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

摘要

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.