POLYCRYSTALLINE COMPACTS INCLUDING NANOPARTICULATE INCLUSIONS, CUTTING ELEMENTS AND EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING SUCH COMPACTS, AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME

摘要

A polycrystalline compact comprises a plurality of grains of hard material and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed in interstitial spaces between the plurality of grains of hard material. The plurality of nanoparticles has a thermal conductivity less than a thermal conductivity of the plurality of grains of hard material. An earth-boring tool comprises such a polycrystalline compact. A method of forming a polycrystalline compact comprises combining a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of nanoparticles to form a mixture and sintering the mixture to form a polycrystalline hard material comprising a plurality of interbonded grains of hard material. A method of forming a cutting element comprises infiltrating interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline material with a plurality of nanoparticles. The plurality of nanoparticles have a lower thermal conductivity than the interbonded grains of hard material.