Patent 7303030 was granted and assigned to Smith International on December, 2007 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A hardfacing composition for a drill bit includes a carbide phase made from carbide particles having a barrier coating disposed thereon, and binder alloy. Also, a drill bit includes a steel bit body having hardfacing thereon and having at least one blade thereon, at least one cutter pocket disposed on the blade, at least one cutter disposed in the cutter pocket; and hardfacing applied to at least composition that includes a carbide phase formed from carbide particles having a barrier coating disposed thereon; and a binder alloy.