Machining Advanced Ceramics — A Challenge in Production Technology

Abstract

Demanding requirements in terms of material properties have led to the use of ceramic materials in many mechanical and process engineering applications. In view of the advantages of ceramics, such as superior hardness and compressive strength, it may be asked why these materials are not employed more frequently in industrial applications, particularly in larger-scale production. Apart from their brittleness, one reason may be found in machinability problems. The paper reviews problems related to the machining of advanced ceramics and presents a number of solutions for improved machining to give reliable component quality.