Solid carbide provides better rigidity than high speed steel. It is extremely heat resistant and used for high speed applications on cast iron, nonferrous materials, plastics and other tough-to-machine materials.

Aluminum titanium nitride (AlTiN) is one of the most abrasive resistant and hardest of the coatings. It is commonly used for machining aircraft and aerospace material, nickel alloy, stainless steel, titanium, cast iron and carbon steel.