PDC stands for “polycrystalline diamond compact”.
The body of the PDC bits are typically either steel or Matrix bodies and are widely used since they were introduced to the drilling industry in 1976.
The steel body is softer, which allows the bit to withstand a higher impact loads but is soft and without protective features which would quickly fail by erosion and abrasion.
The Matrix body is a very hard, rather brittle composite material comprising tungsten carbide grains metallurgically bonded with a softer, tougher, metallic binder.
Matrix is desirable as a bit material, because its hardness is resistant to abrasion and erosion.
It is capable of withstanding relatively high compressive loads, but, compared with steel, has low resistance to impact loading.
