Abstract:
An example insulation enclosure includes a support structure having a top end, a bottom end, and an opening defined at the bottom end for receiving a mold within an interior of the support structure, and a thermal mass arranged at the top end of the support structure to thermally communicate with a top of the mold and resist heat flow from the top of the mold in an axial direction.
Abstract:
A drill bit may include a matrix bit body and a plurality of cutting elements coupled to an exterior portion of the matrix bit body, wherein the matrix bit body includes matrix particles and precipitated intermetallic particles dispersed in a binder, at least some of the matrix particles having a diameter of 50 microns or greater, and at least some of the precipitated intermetallic particles having at least one dimension of 1 micron to 30 microns.
Abstract:
An example mold assembly for fabricating an infiltrated downhole tool includes a mold defining a bottom of the mold assembly and a funnel operatively coupled to the mold. An infiltration chamber is defined at least partially by the mold and the funnel to receive and contain matrix reinforcement materials and a binder material used to form the infiltrated downhole tool. A thermal mass is positioned within the infiltration chamber above the infiltrated downhole tool for imparting heat to the infiltrated downhole tool following an infiltration process.
Abstract:
An example cooling system for a mold assembly includes a quench plate that defines one or more discharge ports and one or more recuperation ports. A fluid is circulated from the one or more discharge ports to the one or more recuperation ports to cool the mold assembly. A blocking ring is positioned on the quench plate and defines a central aperture for receiving a bottom of the mold assembly. An insulation enclosure having an interior for receiving the mold assembly is positioned on the blocking ring. The blocking ring prevents vapor generated by the fluid contacting the bottom of the mold assembly from migrating into the interior of the insulation enclosure.
Abstract:
An example mold assembly for fabricating an infiltrated downhole tool includes a mold forming a bottom of the mold assembly, and a funnel operatively coupled to the mold and having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a cavity defined between the inner and outer walls. An infiltration chamber is defined at least partially by the mold and the funnel. The inner wall faces the infiltration chamber and the outer wall forms at least a portion of an outer periphery of the mold assembly.
Abstract:
A wellbore tool may be formed, at least in part, by a fiber-reinforced hard composite portion that comprises a binder, matrix particles, and reinforcing fibers, wherein the reinforcing fibers have an aspect ratio ranging from equal to a critical aspect ratio (Ac) to 15 times greater than the Ac, wherein Ac=σf/(2Tc), σf is an ultimate tensile strength of the reinforcing fibers, and Tc is an interfacial shear bond strength between the reinforcing fiber and the binder or a yield stress of the binder, whichever is lower.