There is provided an apparatus and method for manufacturing of an infiltrated fiber-based composite film. The apparatus comprises two tool blocks arranged opposite each other enabling a fiber-based film to be arranged between the tool blocks. At least one of the tool blocks comprises a recess so that the recess can form a sealed cavity enclosing a portion of the film when the tool blocks are in contact with each other. At least one of the tool blocks comprises a vacuum channel connecting cavity to a vacuum pump for drawing a vacuum in the cavity; a melt channel connecting the cavity to a source of molten material. The melt channel comprises a valve arrangement controlling delivery of the molten material to the cavity; pressure means to achieve an elevated pressure onto the molten material within the cavity such that a fiber film in the cavity is infiltrated by the molten material; and an ejection piston for ejecting an infiltrated fiber film from the cavity.

A variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal having a degradable phase and a stiffener material. The variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal can optionally be in the form of a degradable diverter ball or scaling element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.

Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.

Provided in one embodiment is a method for producing a composition, comprising: heating a first material comprising an amorphous alloy to a first temperature; and contacting the first material with a second material comprising at least one fiber to form a composition comprising the first material and the second material; wherein the first temperature is higher than or equal to a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the amorphous alloy.

Provided in one embodiment is a method for producing a composition, comprising: heating a first material comprising an amorphous alloy to a first temperature; and contacting the first material with a second material comprising at least one fiber to form a composition comprising the first material and the second material; wherein the first temperature is higher than or equal to a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the amorphous alloy.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable structure using a metallic base metal or base metal alloy. One or more insoluble additives are added to the metallic base metal or base metal alloy so that the grain boundaries of the castable, moldable, or extrudable structure includes a composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rates partially or throughout the structure or along the grain boundaries of the structure. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The insoluble particles generally have a submicron particle size. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure.

Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.

Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.

A composite powder is provided. The composite powder comprises 80-97 wt % of carbide and 3-20 wt % of blending metal powder comprising cobalt and a first metal powder, wherein the first metal powder is formed of one of aluminum, titanium, iron, nickel, or a combination thereof, and the amount of cobalt is 90-99% of total blending metal powder.