MXPA00000984A - A ROTARY EARTH STRATA PENETRATING TOOL WITH A CERMET INSERT HAVING A Co-Ni-Fe-BINDER - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotary tool that includes an elongate tool body and a hard insert (16) affixed to the tool body is disclosed. The hard insert comprises a WC-cermet comprising tungsten carbide and about 5 wt.%to 19 wt.%Co-Ni-Fe-binder. The Co-Ni-Fe-binder is unique in that even when subjected to plastic deformation, the binder substantially maintains its face centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and avoids stress and/or strain induced transformations.

Description

A ROTATING TOOL THAT PENETRATES IN THE GROUND STRUCTURES WITH A CERAMETAL INSERTS THAT HAS A AGLUTINANT OF Co-Ni-Fe BACKGROUND The present invention pertains to a rotary tool for penetrating terrestrial layers, such as, for example, a drill bit for roofing, or a drill bit for tricone drilling, having one or more hard inserts at the axial front end. In the case of a drill for a roof drill, such a rotary tool has typically been used to drill holes in the roof of a mine. In the case of a tricone drill bit, such a rotary tool has typically been used to drill holes for oil wells and the like. The typical rotary tool has an insert fixed to an axial front end. The hard insert is the part of the rotating tool that collides first with the terrestrial strata or with another substrate. The hard insert is comprised of a tungsten carbide (C-cerametal) wax, also known as tungsten carbide cemented with cobalt and WC-Co. Here, a cobalt binder (Co-binder) cements the tungsten carbide particles together. Although hard inserts made from a WC-ceramide that has a Co binder have achieved successful results, there are some disadvantages. One disadvantage is that up to about 45 percent of the world's primary cobalt production is located in politically unstable regions (for example, political regions that have experienced both peaceful and armed revolutions in the past decade and could still experience additional revolutions). . Approximately 15 percent of the annual primary cobalt market in the world is used in the manufacture of hard materials, including WC-cerametals. Approximately 26 percent of the annual primary cobalt market in the world is used in the manufacture of superalloins developed for advanced aircraft turbine engines - a factor - which contributes to the designation of cobalt as a strategic material. These factors not only contribute to the high cost of cobalt, but also explain the erratic fluctuations in the cost of cobalt. As a result, cobalt has been relatively expensive, which, in turn, has increased the cost of the WC-Cerametal hard insert. Such an increase in the cost of the rotating tools has been an undesirable consequence of the use of a Co binder for the hard insert. Therefore, it would be desirable to reduce the cobalt of the binder from the hard inserts of WC-ceramide.

In addition, due to the major locations of the largest cobalt reserves, there is the potential that the cobalt supply could be interrupted due to any number of causes. The unavailability of cobalt would, of course, be an undesirable case. Rotating tools can operate on media that are corrosive. While WC-cerametal hard inserts have been suitable in such corrosive media, the development of a hard insert having improved corrosion resistance, while maintaining essentially the same wear characteristics of WC-Cerametal hard inserts, remains a objective. Although the use of WC-cerametal hard inserts has been successful, there is a need to provide a hard insert that does not have the disadvantages, that is, the cost and potential for unavailability, inherent in the use of cobalt, discussed above. There is also a need to develop a hard insert for use in corrosive media, which has improved corrosion resistance, without losing any of the wear characteristics of WC-ceramics having a binder of Co.

Brief Description of the Invention In one embodiment, the invention is a rotating tool comprising an elongated tool body, having an axial front end and an axial rear end. A hard insert is fixed to the body of the rotary tool at the axial front end. The composition of the hard insert comprises about 5 weight percent (% p), up to about 19% p of binder, and from about 81% p to about 95% p, of tungsten carbide. The binder comprises a cobalt-nickel-iron binder. In one embodiment, the invention is a hard insert for use in a rotary tool having an elongated tool body with an axial front end, where the hard insert is attached to the body of the rotary tool at the axial forward end. The composition of the hard insert comprises from about 5% p, up to about 19% p of binder, and from about 81% p to about 95% p, of tungsten carbide. The binder comprises a Co-Ni-Fe binder. In still one embodiment, the invention is a rotating cutting tool comprising an elongated tool body, having an axial front end with a hard insert fixed to the tool body at the axial forward end. The composition of the hard insert comprises from about 5% p to about 19% p of binder. The binder comprises at least about 40% p of cobalt, but not more than 90% p of cobalt, the remainder consisting of nickel and iron, and optionally, incidental impurities, with at least about 4% p of nickel, and at least about 4% p of iron. Tungsten carbide has a grain size ranging from about 1 micrometer (μm) to about 30 μm. The invention described illustratively here, can be practiced in an adequate manner in the absence of any element, step, component or ingredient, which is not specifically described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a drill for roof drill of the KCV4-IRR (Roof Rocket) style made by Kennametal Inc. of Latrobe, Pennsylvania; and FIGURE 2 is a side view of a drill bit used to drill down holes.

