Various tests have been carried out to determine the performance of a ceramic material in cutting operations involving cast iron and steel, and it has shown excellent efficacy. This ceramic material has the added benefit of comparatively increased inertness when in contact with iron during high speed cutting, making it a viable replacement for alumina whisker cutting tolls.

Traditional silicon nitride ceramics have inadequate fracture toughness and hardness, making them less suitable for cutting operations. In addition, the high reactivity of silicon nitride based ceramics poses a further challenge in cutting operations. Reactive tool wear during steel machining has been identified as the main obstacle to the use of silicon nitride as a tool material for cutting steel and non-ferrous alloys.

The above text discusses in detail the microstructure of a ceramic material which has an incredibly unique set of properties. It combines an exceptional level of fracture toughness with remarkable hardness – a combination rarely seen in mainstream commercial materials.

This means that this ceramic material is particularly suitable for a number of specific applications where other materials, such as metals and composites, are traditionally used.

For example, cutting tools used to machine both steel and non-ferrous alloys would benefit from the use of this type of ceramic material, as would engine components and parts used in industries where metals are melted. In essence, this ceramic material has such excellent mechanical properties that it has the potential to outperform conventional materials that have been considered the most suitable for these applications.