Applications of ceramic cutting tools

Successful application of ceramic cutting tool materials can typically increase the metalcutting productivity by 3 to 4 times over that obtained by conventional coated carbide tools. Ceramic tools based on Si3N4 and Al2O3 have been used to machine a variety of engineering metals, including cast irons, superalloys and steels at high metal removal rates. The application of Al2O3 based tools for finish machining, and that of Si3N4, based tools for rough machining can be understood in terms of their material properties. An understanding of wear mechanisms, cutting geometry considerations and machining cost are critical to applying these tool materials successfully. New developments are aimed at improving wear resistance of Si3N4 based tools, fracture resistance of Al2O3 based tools, and development of molded chip breaker grooves in ceramic tools.