DESCRIPTION With reference to FIGURE 1, a ceiling drill bit, generally designated as 10, of the KCV4-1RR style (Roof Rocket) made and sold by Kennametal Inc. of Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650 (the "transferee") is illustrated. present patent application.) The ceiling drill bit 10 has an elongated body with an axial rear end 12 and an axial front end 14. A hard insert 16 is fixed to the elongated body 12 at the axial front end 14 thereof. of the style illustrated in FIGURE 1, applicants contemplate that drill bits for roofing, which can use cutting inserts of the compositions set forth herein, include the drill for roofing drill shown and described in the Patent Application of the United States Serial No. [unknown at this time] submitted on July 15, 1997 for a ROTATING DRILL ASSEMBLY WITH RETENTION ASSEMBLY WITH WEDGE INSURANCE by Ted R. Massa, Robert H. Montgomery, William P. Losch, and David R. Siddle, and assigned to Kennametal Inc. of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and the ceiling drill bit shown and described in the pending United States Patent Application Serial No. [unknown at this time] presented on July 15, 1997 for a ROTARY BIT ASSEMBLY WITH CUTTING INSERTS by Ted R. Massa and David R. Siddle, and assigned to Kennametal Inc. of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Both of the pending patent applications, mentioned above, filed on July 15, 1997, are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to the hard insert 16 of the ceiling drill bit 10, the composition of the hard insert 16 comprises a Co-Ni-Fe binder and tungsten carbide (WC). The range of the Co-Ni-Fe binder in the WC-cerametal comprises about 5% p to 19% p. Referring to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a drill bit, generally designated 20, for drilling down holes, such as the one shown in US Patent No. 4,108,260, for a ROCK BIT. WITH INSERTS SPECIALLY FORMED, by Bozarth. The drill bit 20 has a body of the drill bit 22, which receives a plurality of hard inserts 24, which are made of the same WC-cerametal having a Co-Ni-Fe binder of which the insert is made hard 16. Thus, the description of a WC-cerametal together with the hard insert 16, will be sufficient for the description of the WC-cerametal for the hard insert 24. In this regard, the composition of the WC-cerametal having a Co-binder -Ni-Fe, of which the hard insert 16 for the drill bit for roof 10 or the hard insert 50 for the drill bit for tricone drill 40, comprises a binder of Co-Ni-Fe and tungsten carbide. The Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises at least about 40% p of cobalt, but not more than 90% p of cobalt, at least about 4% p of nickel, and at least about 4% p of iron. Applicants believe that a Co-Ni-Fe binder comprising no more than about 36% p of Ni and no more than about 36% p of Fe is preferred. A preferred Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises about 40% pa 90% p Co, the remainder consisting of nickel and iron, and optionally, incidental impurities, with at least about 4% to 36% p of Ni, approximately 4% to 36% p Fe, and a Ni: Fe ratio of approximately 1.5: 1 to 1: 1.5. A most preferred Co-Ni-Fe binder, comprises about 40% p to 90% p of Co, and a Ni: Fe ratio of about 1: 1. Another still more preferred Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises a cobalt: nickel: iron ratio of about 1.8: 1: 1. The Co-Ni-Fe binder of the present invention is unique in that even when subjected to plastic deformation, the binder maintains its cubic crystalline structure centered on the face (fcc) and avoids the transformations induced by stress and / or stress . Applicants have measured resistance and fatigue performance in cerametals having Co-Ni-Fe binders up to as much as about 2400 megapascals (MPa), for flexural strength, and up to as much as about 1550 MPa for cyclic fatigue ( 200,000 cycles in flexion at room temperature). Applicants believe that phase transformations induced by stress and / or stress