An improved braze alloy is microalloyed to include about 0.0005 wt % to about 0.5 wt % of at least one aggressively surface acting element selected from tellurium (Te), selenium (Se), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and gallium (Ga), or any combination thereof. The braze alloys may include at least about 30% by weight of at least one base metal selected from the group of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), or aluminum (Al). In one example, a silver braze alloy suitable for brazing a cutter to a drill bit body is microalloyed to improve a characteristic of the braze material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/506,871, filed Sep. 29, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
