On rock-drill hard steels based on high-temperature tungsten carbides

Abstract

The effect of strength properties of cobalt binder and tungsten carbide grains on the operational characteristics of carbide drilling bits has been in- vestigated. The results were used for development of new grades of hard alloys based on high-temperature tungsten carbides: BK6C, BK10C, BK15C and BK15K. Application of the given alloys in the manufacture of bits is established to afford the opportunity to increase of mechanical drilling rate at the cost of using the bits of more aggressive design. New grades of alloys are shown to allow increasing the life of tool inventory.