substantially do not occur in the Co-Ni-Fe binder up to those stress and / or stress levels that lead to superior performance. The preferred range of the Co-Ni-Fe binder in the WC-ceramide comprises about 5% p to about 19% p. A more preferred range of the Co-Ni-Fe binder in the WC-ceramide comprises about 5% p to about 15% p. A still more preferred range of the Co-Ni-Fe binder in the WC-ceramide comprises about 5% p to about 10% p. The grain size of the hard component of tungsten carbide (WC) comprises a wide range of about 1 micrometer (μm) to 30 μm. An average range for the grain size of the WC comprises about 1 μm to 15 μm. The applicants contemplate that each increment between the end points of the ranges described herein, for example, binder content, binder composition, Ni: Fe ratio, grain size of the hard component, content of the hard component, ... etc. , is covered in the present as if it had been specifically established. For example, a binder content in the range of about 5% to 19% p encompasses approximately increments of 1% p, specifically including therefore about 5% p, 6% p, 7% p, ... 17% p, 18% p and 19% p of binder. While for example, for a binder composition, the cobalt content range of about 40% pa 90% p encompasses approximately increments of 1% p, including therefore, specifically 40% p, 41% p, 42% p , ..., 88% p, 89% p and 90 ~% p, while the content of nickel and hierxo varies from approximately 4% to 36% p, each one encompasses approximately increments of 1% p, including, therefore, , specifically 4% p, 5% p, 6% p, ..., 34% p, 35% p and 36% p. In addition, for example, a range of the Ni: e ratio of approximately 1.5: 1 to 1: 1.5 encompasses approximately 0.1 increments, specifically including 1.5: 1, 1.4: 1, ... 1: 1, ..., 1: 1.4, and 1: 1.5. Further, for example, a grain size range of the hard component from about 1 μm to about 30 μm, encompasses approximately μm increments, specifically including about 1 μm, 2 μm, 3 μm, ... 28 μm, 29 μm and 30 μm. The present invention is illustrated by the following. It is provided to demonstrate and explain various aspects of the present invention, however, the following should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention. As summarized in Table 1, a WC-ceramide having a Co-Ni-Fe binder of this invention, and a conventional comparative WC-ceramide, were produced using conventional powder-coating technology, as described in, for example. "World Directory and Manual of HARD METALS AND HARD MATERIALS" Sixth Edition, by Kenneth JA Brookes, International Carbide DATA (1996); "PRINCIPLES OF TUNGSTEN CARBIDE ENGINEERING", Second Edition, by George Schneider, Society of Carbide and Tool Engineers (1989); "Cermet-Handbook", Hertel AG, Werkzeuge + Hartstoffe, Fuerth, Bavaria, Germany (1993); and "CARBUROS CEMENTADLOS", by P. Schwarzkopf & R. Kieffer, The Macmillan Company (1960) - the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In particular, Table 1 presents a summary of the nominal content of binder in percent by weight (% p), the nominal composition of the binder, and the composition and amount of the hard component (% p) for a WC-cerametal of this invention and a prior art comparative wax-ceramic having a binder of Co. That is, commercially available ingredients (as described in, for example, "World Directory and Manual of HARD METALS AND HARD MATERIALS" Sixth Edition) obtained for each of the compositions of the invention and conventional, as described in Table 1, were combined independently in a mill for attrition with hexane for homogeneous mixing over a period of about 4.5 hours. After each mixture of homogeneously blended ingredients was dried appropriately, raw bodies were pressed, which are in the form of a plate for evaluating the properties. The crude bodies were densified by vacuum sintering at about 1570 ° C for about one hour. - ~~ * start powder -80 + 400 meshes (particle size between approximately 38 μm and 180 μm), macrocrystalline tungsten carbide from Kennametal Inc. Fallo, Nevada.

