Ceramic Metal Processing Cutting Tools

From tableware to home bathroom, ceramics are everywhere in our lives. But have you ever thought that ceramics can also be used in cutting tools?

What is ceramic?

The combination of metal or non-metal with oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), carbon (C) and other elements is called ceramic. After sintering, it can be used as a cutting tool. The ceramics used in cutting tools are mainly divided into two categories: alumina series and silicon nitride series. After adding various additives to its main components, it can be further subdivided.

1 .White porcelain
Ceramics with aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as the main component are called white porcelain because their color is mostly white. In terms of composition, it is the same component (Al2O3) as ruby ​​and sapphire in jewelry. The biggest difference is that ruby ​​and sapphire belong to single crystal structure, while aluminum oxide is a polycrystalline structure. Aluminum oxide has high hardness and stable chemical properties. These characteristics can be used for high-speed finishing of cast iron.

2 .Black porcelain
Ceramics with titanium carbide (TiC) added to alumina are called black porcelain because they are mostly black in color. Due to the addition of titanium carbide, the hardness is higher than that of white porcelain, and deformation of the blade tip caused by heat can be suppressed even at high temperatures. Taking full advantage of this property, high-hardness materials (up to HRC65) can be processed at high speed.

3.Whiskers
Ceramics with silicon carbide (SiC) added to alumina. The silicon carbides are intertwined and bonded to each other, which can suppress cracks caused by impact during cutting and prevent defects. It also has good heat shock resistance, so it is widely used in heat-resistant alloy processing.

Silicon nitride series ceramics
1. Silicon nitride ceramics
Ceramics with silicon nitride (Si3N4) as the main component, unlike alumina series, have needle-shaped particles. The intertwining of needle-shaped particles can greatly suppress cracks caused by impact during cutting, thereby preventing defects. Suitable for high-speed rough processing of cast iron.

2. SiAlon Ceramics
Aluminum (Al) and oxygen (O) are added to silicon nitride (Si3N4), and the initials of the constituent elements are taken to call SiAlon Ceramics (SiAlON). SiAlon, like silicon nitride, has needle-shaped particles. The needle-shaped particles are intertwined and combined with each other, which can withstand the impact during cutting. In addition, due to the addition of aluminum oxide, the heat resistance is better than that of silicon nitride, and it is more excellent in heat resistance. It is suitable for high-speed processing of heat-resistant alloys.

Ceramic cutting tools need to be used according to the material being cut, but compared with cemented carbide, their processing speed can be up to 20 times that of cemented carbide. Choosing suitable ceramic tools for processing can greatly improve production efficiency while indirectly saving costs by reducing equipment investment.