What is the difference between steel body and matrix body PDC bit

PDC drill bit is mainly made by PDC cutters and steel, conbining the good impact toughness of steel and wear-resistance of the polycrystalline diamond compact makes the PDC bit has fast footage in the drilling process. Steel body PDC bit has faster speed in soft formation while matrix body PDC bit is more anti-wear resistant, matrix body bit can drill hard formation when compared with steel body PDC bit because of its tungsten carbide matrix body, but it has slower footage when compared with steel body PDC drill bit. If you are interested in any of the PDC bits, pls contact Far Eastern Drilling

Matrix Body PDC Bits vs. Steel Body PDC Bits

If you have worked in drilling for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard about PDC bits. PDC stands for “polycrystalline diamond compact,” which describes the material compound that makes up these bits’ cutting surface. Both Matrix Body PDC and Steel Body PDC are made with this compound.

These bits go by many names. They are commonly called:

• PDC Bits
• Polycrystalline diamond compact bits
• Composite chip tooth bits
• Polycrystalline diamond cutting block bits

PDC bits are often used for oil drilling – but are popular in other industries as well. They were created in 1976 and are just as popular now as roller-cone bits (the kind of bit that has rotating parts). While PDC bits have a long history of success, they continue to evolve and constantly improve through new and innovative cutting angles, arrangements, and materials. These bits are very efficient as they work to shear away rock formations rather than crushing them. Each year, new advances in technology improve the efficacy of PDC bits and improve drilling speed.

These bits are known as the “nose-to-the-grindstone” bits of the drilling industry – they get the job done and can be highly effective for a wide range of services and formation types—no moving parts to get jammed up, no fuss, just effective drilling for all your needs.

What Are PDC Bits?

There are two primary styles of PDC drill bits – matrix body PDC bits and steel body PDC bits. Both are similarly shaped round bits with four to eight cutting structures, or blades, that fan out from the middle. Each blade is then topped with between ten and thirty cutters. The bits have water channels dispersed for cooling, and there is a nozzle at the apex of the bit. If you’re trying to imagine this bit, it looks a bit like the crown a king might wear.

PDC bits are used for oil and gas drilling, geothermal drilling, water well drilling, construction drilling, mining and horizontal directional drilling.

The Science Behind PDC Bits

You may have learned in school that diamond is the hardest material known to man. It is! And it is perfect for cutting through other materials like rock formations for drilling.

PDC bits utilize tiny, inexpensive, man-made diamonds in their cutting structures. The process of creating the diamonds on these bits is complicated. Simplified, here is the process for creating diamond drill bits:

• The tiny synthetic diamonds are made
• The diamonds are then aggregated into large masses of crystals
• The crystals are then shaped into diamond tables
• Diamond tables are then bonded to metal, typically tungsten carbide, and a metallic binder
• This becomes the cutter part of the bit – there are many cutters on each blade of the bit
• The cutters are then attached to the blades, which are attached to the body of the bit

Together, the cutters and blades on the tip of the PDC bit are used to cut through rock formations of all kinds.

Synthetic Diamonds in Drill Bits

As you can see, synthetic diamonds are the key material for PDC bits. In manufacturing these bits, ultra-small grains of diamond (also called diamond grit) are created. This grit is very durable but becomes less stable at a molecular level when it heats up. So, your PDC bit is more likely to fail if not adequately cooled when in use.

Regardless, synthetic diamonds are incredibly wear-resistant; they are the ideal material for longevity and durability. The metal type changes if you choose a matrix or steel body bit – but the diamond is critical.  PDC bits can have a long lifespan as long as they are adequately cooled.

Matrix Body PDC Bits