As summarized in Table 2, the density (g / cm3), the magnetic saturation (0.1 μTm3 / kg), the coercive force (Oe, measured substantially according to the International Standard ISO 3326: Hard metals - Determination of the (magnetization) coercivity), hardness (Hv30, measured substantially according to International Standard ISO 3878 :, hard metals - Vickers hardness test), resistance to transverse breaking (MPa, measured substantially according to International Standard ISO 3"327 / Type B: Hard metals - Determination of transverse rupture strength) and porosity (measured substantially in accordance with ISO Standard 4505: Hard metals - Metallographic determination of porosity and non-combined carbon) for WC-cerametals the invention and conventional.The WC-Cerametal having a Co-Ni-Fe binder had a comparable hardness but improved transverse breakage resistance, compared to WC-Cerametal having a binder of Co.

It can thus be seen that the invention of the applicants provides a rotating tool, as well as a hard insert for the rotating tool, which overcomes certain disadvantages inherent in the use of a Co binder in the hard insert. More specifically, the use of a Co-Ni-Fe binder in place of an alloy of a Co binder in the hard insert reduces the cost of the hard insert and the entire rotating tool. The use of a Co-Ni-Fe binder in place of a Co binder in the hard insert reduces the potential for the main component, ie, cobalt for the binder, to be unavailable due to political instability in the binder. "those countries that possess significant cobalt reserves It also becomes apparent that the invention of the applicants provides a rotating tool, and a hard insert thereof, which possesses corrosion resistance without sacrificing wear properties equivalent to those of a hard WC-cerametal insert having a binder of Co. The patents and other documents identified herein, including the United States patent application entitled "A CERAMETAL WHICH HAS A BINDER WITH IMPROVED PLASTICITY", by Hans- Wilm Heinrich, Manfred Wolf, Dieter Schmidt, and Uwe Schleinkofer (the applicants for the present application), which was filed on the same date as the present application. patent application, and assigned to Kennametal Inc. (the same assignee as the assignee of the present patent application), are hereby incorporated by reference. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification or practice of the invention described herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as illustrative only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. CHAPTER REIVINDICATOR OR Having described the invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content is claimed in the following: CLAIMS: 1. A rotary tool characterized in that it comprises: an elongated body of the tool, having an axial front end and an axial rear end; a hard insert fixed to the body of the tool at the axial front end thereof; and the hard insert comprises a WC-ceramide comprising tungsten carbide and about 5% to 19% p of a Co-Ni-Fe binder comprising from about 40% to 90% p of cobalt, the remainder consisting of nickel and iron, and optionally, incidental impurities, with at least about 4% to 36% p of nickel, about 4% to 36% p of iron, and a Ni: Fe ratio of about 1.5: 1 to 1: 1.5.
2. 2. The rotary tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the WC-ceramide comprises from about 5% p to 15% p of a binder.
3. 3. The rotating tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises a cubic structure centered on the face (fcc) that substantially maintains its fcc structure and does not undergo stress-induced transformations when subjected to plastic deformation.
4. The rotary tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises an alloy of a cubic solid solution centered on the face.
5. The rotating tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises approximately 46% p to 57% p cobalt.
6. The rotating tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises approximately 40 p to 90% p cobalt and a Ni: Fe ratio of approximately 1: 1.
7. The rotating tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the Co-Ní-Fe binder comprises a cobalt: nickel: iron ratio of about 1.
8. 8: 1: 1. The rotating tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the tungsten carbide has a grain size comprising from about 1 μm to 30 μm.
9. 9. The rotating tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the tungsten carbide has a grain size comprising approximately 1 μm to 25 μm.
10. The rotating tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the tungsten carbide has a grain size comprising approximately 1 μm to 15 μm.
11. 11. A hard insert for use in a rotary tool characterized in that it has an elongated body of the tool, with an axial front end, where the hard insert is fixed to the tool body at the axial forward end, the hard insert comprises a WC -terminal comprising tungsten carbide and about 5% to 19% p of a Co-Ni-Fe binder comprising from about 40% to 90% p of cobalt, the remainder consisting of nickel and iron, and, in particular, incidental impurities, with at least about 4% to 36% p of nickel, about 4% to 36% p of iron, and a Ni: Fe ratio of about 1.5: 1 to 1: 1.5.
12. 12. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the WC-cermet comprises from about 5% p to 15% p of a binder.
13. 13. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises a face-centered cubic structure (fcc) that substantially maintains its fcc structure and does not undergo strain-induced transformations when subject to plastic deformation.
14. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises an alloy of a cubic solid solution centered on the face. ~ -
15. 15. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises approximately 46% p to 57% p cobalt.
16. 16. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises about 40% p to 90% p cobalt and a Ni: Fe ratio of about 1: 1.
17. 17. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the Co-Ni-Fe binder comprises a cobalt: nickel: iron ratio of about 1.8: 1: 1.
18. 18. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the tungsten carbide has a grain size comprising from about 1 μm to 30 μm.
19. 19. The hard insert according to claim 11, characterized in that the tungsten carbide has a grain size comprising approximately 1 μm to 25 μm.
20. 20. A rotary drilling tool, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated body of the tool, having an axial front end; a hard insert fixed to the body of the tool at the axial front end thereof; and the hard insert comprises a WC-ceramide consisting essentially of tungsten carbide of about 1 μm to 30 μm, and about 5% to 19% p of a Co-Ni-Fe binder of a cubic solid solution centered on the face, comprising from about 40% to 90% p cobalt, the rest consisting of nickel and iron, and optionally, incidental impurities, with at least about 4% to 36% p of nickel, about 4% to 36% p of iron, and a Ni: Fe ratio of approximately 1.5: 1 to 1: 1.5, where the Co-Ni-Fe binder substantially maintains its fcc structure and does not undergo stress-induced transformations when subjected to plastic deformation.