Articles comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool include at least one insert and a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase and a hard material phase. Other articles include a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase and a coating material in contact with the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.

Articles comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool include at least one insert and a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase and a hard material phase. Other articles include a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase and a coating material in contact with the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.

A method for forming localized binder in a drilling tool is disclosed. A method includes placing a reinforcement material in a matrix bit body mold, placing a localized binder material within the reinforcement material at a selected location in the matrix bit body mold, wherein the localized binder material confers a selected physical property at the selected location, placing a universal binder material in the matrix bit body mold on top of the reinforcement material, heating the matrix bit body mold, the reinforcement material, the localized binder material, and the universal binder material to a temperature above the melting point of the universal binder material, infiltrating the reinforcement material and the localized binder material with the universal binder material, and cooling the matrix bit body mold, the reinforcement material, the localized binder material, and the universal binder material to form a matrix drill bit body.

A method for forming localized binder in a drilling tool is disclosed. A method includes placing a reinforcement material in a matrix bit body mold, placing a localized binder material within the reinforcement material at a selected location in the matrix bit body mold, wherein the localized binder material confers a selected physical property at the selected location, placing a universal binder material in the matrix bit body mold on top of the reinforcement material, heating the matrix bit body mold, the reinforcement material, the localized binder material, and the universal binder material to a temperature above the melting point of the universal binder material, infiltrating the reinforcement material and the localized binder material with the universal binder material, and cooling the matrix bit body mold, the reinforcement material, the localized binder material, and the universal binder material to form a matrix drill bit body.

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 sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

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 sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

Methods for creating a cast component, along with the resulting cast components, are provided. The method may include heating a mold having a cavity therein; supplying a first molten metal material into the cavity of the mold such that the first molten metal material is directed to a first portion of the cavity of the mold; supplying a second molten metal material into the cavity of the mold such that the second molten metal material is directed to a second portion of the cavity of the mold, wherein the first molten metal material is compositionally different than the second molten metal material; and thereafter, allowing the first molten metal material and the second molten metal material to form the cast component.

Methods for creating a cast component, along with the resulting cast components, are provided. The method may include heating a mold having a cavity therein; supplying a first molten metal material into the cavity of the mold such that the first molten metal material is directed to a first portion of the cavity of the mold; supplying a second molten metal material into the cavity of the mold such that the second molten metal material is directed to a second portion of the cavity of the mold, wherein the first molten metal material is compositionally different than the second molten metal material; and thereafter, allowing the first molten metal material and the second molten metal material to form the cast component.

Cast components are provided that include a first section comprising a first metal material and having first grains with a first average grain size and a second section comprising a second metal material and having second grains with a second average grain size.

Cast components are provided that include a first section comprising a first metal material and having first grains with a first average grain size and a second section comprising a second metal material and having second grains with a second average grain size.