新开发的陶瓷材料显著提高了特定加工应用的生产率，例如铸铁、硬化钢和耐热合金的加工。这是因为陶瓷刀具的金属去除率比硬质合金刀具的金属去除率高得多，因为陶瓷刀具具有更好的化学稳定性和抗总塑性变形能力。讨论了陶瓷刀具在不同工件材料上的应用和局限性，以及刀具材料的性能和磨损行为，重点介绍了最近引入的材料。

NEWLY DEVELOPED CERAMIC MATERIALS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY IN SPECIFIC MACHINING APPLICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE MACHINING OF CAST IRON, HARDENED STEELS, AND HEAT RESISTANT ALLOYS. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT CERAMIC CUTTING TOOLS CAN BE USED AT MUCH HIGHER METAL REMOVAL RATES THAN THOSE POSSIBLE WITH CEMENTED CARBIDES, BECAUSE OF BETTER CHEMICAL STABILITY AND RESISTANCE TO GROSS PLASTIC DEFORMATION. APPLICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF CERAMIC CUTTING TOOLS ON DIFFERENT WORKPIECE MATERIALS IN RELATION TO PROPERTIES AND WEAR BEHAVIOR OF TOOL MATERIALS ARE DISCUSSED WITH EMPHASIS ON MORE RECENTLY INTRODUCED MATERIALS.