Greenleaf WG-300, developed by Greenleaf Corporation, is the first commercially available ceramic composite using the technology of whisker reinforcement. It can operate up to 10 times the speeds used for uncoated carbide tools.

The basic concept involves reinforcing a hard ceramic matrix with extremely strong, stiff silicon carbide crystals, commonly called whiskers.

These whiskers are grown under carefully controlled conditions and due to their high purity and lack of grain boundaries approach the theoretical maximum strength obtainable.

This strength is calculated to be in the order of one million P.S.I. (6,900 MPa) tensile! The super-strong whiskers are dispersed into a matrix of fine graded aluminium oxide where they act much like glass filaments do, for example in fibreglass, by adding tensile strength and improving the fracture toughness of the brittle matrix.

The increase in the fracture toughness of the material is such that inserts are now offered without hones as a standard, making them suitable for finish cuts on most forged nickel base alloys without "smearing". WG-300 has outstanding thermal and mechanical shock resistance. It can withstand intermittent cut application, such as in milling, without breakage.

The use of flood coolant is highly recommended at all times to increase tool life.

UNIMERCO WALMSLEY is the exclusive UK agent for Greenleaf.