Composites with ordered microstructures

摘要

A composite comprises an ordered microstructure made up of multiple structural units that can be the same or different, and that comprise at least a first phase 12 and a second phase 14. The first phase 12 comprises a hard material selected from cermets, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride and mixtures thereof. The second phase 14 is in contact with the first 12 and comprises a different material (e.g. a metal or a cermet). Each structural unit may also comprise further phases. The composite can be used to make drill bit inserts. Alternatively it can form part of a multi-layer construction (Figs. 7-12).