wherein the metal phase comprises at least one of cobalt, iron, nickel, and alloys thereof.
5. An article comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool, the article comprising:
at least one insert; and
a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant, wherein the hard material phase comprises a ceramic compound selected from the group consisting of carbides, borides, nitrides, and mixtures thereof.
6. The article of claim 5 , wherein the hard material phase comprises a metal carbide phase including at least one of an MC phase and an M 2 C phase, wherein M is at least one metal element and C is carbon.
7. An article comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool, the article comprising:
at least one insert; and
a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant, the composition having a composite microstructure that includes regions of the metal phase and the hard material phase.
8. An article comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool, the article comprising:
at least one insert at least partially defining at least one of a cutting surface and a bearing surface of the at least a portion of an earth-boring tool; and
a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant.
9. An article comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool, the article comprising:
a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant selected from the group consisting of a transition metal aluminate, a transition metal metasilicate, and a transition metal oxide; and
a coating material in contact with the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.
10. The article of claim 9 , wherein the hard material phase comprises a metal carbide phase including at least one of an MC phase and an M 2 C phase, wherein M is at least one metal element and C is carbon.
11. The article of claim 9 , wherein the coating material is substantially free of carbon.
12. The article of claim 9 , wherein the coating material comprises a ceramic oxide material.
13. The article of claim 9 , wherein the coating material comprises zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, or yttrium oxide.
14. The article of claim 9 , wherein the coating material comprises a multilayer coating.
15. The article of claim 14 , wherein the multilayer coating comprises at least one layer having a first composition and at least another layer having a second composition differing from the first composition.
16. An earth-boring tool, comprising:
a bit body carrying at least one cutter assembly, the at least one cutter assembly comprising a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase, and an inoculant selected from the group consisting of a transition metal aluminate, a transition metal metasilicate, and a transition metal oxide; and
at least one insert secured to the at least one cutter assembly.
17. The earth-boring tool of claim 16 , wherein the at least one insert comprises a particle-matrix composite material exhibiting a wear-resistance greater than a wear resistance of the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.