Drill bits manufactured with copper nickel manganese alloys

Abstract

A drill bit formed of a binder comprising a copper nickel manganese alloy is disclosed. The binder has an increased content of manganese, which improves the strength and toughness of the drill bit. Manganese forms a solid solution with copper in the alloy, as well as forming an intermetallic with the nickel constituent. The formation of the MnNi inter-metallic also serves to improve the erosion resistance of the binder alloy and thus the overall erosion resistance of the MMC.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill bit comprising:
 reinforcing particles, and   a binder comprising copper, manganese and nickel, wherein the manganese content of the binder is about 30-40 wt %.   
     
     
         2 . The drill bit according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of nickel is about 10-30 wt %. 
     
     
         3 . The drill bit according to  claim 2 , wherein copper comprises the balance of the content of the binder. 
     
     
         4 . The drill bit according to  claim 2 , wherein the manganese content of the binder is about 30 wt % and the nickel content is about 25 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The drill bit according to  claim 4 , wherein copper comprises the balance of the content of the binder. 
     
     
         6 . The drill bit according to  claim 5 , wherein the binder is substantially free of zinc. 
     
     
         7 . The drill bit according to  claim 1 , wherein the binder is substantially free of zinc. 
     
     
         8 . A drill bit comprising:
 reinforcing particles, and   a binder comprising copper, manganese and nickel and combinations thereof, wherein the manganese content of the binder is about 30 wt % or greater.   
     
     
         9 . The drill bit according to  claim 8 , wherein the nickel content is about 10-30 wt %. 
     
     
         10 . The drill bit according to  claim 9 , wherein copper comprises the balance of the content of the binder. 
     
     
         11 . The drill bit according to  claim 9 , wherein the manganese content of the binder is about 30 wt % and the nickel content is about 25 wt %. 
     
     
         12 . The drill bit according to  claim 11 , wherein copper comprises the balance of the content of the binder 
     
     
         13 . The drill bit according to  claim 12 , wherein the binder is substantially free of zinc. 
     
     
         14 . The drill bit according to  claim 8 , wherein the binder is substantially free of zinc. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a drill bit comprising:
 placing reinforcing particles in a mold used in forming a body of the drill bit;   placing a binder comprising copper, manganese and nickel and having a manganese content of about 30-40 wt % in the mold; and   heating the mold.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising placing a binder having a nickel content of about 10-30 wt % in the mold. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising placing a binder having copper as the balance of the content of the binder in the mold. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising placing a binder having a manganese content of about 30 wt % and a nickel content of about 25 wt % in the mold. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising placing a binder having copper as the balance of the content of the binder in the mold. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising placing a binder which is substantially free of zinc in the mold.